On the green front, all steel-framed Connect:Homes are designed to attain LEED Silver certification out the door, with Gold and Platinum certification and net-zero energy status a possibility depending on additional bells and whistles added at the installation site.

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To get a LEED certification, for instance, homes collect points for green features, such as energy-efficient light bulbs and water-saving toilets.

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LEED, though focused on large commercial buildings, launched a pilot programme for new houses in 2005. (Multi-family condos are already covered by the commercial programme, while retrofitted existing homes are as yet beyond LEED's scope.) LEED For Homes is now in a period of public comment, and should be fully launched by early next year.

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