What is LEED Certification?
What is LEED Certification?
As the gold standard in the construction industry, LEED Certification refers to buildings that have been designed, built, and maintained using green building and energy efficiency best practices.
Keep reading to learn how LEED applies to people, companies, and products.
LEED = Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
LEED is one of the most popular green building certification programs.
- Created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
- Examines 100+ areas of green building
- Recognized internationally
The LEED principles can be relevant to a range of stakeholders.
People often come to us seeking information about:
- LEED Certification for Buildings
- LEED Certification for People
- LEED Certification for Companies
- LEED Certification for Products and Services
What Can Get LEED Certified?
LEED Certification for Buildings
LEED Certification refers to buildings that have been designed, built, and maintained using best practices for green building.
LEED applies to all buildings everywhere, regardless of where they are in their life cycle.
The benefits of LEED Certification include:
- Reduced energy and water usage
- Lower operating costs
- Less construction waste
- Reduced liability
- More durable buildings
- Supports the local economy
- Greater resale value
- Improved indoor air quality
- Increased employee productivity
- Better public image
LEED Certification is Global
LEED is the most widely adopted benchmark because its standards apply to buildings at the global, regional, and local levels.
That means that LEED works no matter where you live — from Seattle, Washington to Taipei, Taiwan.
How LEED Certification Works
LEED applies to all buildings everywhere, regardless of where they are in their life cycle.
To understand LEED, you first have to recognize that the information is organized in different sections.
The sections start broad and then funnel down to specific details.
- Rating Systems categorize your building project.
- Credit Categories target systems in the building.
- Credits are the actual strategies to improve your building.
- Points are earned when you correctly implement a strategy.
When you work on a LEED certification project, you’ll choose relevant credits that help you optimize building performance.
Some credits offer a point range, giving you additional flexibility in terms of how sustainable you want to be.
The more points earned, the more sustainable the building is.
LEED Certification for People
LEED Certification would be hard to accomplish without the passionate work of LEED accredited professionals.
LEED Accreditation is the term used to describe people who have passed a professional exam on LEED concepts.
The benefits of LEED Accreditation include:
- Adding an internationally recognized credential to your resume
- Improved marketability when looking for jobs
- Competitive advantage over jobseekers in your industry
- Third-party recognition of your knowledge
- More likely to qualify for a salary increase or promotion
- Better suited for a leadership role
- Capable of taking on more responsibility
- Stronger eligibility to work on green projects
- Expanded business services & client reach
- Becoming a stronger asset to your company
- Serving as a credible green building advocate
How to Get LEED Accredited
Pursuing a LEED credential is a simple three-step process.
Which LEED Credential Should I Get?
There are three tiers for LEED Accreditation.
All candidates are required to start at the LEED Green Associate level.
Tier 1: LEED Green Associate
- Start here and learn the basic structure of the LEED Rating System
Tier 2: LEED AP with Specialty
- Next, choose to specialize in a specific area of green building.
Tier 3: LEED Fellow
- This honorary title is for LEED APs with 10+ years of experience.
Earn Your LEED Credential Today
Not ready? Explore the LEED credentials in greater detail.
LEED Certification for Companies
The LEED Accreditation title is tied to the person, not the company.
Instead, companies become USGBC Members.
USGBC membership benefits companies in the following ways:
- Companies can use the USGBC logo in their advertising
- Full-time employees can get discounts on the LEED Exam
- Companies can get listed in the USGBC Member Directory
Membership is offered at four levels:
- Organizational
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
Note - USGBC membership does not represent understanding of LEED. It is merely a fee paid to show support of USGBC’s mission.
Membership Levels
All organizations can use the USGBC logo in their advertising regardless of which level they belong to.
The benefits increase with each level of USGBC membership.
LEED Certification for Products
The USGBC does not certify, promote, or endorse products.
However, products and services can play a role in the LEED Certification process, by helping project teams earn points.
The products themselves do not earn points; rather, they contribute to meeting LEED credit requirements.
For example, a steel roofing company could advertise that their product contributes…
- 1 point to SS Credit – Site Development
- 2 points to SS Credit – Heat Island Reduction
- 3 points to EA Credit – Renewable Energy Production
- 2 points to MR Credit – Building Life Cycle Impact Reduction
It is the manufacturer’s responsibility to provide transparent information that shows how their product satisfies the LEED credit.
Take the first step of understanding LEED requirements by joining our LEED Green Associate training!
Sign Up for LEED Training