LEED rating system

The most widely used green building rating system.

Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes | LEED Platinum | Photo: ©denmarsh photography, inc.

LEED-certified green buildings are better buildings

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world's most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation.

197,000 LEED projects worldwide

186 countries and territories

>29 billion+ SF

LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems and resilience. Learn more.

A LEED for every project

LEED is for all building types and all building phases including new construction, interior fit outs, operations and maintenance and core and shell. Check the rating system selection guidance to select a rating system.

Building Design and Construction (BD+C)

For the design and construction of whole buildings, and additions to buildings, of various use types that are either new construction or undergoing major renovations.

Interior Design and Construction (ID+C)

For complete commercial interior fit-out projects that have no scope for the exterior shell of the building and/or site work.

Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M)

For existing buildings that are undergoing improvement work or little to no construction, O+M offers an opportunity to pay close attention to building operations by supporting whole buildings that have been fully operational and occupied for at least one year. Buildings with LEED O+M certification meet holistic leadership standards.

Neighborhood Development (ND)

For new land development projects or redevelopment projects containing residential uses, nonresidential uses, or a mix. Projects can be at any stage of the development process, from conceptual planning to construction.

Homes

For the design and construction of high-performance residential buildings.

Cities

For entire cities and sub-sections of a city. LEED for Cities projects can measure and manage their city’s water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation and human experience.

LEED system goals

LEED-certified buildings are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. LEED is a holistic system that doesn’t simply focus on one building element, such as energy, water or health. Instead, it looks at the big picture, factoring in all critical elements that work together to create the best building possible.

LEED categories can also contribute toward meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Explore synergies between LEED and SDGs.

Better for business, people and the environment.

Millions of people live, work and learn in LEED-certified buildings worldwide. Here's why.

Better for business and the bottom line

LEED buildings have a higher resale value and lower operational costs than non-LEED buildings. LEED is an essential strategy for achieving ESG, decarbonization and equity goals. LEED-certified buildings are a solid asset for investors, occupiers, and communities. They've proven to be top-performing commercial real estate investments.

LEED helps investors measure and manage their real estate performance. It allows investors to implement management practices that prioritize building efficiency, decrease operational costs and increase asset value.

LEED-certified buildings have consistently achieved higher rents than non-LEED counterparts, averaging $4.13 or 11.1% higher rent than non-LEED certified buildings*.

* Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). .

LEED-certified assets outperform during recession-recovery periods, having lower vacancies than their non-LEED counterparts in the wake of COVID-19*.

* Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). .

The pandemic accelerated tenant demand for ESG assets. Since 2020, occupancy rates for LEED-certified assets have increased from 90% to 92%. Non-LEED occupancy has fallen from 90% to 88% over the same period*.

* Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). .

Since 2018, LEED-certified assets have held a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot over non-LEED buildings*.

LEED-certified offices have consistently performed at a premium when it comes to pricing across quality classes and geographies**.

LEED-certified Class A urban office sales generated a 25.3% price per square foot premium over non-certified buildings. In comparison, LEED-certified Class A suburban offices achieved a 40.9% premium over non-certified assets**.

LEED-certified Class B office achieved the highest premium, 77.5%, over its non-certified comparable set**.

* Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). .
** Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). .

Better for people

LEED-certified buildings focus on occupant well-being, offering a healthier and more satisfying indoor space while addressing community and public health. The rating system focuses on strategies like banning smoking and reducing toxic exposure from materials to improve air quality. Active design and supporting the production of local, sustainable foods promote physical activity and healthy eating.

Employers in LEED-certified spaces report higher recruitment and retention rates and increased employee productivity*.

* U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). Research Anthology of Health-Promoting Building Strategies.

LEED creates healthier spaces with cleaner air and access to daylight and is free from harmful chemicals in paints and finishings*.

* U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). Research Anthology of Health-Promoting Building Strategies.

Improving indoor air quality can reduce absenteeism and work hours affected by asthma, respiratory allergies, depression and stress, leading to self-reported productivity improvements*.

* U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). Research Anthology of Health-Promoting Building Strategies.

Energy-efficient buildings help reduce pollution and improve outdoor air quality in major industrialized areas, making LEED a critical tool in reducing smog*.

* U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). Research Anthology of Health-Promoting Building Strategies.

Better for the environment

LEED buildings use less energy and water, utilize renewable energy and fewer resources, create less waste, and preserve land and habitat. LEED certification is a global solution for cities, communities and neighborhoods. Through sustainable design, construction and operations, LEED can help new and existing buildings to reduce carbon emissions, energy and waste, conserve water, prioritize safer materials, and lower our exposure to toxins.

Buildings account for almost 40% of global energy-related CO2 and are critical in tackling climate change.

Energy-efficient buildings reduce pollution and improve outdoor air quality in major industrialized areas, making LEED a critical tool in reducing smog.

By building to LEED standards, buildings contributed 50% fewer GHGs than conventionally constructed buildings due to water consumption, 48% fewer GHGs due to solid waste and 5% fewer GHGs due to transportation*.

* Mozingo, L. and E. Arens. 2014. . Final report prepared for CARB and CEPA.

34% lower CO2 emissions*
25% less energy consumed*
11% less water consumed*
78 million tons of avoided CO2 emissions
89/100 average ENERGY STAR score for LEED projects
25% less energy on average used by LEED buildings compared to commercial buildings
1.3 million tons of coal equivalent saved each year
80 million tons of waste diverted from landfills*

* Fowler, Kimberly, et al. . Sept. 2011.

By 2030, LEED projects will have diverted more than 540 million tons of waste from landfills.

Nearly 4 billion vehicle miles traveled have been avoided by occupants of LEED buildings, thanks to efficient locations and alternative transportation options.

Certified projects are estimated to have cumulatively specified more than $100 billion in green materials.

How LEED works

To achieve LEED certification, a project earns points by adhering to prerequisites and credits that address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health and indoor environmental quality. Projects go through a verification and review process by GBCI and are awarded points that correspond to a level of LEED certification: Certified (40-49 points), Silver (50-59 points), Gold (60-79 points) and Platinum (80+ points).

Platinum
80+ points earned

Gold
60-79 points earned

Silver
50-59 points earned

Certified
40-49 points earned

LEED is backed by USGBC—the developers of LEED—and an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals who are paving the way for market transformation. USGBC invests more than $30 million annually to maintain, operate and improve LEED and its customer delivery.

Learn more about how LEED works.
Download our LEED slide deck to demonstrate the value of LEED.
Learn more about green building concepts in USGBC's free introductory education courses.
Explore the Future of LEED and review the principles that will guide our work as we chart the course ahead and receive inputs for how LEED evolves, both for technical requirements and as a market transformation tool.

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LEED rating system

LEED-certified green buildings are better buildings