1993 saw the birth of the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council) and with it, some years later, the first LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system for buildings was created. But, what is LEED? And, is it necessary? Well, the answer to the second question is definitely. In a world filled with sustainability challenges as is ours, it would be unwise to ignore one of the most demanding and consuming industries in the world, the construction industry. Back to the first question, LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and it is designed to help build better, cheaper, safer, healthier, more highly-efficient and more energy-saving buildings. In order to pave a way into a more sustainable future, we think we would definitely need better and more sustainable buildings.
We have mapped LEED Rating System to:
- Reducing Carbon Emissions
- Reducing Waste
- Protecting Ecosystems
- Empowering Human Rights
- Supporting Community
Leed Rating System Certifies:
- Buildings
Cost to get certified:
Costs and Membership dues are organized by sector and can be found in this link.
Do they perform audits on companies:
They don't do audits per-se, but they do monitor and collaborate closely with any project intending a LEED certification. Collaborators within the client company must also earn a Leed Green Associate title through the application and passing of the LEED Green Associate Exam.
Standards listed on their website:
Their standards are projected in the way of a scorecard that assesses different sectors. If you want to take a look at their scorecard you can take a peek here.