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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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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Washington, D.C. First to Achieve LEED at Citywide Scale
News Analysis
The city is first to earn a Platinum LEED for Cities certification, leveraging information technology to track progress toward a range of sustainability goals.
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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.
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Reality Check for LEED v4 Product Credits
News Analysis
The three “Disclosure and Optimization” or “BPDO” credits in LEED v4 include both some pretty easy points and points that are not yet achievable.
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Building Product Disclosure & Optimization (BPDO) Cheat Sheet
Infographic
The three Building Product Disclosure and Optimization (BPDO) credits in LEED v4 are pushing the industry into new territory. Suppliers have made significant progress on materials transparency and optimization since the release of version 4, but not enough to make all the points realistically achievable. With version 4.1, LEED has modified thresholds and simplified requirements so that all six points should be within reach for most projects.
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New Report Helps Leverage the Overlap between WELL and LEED
News 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
Product 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
News Brief
A new report verifies the greater value of environmental certification in the commercial real estate market
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LEED to Certify Entire Communities, Cities
News 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
Primer
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.
