LEED is a globally recognized green building rating system that seeks to ensure the mindful development, construction, and maintenance of buildings in a way that benefits occupants and the environment by reducing waste and conserving resources.
LEED is used in 165 countries and territories, with over 2.2 million square feet of projects certified daily.
What does LEED stand for?
Before starting with our LEED deep dive, you might want to know what LEED stands for?
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Short Overview of What LEED is
LEED certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), aims to promote sustainable, efficient, and healthy buildings. It incorporates a holistic approach to assess various aspects such as energy use, water efficiency, and indoor environmental quality. This certification is not just about building efficiency but also about enhancing the quality of life and contributing to environmental conservation.
Who is responsible for the LEED Certification?
The primary authority for LEED certification is the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), but the Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) plays a crucial role in the certification process.
Here is a summary of their roles:
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Role: Develops and maintains the LEED framework and programs.
- Focus: Develops and updates the LEED rating system, sets standards, and promotes the adoption of green building practices.
- Responsibilities: Maintains the overall LEED system, invests in its improvement, and supports market transformation.
Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
- Role: Administers LEED building certifications and LEED professional accreditations.
- Focus: Ensures quality control over project certification and professional credentialing.
- Responsibilities: Reviews LEED applications, grants certifications, and administers professional exams and credentials.
In summary, USGBC is the primary authority that develops and maintains the LEED framework, while GBCI handles the certification process and ensures quality control over project certification and professional credentialing.
LEED worldwide, who provides certifications?
LEED certification is provided by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). Here is a summary of the authorities and providers in the US, UAE, and Germany:
United States
- Authority: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Provider: Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI)
United Arab Emirates
- Authority: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Providers: TÜV SÜD, GBCI MENA
Germany
- Authority: U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Providers: GBCI Europe, German Green Building Association e.V. (GGBA)
These entities ensure that projects meet the necessary criteria for LEED certification, which is a globally recognized standard for sustainable and environmentally friendly buildings.
History of the LEED Framework
The version history of LEED includes several updates, with the latest framework being LEED v5 which will be opened for registrations in 2025.
The current version of LEED that building projects can register for is LEED v4.1. LEED v5 is expected to launch in 2025, marking a significant shift in certification, prioritizing climate action, quality of life, and ecological conservation and restoration.
LEED v5
- Release: The beta version of LEED v5 was launched, marking a significant shift in certification, prioritizing climate action, quality of life, and ecological conservation.
- Goals: The three system goals are climate action (50% of certification points), quality of life (25%), and ecological conservation and restoration (25%).
- Principles: The five principles that support these goals are decarbonization, resilience, health and well-being, equity, and ecosystems.
- Implementation: The official launch of LEED v5 D&C (Design & Construction) is scheduled for the first quarter of 2024, with full implementation expected by 2025.
- Update Cycle: LEED will adopt an update cycle every 5 years, with LEED v6 expected in 2030
Reasons for Changes from v4.1 to v5
- Climate Risks: The U.S. Green Building Council is preparing to require new buildings seeking LEED certification to consider the potential impacts of flooding, rising seas, wildfires, and other climate-related risks.
- Resilience: The updates aim to enhance resilience in the built environment and incentivize building developers to improve climate resiliency.
- Decarbonization: LEED v5 prioritizes decarbonization and holistic approaches to sustainability, reflecting a shift towards reducing carbon emissions and addressing climate change.
How does the LEED Scorecard work?
LEED Certification Levels
LEED building certifications are divided into four levels based on 100 possible points (plus 10 bonus points) earned in six key categories and additional points based on regional priority or design innovation:
- Certified: 40–49 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Gold: 60-79 points
- Platinum: 80+ points
The LEED classification categories
To earn a LEED certification, a building project must be rated in different categories. Here are the nine LEED categories and a brief explanation of each:
1. Sustainable Sites
- Focus: Site development and management.
- Goals: Reduce environmental impact, protect natural habitats, and enhance ecosystem services.
- Prerequisites: Reduce construction activity pollution, protect or restore habitat, and provide open space.
2. Location and Transportation
- Focus: Building location and transportation options.
- Goals: Promote compact development, alternative transportation, and connection to amenities.
- Prerequisites: Develop in existing areas near amenities and public transportation, provide bicycle storage, and reduce parking.
3. Water Efficiency
- Focus: Water usage and management.
- Goals: Reduce water consumption and promote efficient water use.
- Prerequisites: Reduce indoor water use, outdoor water use, and implement building-level water metering.
4. Energy and Atmosphere
- Focus: Energy performance and atmospheric impacts.
- Goals: Improve energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and promote renewable energy.
- Prerequisites: Meet minimum energy performance requirements, implement building-level energy metering, and manage refrigerants.
5. Materials and Resources
- Focus: Material selection and waste management.
- Goals: Reduce waste, promote sustainable materials, and minimize environmental impacts.
- Prerequisites: Manage construction waste, store and collect recyclables, and prioritize sustainable materials.
6. Indoor Environmental Quality
- Focus: Indoor air quality, lighting, and thermal comfort.
- Goals: Enhance occupant health, comfort, and productivity.
- Prerequisites: Meet minimum indoor air quality standards, provide daylighting, and control tobacco smoke.
7. Innovation
- Focus: Innovative sustainable design strategies.
- Goals: Encourage unique and effective sustainability solutions.
- Prerequisites: None; projects can earn points for innovative strategies not covered by other credits.
8. Regional Priority
- Focus: Addressing local environmental priorities.
- Goals: Promote regionally specific sustainability strategies.
- Prerequisites: None; projects can earn points for addressing regional priorities.
9. Education and Awareness
- Focus: Educating building occupants and promoting sustainability.
- Goals: Enhance occupant understanding of sustainable practices and promote green building principles.
- Prerequisites: Provide educational materials and promote the LEED rating system.
These categories form the foundation of the LEED certification process, which aims to create healthier, more efficient, and environmentally friendly buildings.
LEED Certification Benefits
LEED certification offers several benefits, including:
- Environmental Benefits: LEED-certified buildings reduce waste, conserve resources, and promote environmental sustainability.
- Economic Benefits: LEED-certified buildings can command higher rental rates and increase property values.
- Social Benefits: LEED-certified buildings provide a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment for occupants
How to Verify a Building’s LEED certification?
To find a list of LEED certified buildings or verify if a building is LEED certified, you can use the following resources:
- USGBC LEED Project Directory: This directory lists LEED-certified project profiles, including project details, a credit scorecard, and photos. You can filter by country, state, rating system, version, and certification level.
https://www.usgbc.org/projects - Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG): This platform provides a map of LEED-certified buildings, with details on the certification level and square footage. It also includes data on LEED certification activity and square footage.
https://www.gbig.org/collections/14544/buildings - LEED Online: This platform allows registered users to search for LEED-certified projects, view project profiles, access credit scorecards and photos and register for certifcation.
https://www.leedonline.com/
These resources provide a comprehensive list of LEED-certified buildings and allow users to verify the certification status of a specific building.
LEED certification is crucial for promoting sustainability, improving occupant health, increasing property value, and helping organizations meet their environmental goals.
For your next property investment, it is worth to check if your project is LEED certified.
