CEDIA has released two new documents designed to support the sustainability focused initiatives of the association and its members.

The first document, The ESC Guide to LEED for Homes, will help electronic systems contractors (ESCs) maximize their contributions to a home’s LEED certification requirements. The second document, a case study submission form, will help CEDIA conduct ongoing assessments of efficiency-minded home technology projects.

The ESC Guide to LEED for Homes will help ESCs educate themselves, clients and industry partners on how home technology can help achieve goals for LEED certification as well as goals for the overall sustainability of the home. The document outlines areas within the LEED rating system where ESCs can contribute to a home’s point total through system design, product procurement and other considerations.

The document also outlines areas where an ESC’s efforts may not directly add to certification point values but can still contribute to the client’s sustainability goals.

The case study submission form allows CEDIA member ESCs to submit their sustainability oriented projects for review by CEDIA’s Sustainable Lifestyles Action Team. Submissions that are selected for case studies will be revisited over time to track the project’s achievement of stated efficiency goals. The Sustainable Lifestyles Action Team will use the information gathered in the case studies to identify successful tactics for designing efficiency-minded home systems.

“CEDIA’s Sustainable Lifestyles initiatives help combat the misconception that electronic systems are nothing but a drain on resources,” said CEDIA CEO Utz Baldwin. “These new documents will help CEDIA members demonstrate that they can contribute to a homeowner’s efficiency goals in meaningful ways.”
CEDIA member ESCs interested in submitting a project for review can view a PDF of the case study submission form here. The ESC Guide to LEED for Homes is available in the CEDIA Marketplace at no charge for CEDIA members and for a fee of $25 for non-members.

Both documents are the work of CEDIA’s Sustainable Lifestyles Action Team, which seeks to identify opportunities to reduce the environmental impact of electronic systems and discover ways technology can contribute to reducing a home’s carbon footprint. Additional details on the work of the Sustainable Lifestyles Action Team can be found at www.cedia.org/sustainable_lifestyles.