Why Build Green?
A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources; creates less waste; and is healthier and more comfortable for the occupants. A LEED certified home can have lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.  (Source: USGBC)

What is LEED for Homes?
The LEED for Homes Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council is a third party certification program that rates the level of sustainability a home has achieved. The rating system consists of both mandatory and optional credits. There are four levels in the rating system: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. LEED for Homes certification is managed by a LEED for Homes Provider.

LEED for Homes: Certification Process from U.S. Green Building Council on Vimeo.

How does it work?

The LEED for Homes process is a collaborative effort between the entire project team: the owner, design team and builder. Providers are third-party reviewers of the documentation provided by the project team. All project team members are expected to gain knowledge of the LEED for Homes Rating System, including reviewing the LEED checklist to ensure compliance with mandatory prerequisites and to reach a general understanding of where the current design will score in the rating system.

Fore Solutions provides the design team and builder with a LEED for Homes electronic packet of required information and forms at the beginning of the project, including a Preliminary LEED Credit Checklist, Accountability Forms, a Durability Evaluation Form and a Durability Checklist. This entire file will be completed by the design team and owner and returned to the Provider with all forms signed after construction completion.

Interested? Contact Us!

Fore Solutions is a USGBC LEED for Homes Provider. If you are a homeowner, builder or developer interested in building a LEED home, please contact us at 207-347-5066 or jay@fore-solutions.com, to help guide you through the process and certify your project.  Project teams must work with a Provider as well as a Green Rater in order to certify their home.

To learn more about the LEED for Homes registration and certification process visit the USGBC LEED for Homes webpage.

Unity House Bensonwood homes designed and built this President’s House at Unity College in Unity, ME to be a LEED for Homes Platinum, Net-Zero Energy home. It is used as an education tool for students on the college campus. (Photo: Naomi Beal)
Brightbuilt Barn Kaplan Thompson Architects and Bensonwood Homes collaborated to design and build this LEED for Homes Platinum, Net-Zero Energy home in Rockland, Maine. (Rendering: Kaplan Thompson Architects)

Visit our LEED for Homes Projects page to see more examples of our work.