Building energy use is significant in the United States, consuming about 70% of all elec...

Building energy use is significant in the United States, consuming about 70% of all electricity generated. An increase in electricity use of about 50% is expected by the end of the current decade. In response to the adverse impact that buildings have on energy use and the environment, in 1998 the U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a certification system aimed at improving the performance of buildings across several measures, including energy and water use, greenhouse gas emission, and indoor environmental quality. Thousands of buildings throughout the world have now gained LEED® certification. Identify a newly constructed LEED®-certified building on your campus or in a nearby locale. Determine the level of LEED® certification the building achieves: certified, silver, gold, or platinum. Prepare a summary of the building’s design, focusing on elements incorporated to improve building energy and environmental performance and associated costs. Present your findings in a written report including at least three references.