I haven't built LEED, but how we build can for sure save energy. After building 3 homes in the USA, some basic updates to building codes would likely do more go

I haven't built LEED, but how we build can for sure save energy. After building 3 homes in the USA, some basic updates to building codes would likely do more good than LEED will ever do. It is so hard to convince people that the codes are the minimum. Who wants a product built to the minimum standard? Why doesn't the "market" demand it? Because people want cheap houses and the builder doesn't have to live in it or pay the utility bill. Buyers don't often ask for or compare bills on similar homes, so there is no point to upgrading insulation or HVAC unless you plan to stay in the home. My oh-so-official-and-comprehensive-data: One home I built was very typical for the neighborhood, except insulation and a slightly better HVAC system, nothing exotic. When the power was out and everyone was complaining that their houses were 40 degrees, we were still at 60. Our bills were sometimes half what our neighbors were. What did it take? About $4,000 on a $250,000 build (in 2007). The new owners of the home didn't know what they were getting b/c nobody asks or cares. We keep in touch and they've found the same when comparing to the neighborhood. If you are wondering, no the house didn't sell for more because it saves energy and money - that isn't on a real estate comp. If we would just tweak the building codes just a tiny bit and it would make a huge difference.