The Duke Smart Home has earned a platinum rating in LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the United States Green Building Council—the highest possible achievement in green building.
LEED provides an opportunity for all team members to unite around a common goal of sustainablility.
Green Roof
At the Duke Smart Home, our green roof is populated with plants known as sedum—both low-maintenance and drought-resistant. The green roof was donated by American Hydrotech.
Benefits of green roofs include:
- Preventing heat gain
- Cooling effect
- Pre-filtration and buffer of rainwater
- Aesthetics
LEED Credits Targeted
- SSp1 - Erosion and Sedimentation Control
- SSc1 - Site Selection
- SSc2 (LEED 2.2) - Development Density and Community Connectivity
- SSc4.1 - Alternative Transportation, Public Transportation Access
- SSc4.2 - Alternative Transportation, Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms
- SSc4.3 (LEED 2.2)- Alternative Transportation, Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles
- SSc4.4 - Alternative Transportation, Parking Capacity
- SSc5.1 - Reduced Site Disturbance, Protect or Restore Habitat
- SSc5.2 - Reduced Site Disturbance, Development Footprint
- SSc6.1 - Storm-water Management, Treatment
- SSc7.1 - Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof
- SSc7.2 - Heat Island Effect, Roof
- SSc8 - Light Pollution Reduction
Rainwater for Irrigation
Our irrigation system uses 100 percent captured rainwater.
Tap water is never used to water landscaping at the Smart Home. Roof run-off is collected and stored in two 1,000-gallon storage tanks. The collection system was donated by BRAE.
LEED Credits Targeted
- WEc1.1 - Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50%
- WEc1.2 - Water Efficient Landscaping, No Potable Use or No Irrigation
- WEc2 - Innovative Wastewater Technologies
- WEc3.1 - Water Use Reduction, 20% Reduction
- WEc3.2 - Water Use Reduction, 30% Reduction
Photovoltaic Panels
At the Smart Home, our array of 18 160-watt photovoltaic panels creates a 3kW solar power station.
The panels reduce the total energy consumption by about 30 percent.
LEED Credits Targeted
- EAp1 - Fundamental Building System Commissioning
- EAp1 - Minimum Energy Performance
- EAp1 - CFC Reduction in HVAC Equipment
- EAc1 - Optimize Energy Performance
- EAc2 - Renewable Energy
- EAc3 - Additional Commissioning
- EAc4 - Ozone Depletion
- EAc5 - Measurement and Verification
- EAc6 - Green Power
Daylight and Views
Providing daylight views to building occupants increases productivity and creates happier residents.
Greater than 90 percent of locations inside the Smart Home have direct daylight views.
LEED Credits Targeted
- EQp1 (LEED 2.2) - Minimum IAQ Performance
- EQp2 - Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control
- EQc1 (LEED 2.2) - Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring
- EQc2 (LEED 2.2) - Increased Ventilation
- EQc3.1 - Construction IAQ Management Plan, During Construction
- EQc3.2 - Construction IAQ Management Plan, Before Occupancy
- EQc4.1 - Low-Emitting Materials, Adhesives and Sealants
- EQc4.2 - Low-Emitting Materials, Paints
- EQc4.3 - Low-Emitting Materials, Carpet
- EQc4.4 - Low-Emitting Materials, Composite Wood
- EQc6.1 - Controllability of Systems, Perimeter
- EQc6.2 - Controllability of Systems, Nonperimeter
- EQc7.1 (LEED 2.2) - Thermal Comfort, Design
- EQc7.2 (LEED 2.2) - Thermal Comfort, Verification
- EQc8.1 - Daylight & Views, Daylight 75% of Spaces
- EQc8.2 - Daylight & Views, Views for 90% of Spaces
Green Education
The Smart Home is a community resource for demonstrating sustainable building techniques.
This website is provided as a public service, as are our tours.
LEED Credits Targeted
- IDc1.1 - Innovation in Design: Exemplary Performance WE 3.2 40% savings
- IDc1.2 - Innovation in Design: Innovative Wastewater Technologies - 0% Potable water use for sewage conveyance.
- IDc1.3 - ENERGY STAR Appliances (from LEED CI)
- IDc1.4 - Green Educational Programs: Tours of building and Informative Website
- IDc2 - LEED Accredited Professional