The LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by the United States Green Building Council, or USGBC. USGBC is an organization that was formed in 1993 with a mission to transform the way communities are designed, built and operated, to enable an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
Shortly after the USGBC was formed, the organization's members realized that the sustainable building industry needed a system to define and measure what really makes a green building…well “green". To help answer this question, a committee was established that was made up of architects, real estate agents, a building owner, an environmentalist, a lawyer and industry representatives to research existing building metrics and rating systems.
The first LEED Pilot Project Program, also referred to as LEED Version 1.0, was launched at the USGBC membership summit in August 1998. The LEED green building certification system is now the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. It measures how well a building or community performs across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources.
"35,000 projects are currently participating in the LEED system, comprising over 4.5 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 91 countries." -USGBC
LEED is an acronym that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED Rating Systems evaluate the environmental impact from a whole building perspective over a building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building in design, construction and operation. Environmental, Economic and Community Benefits of LEED Certified buildings include:
- Lower operating costs and increased asset value
- Reduced waste sent to landfills
- Conservation of energy and water
- Healthier and safer for occupants
- Reduced harmful greenhouse gas emissions
- Qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities
- Demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility
The LEED Green Building Rating System includes the following project certification opportunities:
- LEED for New Construction
- LEED for Core & Shell
- LEED for Schools
- LEED for Commercial Interiors
|
- LEED for Existing Buildings
- LEED for Homes
- LEED for Neighborhood Development
|
(0) items 
