LEED rating system | U.S. Green Building Council (original) (raw)

Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes

LEED-certified green buildings are better buildings.

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation.

197,000 LEED projects worldwide

186 countries and territories

>29 billion+ SF

LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems and resilience. Learn more.

LEED system goals

LEED-certified buildings are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. LEED is a holistic system that doesn’t simply focus on one building element, such as energy, water or health. Instead, it looks at the big picture, factoring in all critical elements that work together to create the best building possible. The goal of LEED is to create better buildings that:

Reduce contribution to
global climate change

Enhance individual human health

Protect and restore water resources

Protect and enhance biodiversity
and ecosystem services

Promote sustainable and
regenerative material cycles

Enhance community quality of life

Of all LEED credits, 35% relate to climate change, 20% directly impact human health, 15% impact water resources, 10% affect biodiversity, 10% relate to the green economy, and 5% impact community and natural resources. In LEED v4.1, most LEED credits are related to operational and embodied carbon. Learn more.

SDGLEED categories can also contribute toward meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Explore synergies between LEED and SDGs.

How LEED works

To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).

valuable

Platinum
80+ points earned

sustainable

Gold
60-79 points earned

flexible

Silver
50-59 points earned

2.2 million

Certified
40-49 points earned

LEED is backed by USGBC—the developers of LEED—and an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals who are paving the way for market transformation. USGBC invests more than $30 million annually to maintain, operate and improve LEED and its customer delivery.