LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Design, is a certification system for green buildings. A green building is one that is designed, constructed, and operated in an environmentally friendly way. The U.S. Green Building Council controls the LEED review and certification process, and evaluates projects to determine if they meet the rigorous specifications for LEED certification.
LEED certification recognizes performance in five key areas:
- Site Development - minimize the impact that a building has on its surrounding environment
- Water Savings - encourage the smarter use of water, inside and out
- Energy Efficiency - develop strategies for more efficient energy use
- Materials Selection - promote the use of sustainable building materials
during construction, while promoting waste reduction and recycling
- Indoor Environments Quality - improve indoor air quality and natural lighting
For more information on LEED, or the US Green Building Council, click here
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