Green building leadership is LEED
The impact of buildings
Buildings have a substantial impact on the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Buildings use resources, generate waste and are costly to maintain and operate. Green building is the practice of designing, constructing and operating buildings to maximize occupant health and productivity, use fewer resources, reduce waste and negative environmental impacts, and decrease life cycle costs.
Why use LEED?
Instant recognition for your building
Faster lease up rates
Higher resale value
Healthier indoor space
Lower use of energy, water and other resources
Better for building occupants, the community and the environment
Enhances your brand and establishes you as a leader in green building
"For over a decade, Colgate-Palmolive has utilized LEED to design and construct our manufacturing sites all over the world” said Vance Merolla, Worldwide Director of Sustainability. "Today our business and employees are realizing the benefits of our LEED efforts through healthy work environments and efficient responsible operations.”
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
2.2 million +
square feet is LEED certified every day with more than 90,000 projects using LEED.
Flexible
LEED works for all building types anywhere. LEED is in 165 countries and territories.
Sustainable
LEED buildings save energy, water, resources, generate less waste and support human health.
Value
LEED buildings attract tenants, cost less to operate and boost employee productivity and retention.
A LEED for every project
LEED is for all building types and all building phases including new construction, interior fit outs, operations and maintenance, and core and shell. There’s a LEED for every type of building project.
BD+C
Building Design and Construction
For new construction or major renovations; includes New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers, and Healthcare. Learn more about building design and construction.
LEED v4 BD+C rating system PDF / LEED v4 BD+C scorecard / Reference guide overview
ID+C
Interior Design and Construction
For complete interior fit-out projects; includes Commercial Interiors, Retail and Hospitality. Learn more about interior design and construction.
LEED v4 ID+C rating system PDF / LEED v4 ID+C scorecard / Reference guide overview
O+M
Building Operations and Maintenance
For existing buildings that are undergoing improvement work or little to no construction; includes Existing Buildings, Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers and Warehouses & Distribution Centers. Learn more about operations and maintenance.
LEED v4 O+M rating system PDF / LEED v4 O+M scorecard / Reference guide overview
ND
Neighborhood Development
For new land development projects or redevelopment projects containing residential uses, nonresidential uses, or a mix. Projects can be at any stage of the development process, from conceptual planning to construction; includes Plan and Built Project. Learn more about neighborhood development.
LEED v4 ND rating system PDF / LEED v4 ND scorecard / Reference guide overview
Homes
For single family homes, low-rise multi-family (one to three stories) or mid-rise multi-family (four to six stories); includes Homes and Multifamily Lowrise and Multifamily Midrise. Learn more about LEED homes.
LEED v4 Homes rating system PDF / LEED v4 Homes scorecard / Reference guide overview
Cities and Communities
For entire cities and sub-sections of a city. Using the Arc performance platform, LEED for Cities projects can measure and manage their city’s water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation and human experience. Learn more about LEED for Cities.
LEED for Cities Pilot scorecard / Guide to LEED Certification: Cities and Communities Pilot
LEED Recertification
Applies to all occupied and in-use projects that have previously achieved certification under LEED – including BD+C and ID+C, regardless of their initial rating system or version. Learn more about recertification.
LEED Zero
Available for all LEED projects certified under the BD+C or O+M rating systems, or registered to pursue LEED O+M certification. LEED Zero is for projects with net zero goals in carbon and/or resources. Learn more about LEED Zero.
LEED works for groups of multiple buildings
LEED offers several options designed for companies and organizations seeking certification for multiple buildings.
Volume certification
Designed for LEED users looking to certify an entire portfolio of building projects. Streamlines the process by focusing on similarities in design, operations & delivery.
LEED campus & multiple building
Available for several buildings on a single site. Offers options to help project owners determine the best ways to reach their goals.
Federal agencies
GBCI offers options for government projects to meet the Guiding Principles for Federal Leadership in High Performance in Sustainable Building requirements.
Achieve better buildings with LEED
Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several categories: Location & Transportation, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation and more. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then earns one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum.
Certified
40-49 points earned
Silver
50-59 points earned
Gold
60-79 points earned
Platinum
80+ points earned
The process is designed to inspire project teams to seek innovative solutions that support public health and our environment, while saving building owners money over a project’s life cycle. Here's how to get started:
Each LEED rating system groups requirements that address the unique needs of different building and project types.
- For LEED v4: Discover LEED to determine which rating system is the best fit and then follow up by reading the Selection Guidance to make sure you've made the right choice.
- For LEED 2009: Use our other Selection Guidance to choose between the available LEED 2009 rating systems.
Make sure to check out the Minimum Program Requirements to know if your project is eligible for LEED certification.
We strive to make the LEED customer experience the best it can be. Our Certification Guides lead projects through the LEED process under each rating system, starting from registration to certification.
Prerequisites are the green building standards every project must meet. Credits allow project teams to customize how they pursue certification. By fulfilling credits, projects earn points that determine its certification level: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+).
- Learn more about credits and prerequisites
- Explore the LEED Credit Library
- Learn how LEED addresses different topics in green building
We have developed a set of LEED Reference Guides for each rating system to help project teams understand each credit and prerequisite. We also have built a comprehensive online toolkit, which includes key supplemental material for LEED projects like addenda and sample forms.
Now you're ready to begin:
- Register your project on LEED Online
- Prepare documentation
- Submit
- Accept certification or ask questions
- And celebrate your success
LEED fees & deadlines
LEED registration is $1,200 for USGBC members and $1,500 for non-members. Certification fees are based on a project's size and the rating system the project was registered under. Registration fees are due at a project's registration; certification fees are due when an application is submitted for review. View detailed fee tables or learn about becoming a USGBC member.
At any given point, LEED rating systems versions are either open for registration and certification; closed for registration, but open for certification; or closed for registration and certification (sunset). View the deadlines table.
LEED resources
Access project tools to apply LEED strategies to your project. Tools include key supplemental material for LEED projects.
Resources
LEED Online | Minimum program requirements
Guide to LEED Certification
Commercial | Neighborhood Development | Homes | Volume Supplement | Cities and Communities | LEED Certification Fees | LEED Certification Deadlines
Have a question?
We're here to help. Explore our Help Center for LEED FAQs, or contact our customer service team.