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4 <br />4) Several green building programs have been introduced nationally and regionally <br />over the past several years. Most have guidelines for new and existing residential <br />and commercial construction. Most programs are point-based systems to validate a <br />chosen level of `green' in site selection, structure orientation, resource and materials <br />usage, energy efficient buildings systems, compliance with the EPA's Energy Star <br />program, indoor air quality, water consumption, and education. Most programs <br />require third party certification by design professionals who have special knowledge <br />and or training in a chosen green building program. Among the better-known green <br />programs are the fallowing: <br />a. U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Environment and <br />Energy Conservation (LEED) -Probably the best known green building program <br />is a point based system where projects earn points for satisfying specific green <br />building criteria. The number of points the project earns determines the level of <br />LEED certification the project receives. LEED certification is available in four <br />progressive levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. A LEED certification in <br />a chosen level requires third party verification.www.usgbc.org <br />b. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Model Green Home Building <br />Guidelines were designed with the mainstream home builder in mind. The <br />purpose of these guidelines is to highlight ways in which a home builder can <br />effectively and holistically weave environmental concerns into a new home and <br />provide a tool for local home builder associations to create a green building <br />program. The Home Builders Association of Durham, Orange, and Chatham <br />Counties has developed a point based green building program based on the <br />national guidelines and is already being utilized by some builders in Orange <br />County. Third party verification is required for a home to be designated Bronze, <br />Silver or Gold. www.nahb.org/qbq <br />c. Green Globes Design is an online building assessment tool that evaluates <br />and rates the environmental performance of, new and existing buildings, and <br />interior fit-ups. The program is questionnaire based and consists of <br />approximately 150 questions that take between 2 to 3 hours to answer. Because <br />Green Globes assessment occurs in two stages, it relates to the development <br />approval process: during preliminary assessment at the Concept Design stage <br />(which corresponds with planning approval), and during final assessment at the <br />construction document stage (which typically corresponds with building permit <br />approval).. Once a design has been assessed, a third party review may be <br />conducted. Once verification is complete, the project is awarded a Green Globes <br />certificate. www.greenglobes.com <br />d. High Performance Guidelines: Triangle Region Public Facilities -The Guidelines <br />are both a design guide and a means to quantify how well high performance <br />principles have been applied to a building's design, construction, and maintenance. <br />The Guidelines are based on a point system. Different aspects of a high <br />performance facility are defined, and specified point totals are awarded when they <br />are achieved. The points are assigned under seven general topic headings: Quality <br />management, site, water, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor <br />