LEED Silliness

I went for a 9 mile run after work tonight. Normally on work days, I run between 5 and 6 miles at lunch hour and save my long runs for the weekends.

But today, I had a lunchtime seminar on LEED certified buildings. "LEED" stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It was created by, and is now administered by, the U.S. Green Building Council.

The concept is simple: Liberal environmentalists sit around Washington D.C., noshing on carrots and celery and generally acting self-important. Educated professionals such as myself grovel and beg and submit reems of useless paperwork in hopes the environmentalists will award us enough "points" that we can call our building "LEED certified." Oh, and we get to pay them, too. Thanks a ton.

So, how does one earn a LEED point? Lots of ways, many of which revolve around managing the lifestyles of people that didn't ask to be managed, or promoting the U.S. Green Building Council.

Install covered bike racks to encourage people to leave the car at home?
SCORE! (but they have to be covered, mind you)

Set up an educational display explaining why the Green Building Council is the cat's pajamas?
WAY TO GO!

Recycle the on-site rock into a stormwater detention pond?
YOU ROCK!

Take down the existing clay tile roof, clean the tiles, and reinstall them?
NO! NO POINTS FOR YOU!

It turns out the Green Building Council is interested in creating a market for used construction materials, so you only get points for taking those tiles off-site and selling them to somebody else. Forget that you have to purchase and transport new roof tiles for your project. This thing is not really about your project. It's about advancing the liberal political agenda of the Green Building Council. What a transparent and silly exercise LEED certification is.