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LEEDSPOINTS.COM was designed as a resource for Architects, Engineers, Contractors, Manufacturers and other Professionals in the Construction Industry seeking information regarding the United States Green Building Council's LEEDs Program. Visit our LEEDS Points RSS Extries/Blog for updates on LEED Projects information.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark in the United States for the design, construction, and operation of Green Buildings developed using one or more of the. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance, environmental impact and sustainability. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:

LEED Ratings Systems:
LEED® is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED provides building owners and operators with the tools they need to have an immediate and measureable impact on their buildings performance.
LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of a building lifecycle. Specific LEED programs include:


How is LEED Developed?
The LEED Rating System was created to transform the built environment to sustainability by providing the building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building. The rating system is developed and continuously refined via an open, consensus-based process that has made LEED the green building standard of choice for Federal agencies and state and local governments nationwide. Click here for more information on the LEED Development Process.

What is LEED Certification?
The first step to LEED certification is to Register your project with the USGBC. A project is a viable candidate for LEED certification if it can meet all prerequisites and achieve the minimum number of points to earn the Certified level of LEED project certification. To earn certification, a building project must meet certain prerequisites and performance benchmarks ("credits") within each category. Projects are awarded Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum certification depending on the number of credits they achieve. This comprehensive approach is the reason LEED-certified buildings have reduced operating costs, healthier and more productive occupants, and conserve our natural resources.
Note for Product Manufacturers and Service Providers:
Although USGBC does not certify, promote, or endorse products and services of individual companies, products and services do play a role and can help projects with credit achievement. (Note that products and services do not earn projects points.) Learn more by visiting this page on the USGBC Website regarding Resources for Product Manufacturers and Service Providers containing information on how you and your company can help advance green building, while also achieving your own environmental and economic goals.

Who Can Use LEED?
Everyone: Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders, government officials and others involved in the Construction Industry.

For more information, one can contact their local USGBC chapter for LEEDS news, resources and to meet others involved in the Green Building movement!

Additional Information regarding LEED Points and the Benefits of Green Building Projects on the Environment, for the Contractor, Building Owner, Occupants and others read an overview About LEEDs points and the Benefits of GREEN Building.

LEEDSPOINTS.COM October 2007