The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) certification has gained traction in the past year. The rating system offers certification at four levels, Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum dependent on the amount of credits attained by pursuing sustainable building methods, optimizing energy and water efficiency and other eco-friendly strategies. ArTect.net has previously reported on LEED certified buildings, notably AIA’s 2007 Top 10 Green Buildings and on 7 World Trade Center.
Architectural writer Eve Kushner has written an article on maverick Florida developer Frank McKinney’s pursuit of the seemingly paradoxical “Eco-Mansion”. It’s an interesting story that provides insight into the LEED certification process. Read it at Design Build Network.