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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VOCs in LEED and Other Rating Systems
Feature Short
Most building certifications encourage low-emitting and low-VOC products, but they all do it differently. Here’s how it all fits together.
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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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Thinking Beyond Buildings: LEED for Neighborhood Development
Feature
LEED for Neighborhood Development is not yet final, but it's already clear that it's a different type of rating system. Lessons from the pilot projects show that cooperation among team members and with the local government is essential to a successful project.
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Retrocommissioning: Big Savings for Big Buildings
Feature
Retrocommissioning or RCx can be a valuable tool for commercial building owners. RCx addresses the same scope as new building commissioning but is performed on existing buildings. RCx can improve building performance, save energy and money-especially for large buildings.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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The Cost of LEED Certification
Explainer
How much does LEED certification cost in commercial construction? Earning LEED certification involves several types of costs, and you have to consider each separately to get an accurate picture.
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Post-Occupancy Evaluations: Ignorance Isn't Bliss
Explainer
POEs tell you everything you ever wanted to know about your buildings. Don't be afraid to ask.
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Green Chemistry Meets Green Building
Explainer
What is green chemistry, and how does it fit into LEED? We explain the relationship—and some tensions.
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Owner’s Project Requirements: What It Is, What It Could Be
Explainer
Clients, designers, and commissioning agents don’t always get what they need out of the OPR. Some teams are trying to change that.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Only LEED Meets Its Needs, Says GSA
News Analysis
A report released by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) reaffirms that for now, LEED is the most suitable green building rating system for GSA's buildings.
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LEED Streamlined for Real Estate Portfolios, Volume Builders
News Analysis
The U.S. Green Building Council's new portfolio program, in pilot phase for the next year, will streamline the process for institutions with large real estate portfolios, and companies building in volume, to certify those buildings with LEED.
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Cascadia Challenges Green to Go Beyond Platinum
News Analysis
The Cascadia Green Building Council has issued the Living Building Challenge, a rating system based on 16 prerequisites, aiming to define a "true measure of sustainability in the built environment."
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New Infrastructure for LEED
News Analysis
Rather than seeking to develop LEED 3.0 as a new version of its LEED Rating System, the U.S. Green Building Council has chosen to create a new framework for managing LEED.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Finding HPDs: How We Do It At BuildingGreen
Op-Ed
There are several ways you can find Health Product Declarations. Here’s a look at them, including what BuildingGreen offers.
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FSC, LEED, and the Price of Perfectionism
Op-Ed
A hard line against industry-sponsored alternatives to FSC certification in the past may have unfortunate outcomes for the world’s forests.
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LEED Finally Lives Up to Its Promise
Op-Ed
The 4.1 version of LEED’s design and construction rating systems is outstanding. Is it too late?
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A Tribute to Robin Guenther, Green Healthcare Pioneer
Op-Ed
Robin Guenther advanced new standards for hospitals that were adopted by the larger green building community and integrated into leading rating systems.
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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On-demand Webinar- Rainwater Management and LEED: Strategies to Protect Ecosystems and Communities
Webcast
In this webinar, we will review the LEED v4 and v4.1 BD+C Rainwater Management credits and discuss how real project teams are approaching and implementing successful management strategies.
