What is LEED Certification?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building (USGBC) in 2000 through an open consensus-based process led by LEED Committees. LEED certification was created to set a benchmark for design, construction, and operation of high-performance green buildings.
How does a building receive LEED Certification?
LEED Certification rates a building based on various factors pertaining to sustainability, energy efficiency, and green building. LEED Accreditation is sought by green building professionals to validate their understanding of the LEED Certification process. A building seeking LEED Certification must accumulate the necessary points to receive a LEED Certification which will award a silver, gold, or platinum rating. The greater number of points earned through the LEED Rating System, the more sustainable the building.
What does LEED Certification provide?
LEED Certification provides third-party verification that a building, home, school, or existing buildings are designed and built using strategies aimed at achieving high performance in key areas of human and environmental health. Some of their concentrations are in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED also provides building owners and operators with a framework for identifying and implementing design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
Impact
Nearly 50,000 projects are currently participating in LEED and 1.6 million square feet of building space is certifying for LEED everyday around the world.
Resources
http://www.usgbc.org/Default.aspx
http://www.everblue.edu/leed-certification?gclid=COvZy4nqnrECFU3PKgodxSG8zg
