What is LEED? Does UCSD follow LEED guidelines?
The U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high-performance “green” buildings. UC’s Sustainable Practices Policy (PDF) and related guidelines (PDF) require that all new construction and major renovation projects — except laboratory and acute care facilities — be built to a LEED “certified” rating. New laboratory buildings will meet the LEED certified rating as well as the Laboratories for the 21st Century, or Labs21, Environmental Performance Criteria, as appropriate, in the future. Our policy also requires that each campus complete one project for existing buildings by 2008, and that large interior renovation projects meet the LEED Commercial Interiors certified rating.
