Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide First Edition

Strategies for redu cing energy dema nd include the following,
• Establish design and energy goals. Set ta rgets and establish performance indicators at the
outset of a project and periodically verify their achievement.
• Size the building appropriately. A facility that is larger than necessary to serve its function
creates costly and unproductive energy demand.
• Use free energy. Orient the faCility to take advantage of natural ventilation, solar energy, and
daylighting.
• Insulate. Design the building envelope to insulate efficiently against heating and cooling
losses.
• Monitor consumption. Use energy monitoring and feedback systems to encourage occupants
to reduce energy demand.
LEED in Practice
Reducing Demand by Reducing Building Size
Energy demand typically increases directly with building size: Thcmorcsquare
feet in a building, the more energy it consumes. Although this is not' always true, the relationship
between square footage and consumption is very strong.
The adjustment explicitly accounts
for the material and energy impacts
of home construction and opera-
FIgure 7 Home Size Adjustment Chart for LEED for Homes
tion: Depending on the design, location, and occupants of the home, a 100% increase in home size
yields.an increase in annual energy use of 1,5% to 50% and an increase in materials usage of 40% to
90%. LEED for Homes is currently the only LEED rating system with this type of adjustment.
Energy and Atmosphere 45