LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)
Buildings fundamentally impact people's lives and the health of the planet. In the United States, buildings use one-third of our total energy, two-thirds of our electricity, one-eighth of our water and also transform priceless land that provides valuable ecological resources.
Since the LEED Green Building Rating System for New Construction (LEED-NC 2.0) was first published in 1999, it has been helping professionals across the country improve the quality of our buildings and their impact on the environment.
As the green building sector grows exponentially, more and more building professionals, owners, and operators are seeing the benefits of green building and LEED certification of buildings. Green design not only makes a positive impact on public health and the environment, it also reduces operating costs, enhances building and organizational marketability, increases occupant productivity and helps to create a sustainable community.
LEED fits into this market by providing rating systems that are voluntary, consensus-based and market-driven. Based on accepted energy and environmental principles, they strike a balance between established practices and emerging concepts.
The LEED rating systems are developed by United States Green Building Council (USGBC) committees, in adherence with USGBC policies and procedures guiding the development and maintenance of the rating systems. LEED-NC 2.2 the newest version is only possible due to the generous volunteer efforts of many individuals, and has been in development for over 2 years. LEED-NC 2.2 is one of a few in a growing portfolio of rating systems serving specific market sectors.
| Platinum: |
52 to 69 points |
| Gold: |
39 to 51 |
| Silver: |
33 to 38 |
| Certified: |
26 to 32 |
TopRating System
The LEED Rating System was devised to address 5 key environmental impact areas relating to the construction industry with one category addressing innovation in design issues.
Sustainable Sites (14 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Construction activity, pollution prevention, site selection, development density and community connectivity, heat island effect and alternative transportation.
Water Efficiency (5 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Water-efficient landscaping, innovated wastewater technologies and water-use reduction.
Energy & Atmosphere (17 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Onsite renewable energy sources, minimum energy performance, optimized energy performance and fundamental refrigerant management.
Materials & Resources (13 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Storage & collection of recyclables, regional materials, recycled content, construction waste management, rapidly renewable materials.
Indoor Environmental Quality (15 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Minimum IAQ performance, daylight & views, thermal comfort, non-or low-emitting materials, controllability of systems.
Innovation & Design Process (5 Possible Points) - Key objectives: Innovative design practices.