Litigation-I Win, You Lose vs. Mediation-Win/Win

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  Litigation is a zero-sum game.  It destroys relationships and fosters enmity between the parties.  Parties rarely walk away happy.  Even if they win, the expense of litigation is enormous, and collecting on judgments is difficult. Disputes ultimately resolve, but the focus on winning at any cost can lead to prolonged legal battles.  Living with a lawsuit causes ongoing stress, which can distract you from your business and even have an effect on your health. In a courtroom, the final decision lies with a judge or jury who may not fully grasp the complexities of the case. Parties relinquish control over the outcome, potentially leaving them dissatisfied with the final judgment. Mediation has the opposite effect.   Rather than polarizing people, it enables the parties to attack the issues and not each other.     The process promotes open communication, collaboration and problem-solving, which enables parties to actively participate in crafting ...

An Explanation of LEED Certification

This one is from the Concrete Masonry Association of California and Nevada:

http://www.cmacn.org/energy/leed/index.htm

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system promoted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to design buildings that are environmentally responsible, energy efficient, and profitable. The LEED rating system is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance sustainable buildings. Even though the rating systems is voluntary, governments such as California has made it mandatory for all state buildings to comply with LEED. Credits not explicitly related to energy design are also included in this section to provide guidance for those who take advantage of masonry properties for LEED design.

The LEED New Construction (LEED-NC) rating scale is divided into five environmental categories and a sixth design category. In order to become LEED compliant, a building must achieve 26 out of a possible 69 points. There are also silver, gold, and platinum levels in which buildings must achieve 33 to 38, 39 to 51, and 52 plus points respectively.

  1. Sustainable Sites (14 points available)
  2. Water Efficiency (5 points available)
  3. Energy and Atmosphere (17 points available)
  4. Materials and Resources (13 points available)
  5. Indoor Environmental Quality (15 points available)
  6. Innovation in Design (5 points available)

There is also a LEED Existing Buildings (LEED-EB) rating scale used for existing buildings, however, it is currently being used as a pilot program. There are various other LEED rating scales. The LEED-NC Certification is valid for a period of five years, and re-certification under LEED-EB is required to verify that the building continues to perform as it was designed. The re-certification promotes continuous improvements to the building.

LEED-NC
LEED-EB
Certification Level
26-32
28-35
Certified
33-38
36-42
Silver
39-51
43-56
Gold
52-69
57-76
Platinum

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