The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System©
is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable
buildings. USGBC's members, representing every sector of the building industry, developed and
continue to refine LEED.
LEED standards include:
- LEED-NC: New commercial construction and major renovation projects
- LEED-EB: Existing building operations
- LEED-CI: Commercial interiors projects
- LEED-CS: Core and shell projects
- LEED-H: Homes
- LEED-ND: Neighborhood development
- LEED Application Guides: Retail (currently in pilot), Multiple Buildings/Campuses, Schools, Healthcare, Laboratories, Lodging
Product Manufacturers and Service Providers: Learn how you can get involved with USGBC and LEED.
LEED was created to:
- define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement
- promote integrated, whole-building design practices
- recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
- stimulate green competition
- raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
- transform the building market
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
LEED Certification comes in levels - "certified", "silver",
"gold", and "platinum", with "silver" fulfilling between 33 and 38
out of 69 environmentally friendly building practices (see LEED New Construction checklist).
From the page of the U.S Green Builiding Council on LEED .