OVERVIEW
The LEED Rating Systems make up a voluntary program meant to objectively measure how sustainable a building is in several key areas:
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impact on site and location
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water efficiency
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energy efficiency
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material selection
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indoor environmental quality
The system also encourages innovation.
The LEED standards are maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a nonprofit, non-governmental, membership-based organization. While participation in LEED is voluntary, the program owes some of its growth to municipal and state ordinances that have mandated it for public buildings and have offered incentives for private buildings.
IN-DEPTH
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The Future of LEED Will Be Positive
News Brief
With LEED Positive, the LEED rating systems will move into the territory of regenerative design.
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Stemming Illegal Logging with a New LEED Credit
News Brief
Timber Traceability is one group’s answer to the controversial Legal Wood pilot path.
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The World’s First LEED Zero Building
News Brief
Engineering firm Petinelli has scored LEED Zero Energy certification with its headquarters in Curitiba, Brazil.
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Recertification Now a Reality for All LEED Buildings
News Brief
Recertification is now achievable for new construction projects without doing full-on EBOM.
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LEED’s Resilient Design Pilot Credits Bounce Back
News Brief
The resilient design pilot credits were taken down temporarily but have returned—with a few changes.
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Health Product Declaration Collaborative Teams Up with USGBC
News Brief
A strategic partnership between HPDC and the U.S. Green Building Council aims to scale material transparency.
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A Net-Zero Certification from USGBC
News Brief
To earn USGBC’s Net Zero designation, buildings must be LEED certified and can choose among net-zero energy, water, waste, or carbon.
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Materials Transparency & LEED
Webcast
This deep dive into the three Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (BPDO) credits in LEED v4 provides the rationale for why product choices are so important, the details on how to achieve points within the three credits, and which options you shouldn't bother pursuing.
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How Six Affordable Housing Projects Got to Green
Feature Short
Stories of designers and developers who overcame the challenges of building affordable housing that is also green, sustainable, and healthy.
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California Code Scores LEED Points
News Brief
Many LEED v4 prerequisites and credits are now automatic for projects meeting the CALGreen code.