OVERVIEW
The LEED Rating Systems make up a voluntary program meant to objectively measure how sustainable a building is in several key areas:
-
impact on site and location
-
water efficiency
-
energy efficiency
-
material selection
-
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
Filter results:
- Blog Post (3) Apply Blog Post filter
- Case Study (2) Apply Case Study filter
- Feature Article (11) Apply Feature Article filter
- Feature Short (6) Apply Feature Short filter
- Infographic (4) Apply Infographic filter
- News Analysis (76) Apply News Analysis filter
- News Brief (92) Apply News Brief filter
- Op-Ed (6) Apply Op-Ed filter
- Primer (6) Apply Primer filter
- Product Guide (1) Apply Product Guide filter
- Product Review (2) Apply Product Review filter
- Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars (1) Apply Reports, Courses, Study Guides, Live Webinars filter
- Webcast (3) Apply Webcast filter
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
VOCs in LEED v4 and Other Rating Systems
October 4, 2016Feature Short
Most building certifications encourage low-emitting and low-VOC products, but they all do it differently. Here’s how it all fits together.
-
Why “Zero VOC” Was Never Enough
October 4, 2016Feature 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.
-
HPD User Guide Helps with LEED, WELL Product Selection
September 19, 2016News Brief
Just in time for LEED v4, a guide for using Health Product Declarations is being released.
-
Legal Wood in LEED Barks Up Wrong Tree, Say NGOs
September 7, 2016News Analysis
A pilot credit to address illegal logging has been criticized by advocacy groups like the Sierra Club. They’ve offered USGBC their own ideas.
