LEED

The USGBC's points-based rating system for green buildings.

Quick Answer

LEED, short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Projects earn points across categories such as energy, water, materials, and indoor environmental quality. Total points determine certification at the Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum level, verified through third-party review.

The Full Picture

LEED is a voluntary program run by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), with certification administered through Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). It is not a building code. Projects pursue it for market, owner, or policy reasons, although some jurisdictions and agencies require or incentivize certification.

Rating systems are organized by project type, such as building design and construction, interior design and construction, and operations and maintenance. Each system has prerequisites that every project must meet and credits that earn points. Categories include location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality, plus innovation and regional priority credits.

Total points place a project at Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. Documentation is submitted through USGBC's online platform and reviewed by a third party. Energy credits frequently reference ASHRAE 90.1 as a baseline, which is how LEED interacts with energy code requirements.

Decisions that earn LEED points are made early, which is why contractors are often asked for credit input during preconstruction. Materials sourcing, construction waste management, indoor air quality plans, and commissioning all produce documentation that has to be collected during the build. Versions change over time, so teams confirm the version a project is registered under.

Real Examples

→Owner target: A corporate owner sets LEED Gold as a project goal, and the design team maps which credits are achievable within budget before schematic design closes.

→Construction documentation: The contractor tracks recycled content, regional materials, and waste diversion data throughout construction to support credit submissions.

→Energy baseline: An energy model compares the proposed design against an ASHRAE 90.1 baseline to demonstrate performance improvement for energy credits.

Common Misconceptions

People assume: LEED is a building code.

Actually: LEED is a voluntary rating system. Codes set legal minimums; LEED is a program projects choose to pursue, unless a policy or contract requires it.

People assume: A LEED-certified building is guaranteed to use less energy.

Actually: Certification reflects design and documented performance against credit requirements. Actual operation varies, which is why operations-focused ratings and monitoring exist.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who created LEED?

The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED, and certification is administered through Green Business Certification Inc.

What are the LEED certification levels?

Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, awarded based on the total points a project earns.

Does LEED apply only to new buildings?

No. There are rating systems for new construction, interiors, existing buildings, and other project types.

Does LEED cost more to build?

It depends on the project, targets, and local requirements. Costs vary widely, so owners typically evaluate specific credits against budget during early design.

How does LEED relate to ASHRAE 90.1?

LEED energy credits commonly reference ASHRAE 90.1 as the baseline against which a proposed design's performance is compared.