LEED® Background Information

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) supported, third-party certification program dedicated to the expansion and implementation of sustainable building. Through LEED certification, there have been globally adopted design, construction, and operational guidelines developed from nationally benchmarked high performance green buildings. LEED allows those involved in the build process to immediately track their green building progress to encourage and ensure a successful sustainable build.

Who uses LEED?

Anyone who is instrumental in the building process: architects, engineers, facility managers, real estate professionals, construction managers, lenders, landscape architects, interior designers, and government officials. Everyone involved in the build process of a new or existing building plays a key part in developing its sustainability.

How was LEED developed?

LEED committees, composed of voluntary industry experts and practitioners, dedicate their time to ensure rigor and scientific consistency are implemented into the LEED ratings system, a program sponsored by the USGBC. An open, consensus-based process is used when developing the ratings systems along with stakeholder opportunity for comment and review. There are several measures taken to keep the development of the LEED rating systems a fair and open process. 

What is the USGBC?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization composed of more than 19,500 organizations committed to expanding and measuring green building practices. These organizations are from all aspects of the building industry and strive to improve the environmental responsibility, profitability, and healthiness of the buildings where millions of people live and work everyday.

Visit USGBC.org for more information.