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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Building Product Disclosure & Optimization (BPDO) Cheat Sheet
June 16, 2017Infographic
The three Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (BPDO) credits in LEED v4 are pushing the industry into new territory. USGBC has done a great job defining and spurring manufacturers to support some options, but others are not yet (as of mid-2017) achievable, for a range of reasons. So go after the easy ones, and don’t waste time on others until they’re within reach.
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New Report Helps Leverage the Overlap between WELL and LEED
May 16, 2017News Analysis
IWBI’s new guidance reduces documentation for projects pursuing dual certification.
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Fiberglass, XPS, Cork? Insulation Options for LEED v4 and Living Buildings
April 4, 2017Product Review
Choosing insulation with an eye to points in LEED v4 or Living Building Challenge compliance? Here’s how insulation materials compare.
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Rental And Occupancy Levels Remain Higher For Green Office Buildings
April 4, 2017News Brief
A new report verifies the greater value of environmental certification in the commercial real estate market
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Health and Wellness Rating System Comparison
March 8, 2017Infographic
How LEED, the Living Building Challenge, WELL, and Fitwel compare on key measures of wellness in buildings.
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LEED to Certify Entire Communities, Cities
February 7, 2017News Brief
USGBC rolls out two new certifications based on actual performance tracked through the Arc platform.
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How RECs Work—and Why You Might Not Own Your Clean Energy
February 7, 2017Primer
Even if you buy into a solar farm or host an array, someone else can claim the benefits. Here’s how to get what you expect.
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How Low-Flow Can You Go with Plumbing Fixtures?
January 4, 2017Product Review
BuildingGreen-Approved toilets, urinals, showerheads, and faucets automatically meet CALGreen and LEED v4 water-efficiency standards.
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New Tech Startup, Arc Skoru, to Support USGBC, GBCI with Data
December 5, 2016News Brief
Performance data supporting “quality of life” is the focus of USGBC and GBCI’s new for-profit subsidiary, which will work with the LEED Dynamic Plaque.
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Stone Certification Recognized in LEED v4, Living Buildings
November 7, 2016News Brief
Natural stone is one of the oldest green building materials, but it’s the newest to have a rigorous multi-attribute certification recognized by USGBC
