What is the LEED® rating system and how does a building become certified?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program is a consensus based Green Building rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council, an independent not for profit organization. The rating system is divided into five categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and indoor environmental quality. These five categories are further broken up into “credits.” One or more points are available within each credit and are awarded based on achieving specific requirements. To certify a project a building must achieve a all pre-requisites and a minimum number of credits. For a more detailed description of the LEED® rating system, please refer to the U.S. Green Building Council’s website www.usgbc.org .
