LEED
LEED is a voluntary program meant to objectively measure how sustainable a building is.
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.
LEED
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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EPDs Will Change How We Build—But Slowly (Executive Summary)
Feature Short
Are EPDs actually going to have an impact on sustainable design and construction practices? Eventually. Just don’t get caught up in the hype.
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Getting the EPD Credit in LEED v4: Atlanta Stadium
Feature Short
Innovations go far deeper than a stunning, biomimetic roof. The Atlanta Falcons’ new stadium aims to bring green building to the masses.
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LEED v4 and EPDs: How’s That Market Disruption Working Out for You?
Feature Short
More EPDs are appearing as a result of LEED v4, even as problems with data quality get worked out on the fly.
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Why “Zero VOC” Was Never Enough
Feature Short
We used to look for coatings, adhesives, and sealants that contained no VOCs. Great for smog prevention, but IAQ and installer health are also important.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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HPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
Infographic
How to get solid information from a Health Product Declaration (HPD), in just five steps.
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EPD Quick-Start Guide: 5 Easy Steps
Infographic
Use these tips to get what you need from an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), fast.
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30 Years of Green Building in the U.S.
Infographic
As The BuildingGreen Report (formerly Environmental Building News, or “EBN”) celebrates its 30th year of publication, we decided to track the growth—and explosion—of the green building movement. We start in 1990 with the founding of AIA’s Committee on the Environment.
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Upgrade to LEED 2009?
Explainer
Projects currently registered under LEED-NC 2.2 can transfer to LEED 2009 before certifying. Should your project switch?
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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BuildingGreen’s Guide to Products for LEED Projects
Product Guide
The products in the collections listed here contribute to the requirements of key LEED credits.
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How Low-Flow Can You Go with Plumbing Fixtures?
Product Review
BuildingGreen-Approved toilets, urinals, showerheads, and faucets automatically meet CALGreen and LEED v4 water-efficiency standards.
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Fiberglass, XPS, Cork? Insulation Options for LEED v4 and Living Buildings
Product Review
Choosing insulation with an eye to points in LEED v4 or Living Building Challenge compliance? Here’s how insulation materials compare.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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USGBC Seeks to Make LEED More Wood Friendly
News Analysis
The U.S. Green Building Council is promoting a plan to expand LEED's recognition of wood while refining its handling of non-wood biobased materials.
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USGBC Allows Credit-by-Credit Upgrading
News Analysis
Projects that were registered under LEED 2.0 or 2.1 can now be submitted for certification using version 2.2 requirements for individual credits.
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Modular Home Earns LEED for Homes Platinum
News Analysis
A modular house produced by LivingHomes, Inc., in Santa Monica, California, has earned the country's first Platinum rating in LEED for Homes.
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WTC Going for Gold
News Analysis
Three new World Trade Center towers to be built in New York City will pursue LEED Gold certification.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Why the USGBC Should Change LEED's Position on Wood
Op-Ed
Alex Wilson, who wrote a white paper for the USGBC recommending changes to the LEED Rating System relative to wood and biobased credits, explains why the changes make sense from an environmental standpoint.
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Concerns About Broadening LEED's Wood Credit
Op-Ed
Bill Edgerton, AIA, writes about his concerns that broadening LEED's wood credit would weaken LEED and erode USGBC's credibility.
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Regulations Demanding Actual Data Are Leapfrogging LEED
Op-Ed
Now that California and Washington, D.C., are mandating energy use reporting for commercial buildings, the designation "LEED Certified" should be reserved for projects that document their actual performance through LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance.
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Three Steps To Make Green Globes Part of the Solution
Op-Ed
An entry-level alternative pushing LEED to get better would be great, but GBI’s Green Globes needs to start by joining the green building community.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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LEED 101: A Syllabus Supplement for Green Building Coursework
Syllabus Supplement
This syllabus supplement provides professors and students with content on LEED from BuildingGreen, LEEDuser, and other relevant resources.
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LEED and WELL Product Labels: A Guide and Analysis
Feature Article
LEED and WELL encourage a lot of different programs for green products. Learn the essentials—plus what’s behind the labels.
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Leveraging LEED Design Strategies for WELL
Webcast
Leveraging LEED Design Strategies for WELL on-demand webcast
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Leveraging LEED Design Strategies for WELL: Thermal Comfort, Light, Water and Sound
Webcast
Leveraging LEED Design Strategies for WELL: Thermal Comfort, Light, Water and Sound on-demand webcast
Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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GSA Adopts LEED, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, and Weimaraner
April Fools
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USGBC Embraces Legal Marijuana
April Fools
LEED v4.20 introduces a wide range of cannabis-oriented prerequisites.
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Passive Survivability Standard Modified for Post-Pandemic Office Buildings
April Fools
The LEED Passive Survivability pilot credit just got a lot easier for office buildings in the post-pandemic era.
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A Mind-Expanding Addition to LEED v4.20
April Fools
USGBC adds psychedelic Integrative Process prerequisites designed to be a paradigm-shifting expansion of LEED.
