About LEED - General
About LEED - Technical/Certification
Website & LEED-Online FAQ
LEED Reference Guides
What is LEED?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is a voluntary, consensus-based
standard to support and certify
successful green building design, construction and operations. LEED is transforming the marketplace by providing a catalyst,
guideline and recognition certification system
to promote integrated, whole-building design practices in the building industry.
How do I purchase a LEED Reference Guide?
Please visit our Publications page for
product descriptions and to place an order
online. A USGBC website user account is required to place an order.
How do I create a USGBC website user account?
How do I learn more about the requirements for a particular credit?
- If you are looking for more details about a specific credit, please visit our LEED Rating Systems page for a free download of the rating system of
interest.
- If you are a member of a project team and require more in-depth information about a specific credit, please go to our Publications page to purchase a reference guide
which contains detailed information on credit
requirements, documentation requirements, calculations, referenced standards and other resources.
Can I get my product or service LEED certified?
The U.S. Green Building Council does not certify, endorse or promote products, services or companies, nor do we track,
list or report data related to products and
their environmental qualities.
LEED is a certification system that deals with the environmental performance of buildings
based on overall characteristics of the project.
We do not award credits based on the use of particular products but rather upon meeting the performance standards set forth
in our Rating Systems. It is up to project
teams to determine which products are most appropriate for credit achievement and program requirements.
For more information on how you can get involved, please visit the Resources for Product Manufacturers
and Service Providers page.
Where can I learn more about green materials, manufacturers, and products?
The USGBC does not certify, endorse or promote products, services or companies, nor do we track, list or report data
related to products and their environmental
qualities.
However, using green products and materials may contribute to a building’s LEED Certification. See our Green Building Links for information from other green building
organizations.
How can I get my building project LEED certified and how much will it cost?
Project teams should first register with USGBC; this serves as a declaration of intent to have a project LEED
Certified. The most successful LEED project teams
report an integrated design process, with LEED in mind from the project’s inception. Additionally, LEED project teams will
need to provide documentation from various stages
in the project’s design and or construction. USGBC encourages project teams to register as early as possible.
- For information on registration fees and processes, please visit the Registration page.
- For information on certification and the Certification Process, please visit the Certification Process
page. This page includes information on submittal requirements, review timelines, appeals, and Credit Interpretation
Requests (CIRs).
- For information on certification fees, please visit the Registration
page.
Which Rating System should I use?
The introductory section of each LEED Rating System provides general guidance for what application is best for that
particular Rating System. It is possible that
your project might be eligible for Certification under more than one Rating System. Please review the checklists for each
Rating System. You can download the checklists for each rating system from each
rating system's page. In order to earn LEED certification, a project must meet all prerequisites and earn the minimum
number of points listed on the checklist. Compare your project’s projected credit achievement for each applicable rating
system. For additional details
on the rating system of interest, please go to www.usgbc.org/leed.
What is LEED-Online?
LEED-Online allows project teams to submit 100% of their documentation online. LEED-Online stores all LEED
information, resources, and support in one centralized
location. Powered by Adobe LiveCycle technology, LEED-Online enables team members to upload credit templates, view and submit
Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs), manage
key project details, contact customer service, and view and respond to reviewer comments.
I am a member, why am I being charged the non-member price for my purchases?
USGBC national memberships are for organizations only. Employees of member organizations need to associate their
Corporate Access ID to their personal accounts to
receive USGBC member discounts.
- To enter your Corporate Access ID #, login to www.usgbc.org.
- Go to Your Account
- Using the right-hand navigation bar, select Membership. There is a
box for you to enter your corporate access ID.
For assistance, please contact our membership department.
How do I get the LEED Letter Templates?
The LEED Letter Templates are available to team members of LEED Registered Projects via the credit scorecard page of
LEED Online. All other individuals, including those without a Registered Project can download sample LEED Letter Templates from the LEED
Resources page.
Where can I find USGBC collateral materials?
USGBC collateral materials, including Project Profiles,PowerPoint Presentations, and brochures, are available for
download on the USGBC Resources page.
Where can I find more information on tax incentives and government initiatives for my LEED Certified building?
Where can I get a LEED logo for use?
- If you were recently involved in certifying a project, please contact
USGBC with the name of the project, its location and year certified, and we will send the appropriate artwork for your
use.
- If you are interested in using the LEED logo for commercial or promotional purposes, please download and submit the Usage Request Form, providing specific visual examples of how
the logo would be used.
- If your organization is a member of USGBC, you can find a downloadable USGBC
member logo
online.
Can International projects be LEED Certified?
LEED can and has been applied to many international projects. The registration and certification fees, requirements
and processes are unchanged for projects outside
the United States. Please note: All certification documentation must be submitted in English, with U.S. units of
measurement.
- For more information on registration fees and processes, please go to the Project Registration page.
- For more information on certification and certification processes, go to theCertification Process page.
How can I change the project administrator for my project?
How can I access the reference guide online?
In order to receive online reference guide access, you must purchase a hardcopy of the reference guide. Only the
person that purchased the hardcopy will receive online access. To access the online reference guide, login to www.usgbc.org, and click on Online Reference Guide Access
Where can I find a list of LEED Registered and Certified projects?
Please consult the searchable LEED Project Lists.
Note: Confidential LEED Projects are excluded from these lists.
How can I get a student discounts for my reference guides and/or workshops?
USGBC offers a discounted rate of $99 for all reference guides to current full-time students and faculty. To receive
the student/faculty rate:
- Create a website user account.
- Email a copy of your student ID and confirmation of your current full-time enrollment status (i.e., current course
schedule, school transcripts or letter from your advisor, etc.) to leedinfo@usgbc.org. You will receive a promotional code via email response. Or
- Fax a copy of your student ID and confirmation of your current full-time enrollment status (i.e., current course
schedule, school transcripts or letter from your advisor, etc.) to 202-828-7580.
After faxing your information, please call us at 1-800-795-1747 (within the U.S.) or 202-742-3792 (International) to learn
how to receive a registration discount, and to finalize your registration over the phone.
- You can pay be check or credit card. To speed up the transaction over the phone, please have a credit card handy.
- Please remember that you must have a site user account to purchase a reference guide.
I’m a first time user of LEED-Online. Why is my email address “tagged to an existing user”?
When you create an account for www.usgbc.org, your login information is automatically applied to your LEED-Online
account. Please try to login using your www.usgbc.org account information. If the problem persists, please contact LEED Customer Service with your name, and the name and number of the project you
are trying to access.
For all other questions, don't hesitate to contact
LEED Customer Service by phone or email.