Eco-Lingo: LEED Certified

usgbc.org

Definition: First things first: LEED stands for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. And LEED certification is the official third-party proof that your building is actually environmentally compatible; Unlike words like "Green" and "Eco-friendly" that can be used freely, LEED Certificatied means that a building has passed a rigorous process focusing on the following qualities: energy savings, water efficiency, CO₂ emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Also unlike a lot of the green buzz words popping up, this one's been around for a long time: the LEED started with a team of six volunteers in 1993 and is still committed to providing business owners with a specific outline for finding and executing solutions for green building design, construction and maintenance.

Something else you might not know: LEED Certified is only the bottom rung of LEED's rating system. Beyond Certified, buildings can achieve Silver, Gold and Platinum status, depending on how many credits they get in the six qualities listed above.

Verdict: The real deal.



Looking for more?
The US Green Building Council
A Luxury (and LEED Certified) Hotel in Portland
California Adopts Green Building Code