Ideal Bite: Take Us to Your LEEDer

Mar 24, 2008 BANG FOR THE BITE Applying for certification costs up to $2,250 per new home, but it will make your home-green-home even more attractive to future buyers. COCKTAIL FACTOID A 2002 poll found that 68% of Americans believe the government knows more about alien life than it's letting on. LIKE THIS TIP? Then check out . . . The Landlord Tip RATE THIS TIP How useful is this tip? (5 is the highest) 1 2 3 4 5 Feel like some green-building lingo is alien-speak? The Bite Come back down to Earth. You might've seen the acronym LEED around - it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and it's the most widely accepted stamp of approval to certify that a building's green. Plant your non-UFO vehicle down right here for the full translation. The Benefits A universal yardstick. LEED provides standards to look for when building or buying an apartment or house, helping us determine what's really green. Black-holing pollution. Buildings account for more than 40% of CO2 emissions worldwide. (Yeah, that's more than the 35% that car emissions create.) LEED buildings - which take into account the site, water, energy, resources, and indoor environmental quality - reduce CO2 by 30%-40%. Galaxy-sized payoffs. According to a study conducted by the CA Sustainable Building Task Force, green buildings typically cost 2% more initially, but you'll recoup 20% of building costs over 20 years, thanks to lower utility bills. Personally Speaking Fewer than 1,000 homes have been LEED-certified so far (and none of us live in any of 'em), but it's definitely something we'll look for when we're in the market for a new place. Wanna Try? U.S. Green Building Council - LEED's parent org; learn more about the rating system and how to get your new house certified. Its Green Home Guide helps you make your current home greener. Green Building Certification Institute - green building's a growing field; start here if certifying homes sounds like a space-tacular career. Enter to win a SuperSkin Moisturizer and Concentrate Set from Liz Earle Naturally Active Skincare by inviting your non-Biter friends to join Ideal Bite in the next 24 hours - smaller pool, bigger chances. This tip submitted by Cara Godwin.      Sponsor

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