About LEED

What is LEED

LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and an international symbol of excellence in green building. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED certification ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments for the places we live, work, learn, play and worship.

LEED certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the building is constructed and operated to the highest level of sustainability. To earn LEED certification, project teams must earn points outlined in the rating system by adhering to prerequisites and credits across nine measurements for building excellence from integrative processes to building materials ;to indoor air quality. Prerequisites are required elements that must be incorporated into a building project to earn LEED certification, but project teams can choose the credits they want to pursue to gain points toward LEED certification.

The flexibility of LEED allows any project or building type, from office buildings to homes to churches to schools, an opportunity to pursue certification. USGBC has customized the LEED rating system so that projects can earn certification for new construction, interiors, existing buildings, homes, neighborhoods and even entire cities and communities. Ultimately, buildings are about people, and that is why LEED-certified buildings are a signal that human health and well-being was at the heart of its design.