LEED Materials

LEED Materials Synopsis

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to a more sustainable way of building. It expands the use of green building techniques through education and support, and the refinement of its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.

LEED rating can be applied to all types of building projects and breaks down into five major categories: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality. The LEED rating system of green building works on a credit system. You meet certain criteria developed by the USGBC in water-use reduction, materials reuse, energy optimization, indoor-air quality, and site selection and get a certain number of points for each credit.

There are four levels of certification, certified, silver, gold, and platinum, and they recognize outstanding achievements in green building. Individuals proficient in these rating systems for different types of buildings can get certified as LEED Accredited Professionals.