How Modular Buildings Support LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) program is a green-building initiative that certifies building projects with a rating system based on satisfying best-in-class building strategies and practices. LEED projects are ranked based on the number of points, or credits, they earn in several categories of environmental focus. LEED rankings include:

• Certified: 40-49 points
• Silver: 50-59 points
• Gold: 60-79 points
• Platinum: 80+ points

Modular buildings also support sustainable construction practices through the following:

• Less Material Waste
• Reliance on Recycle & Reuse
• Reduced Demand for Raw Materials
• Less Site Disturbance
• Increased Energy Efficiency

Here we show just three examples of the advantages that modular construction holds over traditional construction in LEED ratings.

Sustainable Sites

Placement of modular construction can contribute to better day light exposure, natural ventilation, or storm water management. Modular construction also scores points for less disturbance to the building site and surrounding areas.

Materials & Resources

This category proves to be a huge advantage for modular building. The modular process creates less waste because weather damage and on-site theft is all but eliminated. We also see that the construction of repetitive units makes it easier to purchase materials in bulk and control inventory. Additionally, the reusable nature of modular buildings reduces the demand for additional raw materials.

Indoor Environmental Quality

When modular units are constructed off-site, in weather-controlled settings, there is less moisture that collects in the building materials, resulting in better indoor air-quality in the completed building.