The main route to certifying a green building is through the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.^® Visit the LEED website at www.usgbc.org/LEED. The guidelines are set forth by US Green Building Council members in order to:

• Define “green” by providing a standard for measurement
• Prevent false or exaggerated claims
• Promote integrated design processes
• Establish market value with a recognizable “brand”
• Raise consumer awareness.

This system provides guidelines for new building construction (LEED-NC) and major renovation projects, existing building operations and other smaller construction projects. In addition, it provides application guides for schools, laboratories and multiple buildings/campuses.

Certification Criteria for LEED-NC

The certification level is based on the number of points the building is awarded in five distinct categories. These categories are designed to take into account the different aspects of a green building.

Indoor Environmental Quality

• Establish good indoor air quality
• Eliminate, reduce, and manage the sources of indoor air pollution
• Ensure thermal comfort and control of thermostat systems
  
• Provide connections to the outdoor environment

Sustainable Sites

• Develop only appropriate sites

• Reuse existing buildings and/or sites
• Protect natural and agricultural areas
• Reduce need for automobile use
• Protect and/or restore natural sites

Water Efficiency

• Reduce the quantity of water needed for the building
• Reduce municipal water supply and treatment burden

Energy and Atmosphere

• Establish energy efficiency and system performance
• Optimize energy efficiency
• Encourage renewable and alternative energy sources
• Support ozone protection protocols

Materials and Resources

• Use materials with less environmental impact
• Reduce and manage waste
• Reduce the amount of materials needed

Innovation in Design (Extra Points)

• Recognize exceptional performance in any achieved LEED-NC credit
• Recognize innovation in green building categories not specifically addressed by LEED-NC credits

Certification Levels for LEED-NC

A building can be certified with a ranking from “certified” to “platinum” depending on the number of points (out of 69) the building receives based on the number of green measures achieved:

Certified: 26-32 points

Silver Level: 33-38 points

Gold Level: 39-51 points

Platinum Level: 52+ points