Phipps Center for Sustainable Landscapes | LEED Platinum | Photo: ©denmarsh photography, inc.
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
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.
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.
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.
For complete interior fit-out projects. Includes Commercial Interiors, and also includes applications for Retail and Hospitality.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Millions of people live, work and learn in LEED-certified buildings worldwide. Here's why.
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.
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*.
LEED-certified assets outperform during recession-recovery periods, having lower vacancies than their non-LEED counterparts in the wake of COVID-19*.
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*.
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 urban office sales generated a 25.3% price per square foot premium over non-certified buildings. In comparison, LEED-certified Class A suburban offices achieved a 40.9% premium over non-certified assets**.
LEED-certified Class B office achieved the highest premium, 77.5%, over its non-certified comparable set**.
LEED-certified buildings focus on occupant well-being, offering a healthier and more satisfying indoor space while addressing community and public health. The rating system focuses on strategies like banning smoking and reducing toxic exposure from materials to improve air quality. Active design and supporting the production of local, sustainable foods promote physical activity and healthy eating.
Employers in LEED-certified spaces report higher recruitment and retention rates and increased employee productivity*.
LEED creates healthier spaces with cleaner air and access to daylight and is free from harmful chemicals in paints and finishings*.
Improving indoor air quality can reduce absenteeism and work hours affected by asthma, respiratory allergies, depression and stress, leading to self-reported productivity improvements*.
Energy-efficient buildings help reduce pollution and improve outdoor air quality in major industrialized areas, making LEED a critical tool in reducing smog*.
LEED buildings use less energy and water, utilize renewable energy and fewer resources, create less waste, and preserve land and habitat. LEED certification is a global solution for cities, communities and neighborhoods. Through sustainable design, construction and operations, LEED can help new and existing buildings to reduce carbon emissions, energy and waste, conserve water, prioritize safer materials, and lower our exposure to toxins.
Buildings account for almost 40% of global energy-related CO2 and are critical in tackling climate change.
Energy-efficient buildings reduce pollution and improve outdoor air quality in major industrialized areas, making LEED a critical tool in reducing smog.
By building to LEED standards, buildings contributed 50% fewer GHGs than conventionally constructed buildings due to water consumption, 48% fewer GHGs due to solid waste and 5% fewer GHGs due to transportation*.
By 2030, LEED projects will have diverted more than 540 million tons of waste from landfills.
Nearly 4 billion vehicle miles traveled have been avoided by occupants of LEED buildings, thanks to efficient locations and alternative transportation options.
Certified projects are estimated to have cumulatively specified more than $100 billion in green materials.
