Cost and Stringency Comparison of 2012 National Green Building Standard™ ICC 700-2012, LEED-H 2008, and LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction
The ICC 700 National Green Building Standard® (NGBS®) and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® (LEED®) are the leading national residential green building protocols in the United States. Both target essentially identical areas of sustainability aimed at preserving natural resources, conserving energy and water, and promoting better indoor air quality and a healthier environment.
This report presents findings from an analysis and comparison of NGBS and LEED and estimates the additional costs for a typical, code-compliant single family house to be certified at each program’s various levels. Additionally, the report compares the minimum improvement in energy efficiency that can be expected at each certification level.