The American LEED programme - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – is the most commonly applied certification system in green building internationally. Individuals can achieve a LEED certification just as the system is used to classify new buildings, renovation projects and the planning of local areas.
LEED takes a number of factors into consideration, including water and energy consumption, materials, indoor climate, building site and infrastructure, among others.
The title of LEED Green Associate is achieved through self-studies and tests and, up until now, only a few people in Denmark have achieved the title. Martha Lewis has been employed at Henning Larsen Architects since 2003 –most recently as one of the leading architects behind Spiegel’s new headquarters in Hamburg, which has been nominated for a gold medal in a new local award scheme recognising green architecture. Nina La Cour Sell is stationed in Henning Larsen Middle East in Riyadh where she is responsible for integrating green building solutions in the company’s Saudi projects. Nina has been employed in the company since 2006.
Until now, the LEED certification has primarily been used in the USA and the Middle East. In August 2009, 114 countries were registered as having ongoing LEED projects, including 43 projects in Scandinavia.
Three of the company’s ongoing projects in Riyadh have been pre-certified for LEED: Villas in the Sky, Crystal Towers and The Gem, all situated in the new King Abdullah Financial District. When the buildings have been completed, they will be evaluated on the basis of a point system where they are expected to achieve the classification SILVER, the third best category of the system.