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Start a project Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes | LEED Platinum | Photo: ©denmarsh photography, inc. LEED-certified green buildings are better buildings. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. LEED certification provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings, which offer environmental, social and governance benefits. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement, and it is backed by an entire industry of committed organizations and individuals paving the way for market transformation. 197,000 LEED projects worldwide 186 countries and territories 29 billion+ SF LEED v5 is the newest version of LEED. It marks a transformative milestone in the built environment’s alignment with a low-carbon future and addresses critical imperatives such as equity, health, ecosystems and resilience. Learn more . A LEED for every project LEED is for all building types and all building phases including new construction, interior fit outs, operations and maintenance and core and shell. Check out our interactive Discover LEED tool to get started; then, use the rating system selection guidance to select a rating system. Building Design and Construction (BD+C) For new construction or major renovations. Includes New Construction and Core & Shell, and also includes applications for Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers and Healthcare. LEED v4 BD+C rating system PDF LEED v4 BD+C scorecard Reference guide overview Learn more Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) For complete interior fit-out projects. Includes Commercial Interiors, and also includes applications for Retail and Hospitality. LEED v4 ID+C rating system PDF LEED v4 ID+C scorecard Reference guide overview Learn more Building Operations and Maintenance (O+M) For existing buildings that are undergoing improvement work or little to no construction. Includes Existing Buildings, and also includes applications for Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, and Warehouses & Distribution Centers. LEED v4 O+M rating system PDF LEED v4 O+M scorecard Reference guide overview Learn more Neighborhood Development (ND) For new land development projects or redevelopment projects containing residential uses, nonresidential uses, or a mix. Projects can be at any stage of the development process, from conceptual planning to construction. Includes Plan and Built Project. LEED v4 ND rating system PDF LEED v4 ND scorecard Reference guide overview Learn more Homes For single family homes, low-rise multi-family (one to three stories) or mid-rise multi-family (four or more). Includes Homes, Multifamily Lowrise, Multifamily Midrise. Homes and residential buildings that are greater than four stories may also use LEED BD+C. LEED v4 Homes rating system PDF LEED v4 Homes scorecard Reference guide overview Learn more Cities For entire cities and sub-sections of a city. LEED for Cities projects can measure and manage their city’s water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation and human experience. Existing Cities and Communities scorecard New Places (Plan and Design Phase) scorecard Guide to LEED Certification: Cities and Communities Pilot Learn more LEED system goals LEED-certified buildings are critical to addressing climate change and meeting ESG goals, enhancing resilience, and supporting more equitable communities. LEED is a holistic system that doesn’t simply focus on one building element, such as energy, water or health. Instead, it looks at the big picture, factoring in all critical elements that work together to create the best building possible. The goal of LEED is to create better buildings that: Reduce contribution to global climate change Enhance individual human health Protect and restore water resources Protect and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services Promote sustainable and regenerative material cycles Enhance community quality of life Of all LEED credits, 35% relate to climate change, 20% directly impact human health, 15% impact water resources, 10% affect biodiversity, 10% relate to the green economy, and 5% impact community and natural resources. In LEED v4.1 , most LEED credits are related to operational and embodied carbon. Learn more . LEED categories can also contribute toward meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals. Explore synergies between LEED and SDGs . Better for business, people and the environment. Millions of people live, work and learn in LEED-certified buildings worldwide. Here’s why. Better for business and the bottom line LEED buildings have a higher resale value and lower operational costs than non-LEED buildings. LEED is an essential strategy for achieving ESG, decarbonization and equity goals. LEED-certified buildings are a solid asset for investors, occupiers, and communities. They’ve proven to be top-performing commercial real estate investments. Help meet investor’s ESG goals Command higher rents Boast lower vacancies post-pandemic Increased occupancy rates Acquire premium pricing LEED helps investors measure and manage their real estate performance. It allows investors to implement management practices that prioritize building efficiency, decrease operational costs and increase asset value. LEED-certified buildings have consistently achieved higher rents than non-LEED counterparts, averaging $4.13 or 11.1% higher rent than non-LEED certified buildings*. * Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). Green Is Good: Sustainable Office Outperforms in Class A Urban Markets . LEED-certified assets outperform during recession-recovery periods, having lower vacancies than their non-LEED counterparts in the wake of COVID-19*. * Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). Green Is Good: Sustainable Office Outperforms in Class A Urban Markets . The pandemic accelerated tenant demand for ESG assets. Since 2020, occupancy rates for LEED-certified assets have increased from 90% to 92%. Non-LEED occupancy has fallen from 90% to 88% over the same period*. * Cushman & Wakefield. (2021). Green Is Good: Sustainable Office Outperforms in Class A Urban Markets . Since 2018, LEED-certified assets have held a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot over non-LEED buildings*. LEED-certified offices have consistently performed at a premium when it comes to pricing across quality classes and geographies**. LEED-certified Class A...