What is LEED?

What is LEED?
LEED is the acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, a Green Building Rating System. LEED is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key categories of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

LEED Certification
LEED certification is obtained by registering a specific building project and then getting credits for meeting certain requirements and performance benchmarks within the human and environmental health categories. Successful projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification depending on the number of credits achieved.

It is important to understand that products themselves are not LEED certified, but that products do contribute points toward obtaining specific building project certification.

For Detailed LEED Information
Visit the U.S. Green Building Council web page.