Why hire a LEED™-accredited Interior Design firm?
Green/sustainable design has environmental, economic and social elements that benefit all building stakeholders including owners, occupants and the general public.

A LEED™-accredited Interior Designer has specialized knowledge of methods, procedures, materials and resources that support a healthy building and environment. Interior Designers focus primarily on the Material & Resources and Indoor Environmental Quality aspects of sustainable design. Through use of strategies to optimize indoor environmental quality and to minimize the environmental aspects of material use, the following benefits can be realized:

• reduced operating costs
• enhance building marketability and increased resale value
• increased worker productivity, reduced absenteeism and improved work quality
• reduced potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems
• reduced waste management costs
• improved corporate image

A LEED™-accredited Interior Designer will advise you on which of the following strategies are suitable for your project:

Materials and Resources Strategies:

• use of salvaged materials
• recycling content materials
• use of local materials to support the local economy and reduce impact of transportation
• recycle and reuse of construction waste
• use of rapidly renewable materials and certified wood
• reduction of construction waste volumes

Indoor Environmental Quality Strategies:

• ventilation effectiveness and contaminant control
• effective illumination and daylighting
• specification of materials that release fewer and less harmful contaminants

LEED™ is a performance-oriented system where credits are earned for satisfying each criterion. Different levels of green building certification are awarded based on the total credits earned. For more information on GREEN and SUSTAINABLE design, see the following websites:

U.S. Green Building Council

Green Buildings B.C.