The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) building rating system is a nationally recognized standard for sustainable building design. The standards incorporate a range of environmental and public health considerations, including energy efficiency, building site selection, water use, and many others.
When planning a new building or major renovation, consider pursuing LEED certification.
Ask your developers and architects about LEED, and contact the U.S. Green Building Council at leedinfo@usgbc.org or (202) 82-USGBC for more information.
Visit the LEED-Accredited Professionals Directory to find qualified green building specialists near you.
NRDC San Francisco
The Chicago Center for Green Technology
Alberici Office Headquarters
Genzyme Center
The Solaire/20 River Terrace
The Washington Nationals Ballpark Construction
The materials used in buildings and the energy used to keep them comfortable all have environmental impacts. Green buildings are designed to minimize these impacts on the environment by using environmentally preferable construction materials and techniques, reducing water and energy use, minimizing waste, and making better use of natural features like shade, daylight, and rainwater. In so doing, green buildings reduce their contribution to biodiversity loss, global warming, and other environmental pressures.
NRDC’s LEED information website