This fact file will provide an overview of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®). American communities have more options than ever for encouraging greener building and development. Many organizations have developed model codes or rating systems that communities can use to develop green building programs or revise building ordinances. LEED® is a series of rating systems aimed at increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings sites and structures and of neighborhoods. LEED® covers the design, construction, and operation of all types of buildings.

Background

About 20 years ago, LEED® was created to measure and define green building. LEED® established a baseline—a universally agreed-upon, holistic system for reducing environmental impacts, saving resources, impacting human health, reducing carbon emissions, and addressing climate change.

Fast-forward two decades, and green building has grown into a trillion-dollar industry, with LEED® now the most widely used green building program in the world.

LEED® basics

LEED® certified building aims to save money, improve efficiency, create healthier indoor spaces, and lower carbon emissions. They are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. EPA uses “LEED® standards” as an umbrella term to encompass model codes, rating systems, and other publications that provide criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of buildings.

Building types

• Commercial
• Industrial
• Mixed use
• Residential

Project type

• New construction
• Existing buildings
• Additions

Subject areas

• Sustainable sites
• Energy efficiency
• Water efficiency
• Materials and resource use
• Indoor environmental quality
• Emissions
• Operations and maintenance

Community adoption/Use

Communities could use the rating systems to encourage greener construction of commercial buildings, homes, or neighborhoods.

Certification/Compliance process

• LEED® points are awarded on a 100-point scale, and credits are weighted to reflect their potential environmental impacts. Ten bonus credits are available, four of which address regionally specific environmental issues. A project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified. Third-party certification is required.
• Includes 4 levels of certification—Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points), or Platinum (80+ points).

Relationship to other standards

• Almost half of LEED® points are based on Energy Star criteria. Some of the prerequisites required under the LEED® program also relate to the performance for appliances which includes those rated as ENERGY STAR. Both programs complement each other. Even their differences are complementary, with LEED® focusing on the design aspect and ENERGY STAR focusing on the output of a building. You can also use ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager to calculate energy performance for a LEED® certified building.
• LEED® categories can contribute toward meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
• LEED® aligns with ESG requirements and is a widely accepted corporate practice for environmental disclosures.

Applicable laws

LEED® standards are voluntary.

Related definitions

• Standard - In the building community, there is no consistent use or definition of the term “standard.” EPA uses the term “standard” in reference to LEED® in a broad sense to mean “something established by authority, custom, or general consent as a model or example.
• Net zero - A net zero carbon building is a highly efficient building that achieves a zero balance of carbon emissions emitted during operations.
• Decarbonization - This term refers to the goal of ending our dependence on oil and gas as power sources to reduce the carbon dioxide (or CO2) emissions that raise global temperatures.

Real world example

EPA Region 10 Seattle undertook a project to make its building a more sustainable facility, reducing the environmental impacts of operations while providing a healthy office setting that encourages high performance. New floor plans, products, and practices reduce the building’s energy, water, and materials use, and support EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment. In 2009, the Park Place Building received LEED® Platinum, the highest possible certification for existing buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council. In 2014, the building received a LEED® Platinum rating for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. In 2015, the EPA Region 10 Seattle office received a LEED® Gold rating for Commercial Interiors. As a result, EPA Region 10 now occupies three LEED-certified buildings in Seattle, Washington; Lacey, Washington; and Boise, Idaho. Key to Remember LEED® is a series of rating systems aimed at increasing the environmental and health performance of buildings, sites and structures and of neighborhoods. LEED® covers the design, construction, and operation of all types of buildings.