An Introduction to the
U.S. Green Building Council
and the
LEED Green Building
Rating System®
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®
Why Was LEED Created?
 Facilitate positive results for the
environment, occupant health and
financial return
 Define “green” by providing a standard
for measurement
 Prevent “greenwashing” (false or
exaggerated claims)
 Promote whole-building, integrated
design processes
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the industry takes notice
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the press takes notice
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LEED Rating Systems
LEED–NC
LEED–EB
LEED–CI
NEW CONSTRUCTION
EXISTING
COMMERCIAL
& MAJOR RENOVATION
BUILDINGS
INTERIORS
version 2.2
version 2.0
version 2.0
LEED–CS
LEED–H
LEED–ND
CORE & SHELL
HOMES
NEIGHBORHOOD
DEVELOPMENTS
version 2.0
PILOT
LEED covers many different types
of buildings and construction.
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PILOT
LEED-NC v2.2 addresses commercial
construction, major renovation and high-rise
residential buildings; typical building types include
office buildings, schools, laboratories, and others.
• 1,000+ projects certified
• 6,000+ projects
currently registered
• Average of 3 years
between registration
and certification.
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LEED-CI v2.0 addresses the specifics of
tenant spaces primarily in office, retail and
institutional buildings and where the tenant has little
direct influence over the shell/site design.
• 157 projects certified
• 850+ projects currently
registered under v2.0
• Reference Guide and
letter templates now
available
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LEED-CS v2.0 addresses speculatively
developed new commercial construction and
residential buildings over four stories.
• Prominent in retail,
office, and industrial
• 1,000 projects
currently registered
• Only system that
allows pre-certification
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LEED-EB v2.0 addresses operations,
maintenance, and systems retrofits; complements
the LEED-NC system and is used for ongoing
certification of building performance.
• 57 projects certified
• 530+ projects
currently registered
under v2.0
• Reference Guide and
letter templates now
available
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LEED for Homes initially addresses single
family new construction; will eventually be expanded
to include townhomes, duplexes, and multifamily
residential under four stories.
• Facilitated through
LEED for Homes
Providers
• Provide support
services to builders
• 12 providers in the
leading housing
markets nationwide
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LEED-ND (PILOT) addresses development of
larger projects, such as neighborhood-scale
subdivisions, mixed-use developments, and urban
infill projects.
• Focus on developments
developed by a single
entity but then sold or
leased to multiple
consumers.
• 238 projects participating
in the pilot (4 in Texas)
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LEED for Schools addresses the
uniqueness of school spaces and children’s health
issues by focusing on items such as classroom
acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and
environmental site assessment.
•Based upon the LEEDNC system
•All schools registered
after April 2007 must use
LEED Schools instead of
LEED NC
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Other LEED pilots
• LEED for Retail addresses the specific needs of retail
spaces, including lighting, project site, security,
energy and water by providing tailored credit
language and alternative compliance paths. 2 different
rating systems in place, one based upon LEED NC
and the other on LEED CI.
• LEED for Healthcare addresses issues such as
increased sensitivity to chemicals and pollutants,
traveling distances from parking facilities, and access
to natural spaces. Will focus on medical offices,
assisted living facilities and medical education &
research centers.
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LEED Products timeline
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®
LEED-NC
State Government Use*:
 California
 Maryland
 Massachusetts
 New Jersey
 New York
 Oregon
 Pennsylvania
 Washington
in the USA
Local Government Use*:
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









*Not limited to these examples
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Austin, TX
Arlington, VA
Boulder, CO
Chicago and Cook County, IL
Dallas, TX
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Portland, OR
San Jose, CA
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Current Certified Projects in the
Metroplex*
• Sabre Headquarters – LEED NC Silver (Southlake)
• Hensley Field Operations Center – LEED NC Gold
(Dallas)
• Jack Evan Police Headquarters – LEED NC Silver
(Dallas)
• Herman Miller Design Center – LEED CI Silver
(Dallas)
• McCommas Eco-Park – LEED NC Silver (Dallas)
• Pat Lobb Toyota Dealership – LEED NC Silver
(McKinney)
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* As of 8/10/07
Current Registered Projects in
the Metroplex*
• Heather’s House – LEED H Platinum (Weatherford)
• McKinney Green Building – LEED CS Platinum
(McKinney)
• Northwest Service Center – LEED NC Gold (Dallas)
• Fluor Corporate Headquarters – LEED NC Certified
(Irving)
• CitiGroup Las Colinas Campus - LEED NC Certified
(Las Colinas)
• CitiGroup Irving Campus - LEED NC Certified (Irving)
• Denton Fire Station #7 – LEED NC Gold (Denton)
• RadioShack Corporate Headquarters - LEED NC
Silver (Ft. Worth)
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* As of 8/10/07
Technical Overview of
®
LEED
 Green building rating system, currently for
commercial and institutional new
construction and major renovation.
 Existing, proven technologies
 Evaluates and recognizes performance in
accepted green design categories
 LEED product development includes existing
buildings, commercial interiors, multiple
buildings, core & shell, and homes
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Technical Overview of LEED®
 Whole-building approach encourages and
guides a collaborative, integrated design and
construction process
 Optimizes environmental and economic
factors
 Four levels of LEED-NC certification:




Certified Level
Silver Level
Gold Level
Platinum Level
26 - 32 points
33 - 38 points
39 - 51 points
52+ points (69 possible)
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LEED-NC Point Distribution
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Sustainable Sites - Goals
•
•
•
•
•
Develop appropriate sites
Reuse existing buildings and/or sites
Protect natural and agricultural areas
Reduce need for automobile use
Protect and/or restore sites
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Sustainable Sites - Credits
Credit
• Erosion & Sediment Control
Point(s)
Required
• Site Selection
1
• Urban Redevelopment
1
• Brownfield Redevelopment
1
• Alternative Transportation
1-4
• Reduced Site Disturbance
1-2
• Stormwater Management
1-2
• Landscape & Exterior Design to Reduce
Heat Islands
1-2
• Light Pollution Reduction
1
14 Total
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SS 2 - Urban Redevelopment
•Infill Buildings
•Add Lamp Posts and
Street Trees
• Add Light-Rail System
• Resurface Streets
• Add Bike Lanes
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SS 4 - Alternative Transportation
Size parking capacity to meet,
but not exceed, minimum local
zoning regulations.
Close proximity to rail or bus lines
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SS 4 - Alternative Transportation
Provide alternative fuel vehicles
OR
Install alternative-fuel refueling stations
2005 Ford Escape Hybrid
2001 CNG Honda Accord
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SS 5 - Reduced Site Disturbance
Conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged
areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.
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SS 6 - Stormwater Treatment
Limit disruption and pollution
of natural water flows by managing stormwater runoff.
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SS 7 - Design to Reduce Heat Islands
Reduce heat islands to minimize impact on
microclimate and human and wildlife habitat.
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SS 8 - Light Pollution Reduction
Eliminate light trespass from the building and site.
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Water Efficiency – Goals
• Reduce the quantity of water required for
building operations
• Reduce municipal water supply and
treatment burden
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Water Efficiency – Credits
Credit
• Water Efficient Landscaping
• Innovative Wastewater Technologies
• Water Use Reduction
Point(s)
1-2
1
1-2
5 Total
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Water Efficient Landscaping
Water-efficient landscaping through xeriscape
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Water Efficient Landscaping
Rainwater Harvesting System
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Water Use Reduction
Waterfree Urinals
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Energy & Atmosphere - Goals
• Establish energy efficiency and system
performance
• Optimize energy efficiency
• Encourage renewable and alternative
energy sources
• Support ozone protection protocols
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Energy & Atmosphere - Credits
Credit
Point(s)
• Fundamental Building Systems Commissioning
Required
• Minimum Energy Performance
Required
• CFC Reduction in HVAC&R Equipment
Required
• Optimize Energy Performance
1-10
• Renewable Energy
1-3
• Additional Commissioning
1
• Ozone Depletion
1
• Measurement & Verification
1
• Green Power
1
17 Total
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EA - Energy & Atmosphere
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EA 1 - Optimize Energy Performance
Achieve increasing levels of energy performance
above the prerequisite standard to reduce
environmental impacts associated with excessive
energy use.
TRANE Trace
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EA 2 - Renewable Energy
Photovoltaic systems
Wind Power
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EA 4 - Ozone Depletion
No HCFC’s or Halons
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Materials & Resources - Goals
• Reduce the amount of materials required
• Use materials with less environmental
impact
• Reduce and manage waste
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Materials & Resources - Credits
Credit
• Storage and Collection of Recyclables
Point(s)
Required
• Building Reuse
1-3
• Construction Waste Management
1-2
• Resource Reuse
1-2
• Recycled Content
1-2
• Local/Regional Materials
1-2
• Rapidly Renewable Materials
1
• Certified Wood
1
13 Total
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MR 2 - Construction Waste Management
Divert construction, demolition and land
clearing debris from landfill disposal.
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MR 2 - Construction Waste Management
Potential recyclable materials:
• Land clearing debris, soils,
and vegetation
• Metals (including strapping)
• Cardboard (and paper
packaging)
• Wood (including pallets)
• Plastics (including pallets
and miscellaneous
packaging)
• Bubble wrap/ stretch wrap
• Glass
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Asphalt materials
Concrete waste
Masonry waste
Gypsum Board
(unpainted)
Ceiling Tile
Carpeting and pad
Vinyl
Paint and paint cans
Insulation
MR 4 - Recycled Content
Increase demand for building products that
incorporate recycled content materials.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Recycled Concrete (for road-base or backfill)
Asphalt Paving
Compost
Structural and Reinforcing Steel
Metal Siding/ Roofing
Acoustical Tile
Ceramic Tile
Carpet and Pad
Toilet Partitions
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MR 5 - Regional Materials
Use materials within 500 miles of the job site
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MR 6 - Rapidly Renewable Materials
Bamboo Flooring
Cotton Batt Insulation
Wool Carpet
Linoleum
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Indoor Environmental Quality - Goals
• Establish good indoor air quality
• Eliminate, reduce, and manage the
sources of indoor pollutants
• Ensure thermal comfort and system
controllability
• Provide for occupant connection to the
outdoor environment
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Indoor Environmental Quality - Credits
Credit
Point(s)
• Minimum IAQ Performance
Required
• Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control
• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Monitoring
Required
1
• Increase Ventilation Effectiveness
1
• Construction IAQ Management Plan
1-2
• Low-Emitting Materials
1-4
• Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control
1
• Controllability of Systems
1-2
• Thermal Comfort
1-2
• Daylight & Views
1-2
15 Total
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EQ 2 - Ventilation Effectiveness
Raised Floor Distribution
Natural Ventilation
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EQ 3 - Construction IAQ Management
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EQ5 - Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source
Control
Entryway Grilles & Mats
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EQ 8 - Daylight & Views
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Innovative Design - Goals
Provide design teams and projects the
opportunity to be awarded points for:
• Exceptional performance above and
beyond the standards set by the LEED
Green Building Rating System.
• Innovative performance in areas not
specifically addressed by the LEED Green
Building Rating System.
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Innovative Design - Credits
Credit
Point(s)
Innovation in Design
LEED Accredited Professional
1-4
1
5 Total
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LEED-NC® Certification Process
A three step process:
 Step 1: Project Registration
 LEED Letter Templates, CIR access, and
on-line project listing
 Step 2: Technical Support
 Reference Package
 Credit Inquiries and Rulings (CIR)
 Step 3: Building Certification
 Upon documentation submittal and
USGBC review
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LEED Checklist
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LEED Credit Templates
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For more information
please visit
www.usgbc.org
or e-mail
michael.kawecki@obrienarch.com
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