LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which was first created in 1998 by the non-profit organization US Green Building Council (“USGBC”).  As stated in the USGBC LEED New Construction & Major Renovation v.2.2, the intent of LEED is to “promote healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound practices in building design and construction.”  And, LEED has rating systems for various projects, including New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, Neighborhood Development, Retail, Healthcare, Homes, and Commercial Interiors.  LEED even has a rating system for the Operation and Management of any of these building types once constructed.

The LEED 3.0 rating system was launched on April 27, 2009.  The new 3.0 Version is comprised of various credits totaling 100 points.  These credits are organized into seven (7) separate categories:  (1) Sustainable sites, (2) Water Efficiency, (3) Energy and Atmosphere, (4) Materials and Resources, (5) Indoor Environmental Quality, (6) Innovation in Design, and (7) Regional Priorities.  LEED has 4 levels of certification:

40-49 pts = Certified
50-59 pts = Silver
60-79 pts = Gold
80 pts and above = Platinum

For more information about the LEED rating systems and the USGBC, go to www.usgbc.org.