Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary environmental certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2000. It covers design, construction, operation and maintenance. It is a competitor to the BREEAM environmental assessment method developed in the UK.
Separate LEED rating systems are available for:
- New construction.
- Existing buildings: operations and maintenance.
- Commercial interiors.
- Core and shell.
- Schools.
- Retail.
- Healthcare.
- Homes.
- Neighbourhood development.
Where a mixed construction is used, a particular system must be adopted if more than 60% of the gross floor area is suitable for that system. If less than 40% is suitable, then that system should not be used, and if between 40 and 60% is suitable, adoption of that system is at the project teams discretion.
Projects are assessed against a range of categories:
- Sustainable sites.
- Water efficiency.
- Energy and atmosphere.
- Materials and resources.
- Indoor environmental quality.
- Locations and linkages (relating to transport and access to open space).
- Awareness and education.
- Innovation in design.
- Regional priority (relating to local issues and priorities).
These categories are given credits which are then weighted, resulting in an overall score. Projects are then are rated as platinum, gold, silver or certified.
Documents demonstrating compliance with the appropriate system are submitted to the Green Buisiness Certification Inc (GBCI) which provides third party verification of compliance.
As with other assessment methods, there has been shown to be some disparity between predicted performance and actual performance in use. There are also concerns that adopting LEED can increase the capital cost of a project (although whole-life costs may be reduced), and that LEED does not properly take into account local environmental conditions.
The latest version is LEED v4 which includes new market sector adaptations, a new online platform and updated credentials.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Active House.
- Aktivplus.
- Blue Angel ecolabel.
- BOMA International.
- BREEAM.
- BREEAM In-Use Version 6 environmental standard launched by BRE.
- BREEAM, LEED or WELL.
- Code for Sustainable Homes.
- Common Minimum Standards.
- Energy targets.
- Facility procurement standards.
- Global Ecolabelling Network.
- Government Construction Strategy.
- GREENGUARD Certification.
- Green rating systems.
- Green Seal.
- Growing focus on IAQ challenges for specifiers and HVAC manufacturers.
- Living Standard.
- National Planning Policy Framework.
- Passivhaus.
- Performance in use.
- Quad Central in Malta aims for LEED Platinum certification.
- Regenerative design.
- Rubber flooring.
- Ska rating.
- Sustainability.
- Total Resource Use and Efficiency TRUE.
- UK Green Building Council.
- WELL Building Standard.
- Whole-life costs.
- Window Energy Rating.
- Zero Bills Home.
- Zero-carbon homes.
- Zero-carbon non-domestic buildings.
[edit] External references
Featured articles and news
Download your free guide.
Four new types of prior approval for solar developments
Online Planning Portal application types from 5 September.
Election fails to spark construction industry revival
Contract awards and planning; post election.
Making diversity and inclusion easy for SMEs
The CIOB tool for companies with limited resources.
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living
BSRIA Briefing 2024, initial speakers announced.
Looking back at the UK's first Passivhaus leisure centre
Reflections on St Sidwell’s Point with CIAT.
A-Level results and electrical apprenticeships
Electrical Skills Index highlights areas with skills shortages.
One of the world's more unusual drive-throughs.
A quick introduction.
Hadrian's Wall Path and the national trails
The trails are heritage assets in their own right.
Articles on timely advice and hydraulic lime.
Building Designers Association of Australia
CIAT and BDAA sign Memorandum of Understanding.
Built Environment Inclusive partners issue statement committed to inclusion.
Building regulation requirements can have unintended consequences.
CIOB announces 2024/25 vice president
Sustainability champion Professor Saul Humphrey.
Accelerating towards a net-zero built environment.