LEED© Fact Sheet
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Overview Materials> LEED© Fact Sheet
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED©) is a point-rating system devised by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building and encourage market transformation towards sustainable design. Using concrete can facilitate the process of obtaining LEED™ Green Building certification.
LEED was launched in an effort to develop a “consensus-based, market-driven rating system to accelerate the development and implementation of green building design, construction, and operations.” The program is not rigidly structured; not every project must meet identical requirements to qualify. The system is credit-based, allowing projects to earn points for environmentally-friendly actions taken during construction and use of a building.
Current LEED Products:
• LEED – NC v2.2 for New Construction
• LEED - CS v2.0 for Core and Shell
• LEED – EB v2.0 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
• LEED – CI v2.0 for Commercial Interiors
• LEED ND - Neighborhood Development
• LEED for Healthcare
• LEED for Homes
• LEED for Retail
• LEED for Schools
LEED Credit Categories
While each LEED product varies slightly, most contain the following credits that encourage the use of strategies in the following impact areas:
• Sustainable site development
• Water savings
• Energy efficiency
• Material Selection
• Indoor environmental quality
Each category is divided into credits. The program outlines the intent, requirements, technologies, and strategies for meeting each credit, which is broken down into individual points. Additional points can be earned for innovation, exceptional environmental performance, and use of a LEED accredited professional on the project team.
Credits for Certification (for LEED-NC v2.2)
A project requires at least 26 credits for certification. Silver, gold, and platinum levels are also available.
| Certified | 26 - 32 credits |
| Silver | 33 - 38 credits |
| Gold | 39 - 51 credits |
| Platinum | 52 - 69 credits |
Credit Category Points Available (for LEED-NC v2.2)
| Sustainable Sites: | 14 |
| Water Efficiency: | 5 |
| Energy and Atmosphere: | 17 |
| Materials and Resources: | 13 |
| Indoor Environmental Quality: | 15 |
| Total Core Points: | 64 |
| Additional Points for Innovation and Design Process: | 5 |
Growing in Importance
LEED is a voluntary program; however, obtaining a LEED certification sends a positive environmental image to the community. Additionally, green building practices can result in energy and cost savings during the life of the structure.
Many cities and states either provide tax credits or grants for green buildings, or require green building certification for public buildings. The U.S. government is adopting green building programs similar to LEED through the General Services Administration (which owns or leases over 8,300 buildings), the U.S. Army, the Department of State, the Department of Energy (DOE), and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Eight states including California, New York, Oregon, and Washington have adopted its use for public buildings. Many agencies are requiring LEED silver certification as a minimum. Thirteen countries have expressed interest in LEED including China and India.
Detailed information on the LEED program and project certification process is available from USGBC at www.usgbc.org.
Additional Industry Resources
Information about how cement based materials can contribute to LEED credits and additional sustainable development benefits can be found at http://www.concretethinker.com/Benefits.aspx. Select LEED Certification from the options on the right.
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