LEEDing the Way: Backflow Enclosures and Getting Credit for LEED BD&C

Safe-T-Cover is a leader in the enclosure industry, not simply because our aluminum enclosures are the best option for covering and protecting pumps and backflow preventers, but because of our commitment to the highest professional standards, including LEED Professional Accreditation (LEED PA).

Our team has featured LEED PAs for 17 years and, while it was a buzz term and a hot topic back then, it also reflects our commitment to ongoing education and staying on top of industry trends. LEED certification and accreditation are more than fads. They’re here to stay.

Earn LEED Certification Credit With Your Backflow Enclosure

Our ASSE 1060-certified, marine grade aluminum enclosures are able to help contribute to your project earning LEED credits. At a baseline, they can help toward attaining LEED 4.1’s Responsible Sourcing of Raw Materials credits, while we can also provide a sizable boost to projects located within 100 miles of our facility.

Those credits can help commercial or industrial locations bolster property values and command stronger occupancy rates, in addition to lowering overall ecological impact. Whether your priority is for your bottom line, regulatory compliance or reflects a commitment to safeguarding our natural resources, there’s no reason LEED shouldn’t be a key component of your projects.

Buildings can also earn the designation as LEED BD&C, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design: Building Design and Construction. This green building certification rating system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED BD&C specifically applies to buildings that are either newly constructed or undergoing major renovation.

Earning LEED credits with your choice of backflow enclosure can benefit both new construction and existing buildings that want to earn a LEED BD+C Certification at the Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level.

LEED: More Than a Badge On a Building

LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — first appeared on the scene in 1998, five years after the formation of the USGBC. LEED 1.0 was the result of years of research and developing criteria that would serve as the basis for LEED iterations and the LEED rating system in the future.

For years, LEED v4.1 has been the default reference point for green building certification. The industry is now well into the transition to LEED v5, and if you're specifying systems on a project that's still in the planning stage, the version you register under is about to matter a lot more than it did six months ago.

LEED v5 was officially ratified in 2025 and, as of April 2026, is the new standard. We're currently in the sunset window for the older versions — the stretch where both v4/v4.1 and v5 coexist, but not for much longer.

LEED Dates to Have on Your Radar

If your project isn't registered yet, these are the two dates that should be on your schedule:

• June 30, 2026 — The hard cutoff. After this date, LEED v4 and v4.1 close to new registrations across the major rating systems, including BD+C, ID+C, and O+M.
• July 1, 2026 — LEED v5 becomes the only option for new registrations under those same systems.

Beyond construction and design-based environmental impact, LEED’s scope is expanding to emphasize decarbonization and equity more than before. LEED v5 focuses on:

1. Operational and embodied carbon to reach "ultra-low carbon" status
2. Nature-positive outcomes and biodiversity
3. Mandatory requirements for building climate resilience

Leaders LEED: Why We Choose LEED and Why You Should, Too

Many of LEED's aims are well-aligned with Safe-T-Cover’s commitment to community and environmental stewardship, our partnership in and advocacy for AWWA’s Water 2050 and our commitment to protecting water through superior year-round enclosure options.

It was only natural that our leadership team pursued LEED Professional Accreditation back in 2009, and that those standards help inform every project we take on today.

We're here to provide you with the best solution for your enclosure needs with an eye for design and environmental impact. Contact our team for more on how LEED-driven design and enclosure solutions can positively impact your project and property as well as the planet.