LEED Certification
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a voluntary national standard for creating high-performance and maintainable buildings. Buildings are evaluated by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). This council is comprised of national experts for all segments of the building industry.
There are LEED standards for:
• New construction and major renovations (LEED-NC)
• Existing building operations (LEED-EB)
• Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI)
Buildings that achieve LEED certification have met rigorous standards in many categories including: site development, utility utilization, energy efficiency, building material selection, and indoor environmental quality. Special consideration can be given during the early phases of the project design to accommodate the LEED Certification process.
LEED Initiatives
Meyer Najem has practiced sustainable building practices on many projects. We have installed pervious concrete on walks and drives to reduce storm water run off. We use recycled content in concrete, asphalt, and steel when the local markets allow. In addition, on renovation projects, we will have recycling dumpsters to separate steel, aluminum, and copper from drywall and other materials.
We believe Green buildings are not only good for the environment, they also provide immediate and long-term economic benefits for developers, building owners and occupants.
As part of our commitment to have a positive impact on our environment, Meyer Najem has LEED AP staff on hand, has encouraged and practices being “Green” within the firm and on the jobsite:
- Meyer Najem reimburses employees for costs associated with LEED Accreditation.
- Meyer Najem recycles glass, plastic, aluminum, paper, and cardboard in the office and on the jobsites when possible.
- Lights and thermostats are turned off or down when rooms are not in use.
“Green” Building Practices can substantially reduce negative environmental impacts and provide significant savings in long-term operations costs due to efficient design and construction practices. It also helps maintain optimum health in students and staff, enhancing the well-being of the occupants. The intent of LEED is to assist in the creation of high performance, healthful, durable, affordable and environmentally-sound buildings.
Meyer Najem has worked on projects that are LEED Certified, Silver and Gold. Meyer Najem has two LEED Accredited Professionals with one assigned for each LEED project to insure compliance to the rating system. In addition, Superintendents have both in-house and continuing education training on LEED requirements. LEED Quality Control will be monitored on-site for the following:
- Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
- Demolition Activities to Comply with Recycling Material Recordkeeping
- Material Reuse Compliance
- Regional Materials
- Construction Waste Management
- Building Reuse Compliance
- Indoor Air Quality
- Mold Prevention
For more information on the United States Green Building Council please refer to their website at www.usgbc.org.
