Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design&trade (LEED®) is a globally recognized green building certification program governed by the U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC®). The program is a voluntary and forward thinking rating system that has a broad scope but is simple in practice. Buildings must first satisfy prerequisites and then earn points, that when accumulated lead to different levels of certification, of which there are four. The four levels of LEED Certification are certified, silver, gold, and platinum available in the five different rating systems.
Utilizing the five different rating systems LEED Certification is versatile enough to be applied to any project. The rating systems are Building Design and Construction, Interior Design and Construction, Building Operations and Maintenance, Neighborhood Development, and Homes.
In each of the rating systems are nine credit categories Integrative Process, Location and Transportation, Materials and Resources, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Sustainable Sites, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation, and Regional Priority Credits. In addition to the standard nine credit categories, the LEED for Neighborhood Development has three extra credit categories Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, and Green Infrastructure & Buildings. LEED's success comes from being performance oriented. Points are earned for satisfying specific requirements in the credit categories. Each point then counts towards a total score that determines the overall level of LEED Certification the building will obtain.
Obtaining the globally recognized USGBC LEED Certification comes with some great benefits. LEED Certified buildings outperform their counterparts. Owners and operators of LEED buildings can experience reduced operating costs of up to 40%, freeing up capital for other economic activities. Owners of LEED Certified buildings can join the ranks of 88 Fortune 100 companies that have made it a mission to choose LEED Certified buildings. Economic savings and the attractiveness of focusing on sustainability has lead to LEED Certified buildings boasting up to 20% better lease rates.The reason why LEED is present in over 150 countries is its prestigious recognition. Along with the added benefits of having a more efficient and healthier workspace, often obtaining a LEED Certification leads to tax incentives and zoning allowances. Current LEED Certifications stand on the back of a continued evolution of practices from the first LEED NCv1.0 in 1998 to the present LEED v4. Constant improvement to LEED is further fostered by working with the top building professionals around the world, people like you.