August 4, 2025
In 1989, a forward-thinking, environmentally conscious architect from Kansas City inadvertently began an all-inclusive movement surrounding sustainable architecture. That year, Bob Berkebile petitioned the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to investigate how architects might support the integrity of their profession and, at the same time, design environmentally accountable buildings that have a high regard for the planet, a rather bold move for late 20th century. The AIA’s Board of Directors originally frowned upon Berkebile’s proposal, but a modest assembly of architects in agreement with his proposal backed him, taking over the AIA’s national convention that year, and unanimously passing the resolution “CPR- Critical Planet Rescue.”
This ensemble formed a new committee, the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), that would ultimately work in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to produce new, sustainable architectural design principles. Eventually, that committee would evolve into the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the world’s foremost organization that supports sustainability in building design, construction and operation.
Within a few years, the USGBC would create Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the internationally recognized rating system and symbol for sustainable and environmentally sound buildings.
Today, LEED is the most extensively used and well-known green building rating system in the world. Available for nearly all varieties of buildings, LEED offers a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green structures. LEED certification is also a universally recognizable symbol of sustainability achievement and authority.
The consequences of Berkebile’s determined efforts are truly amazing. Over 100,000 commercial buildings have been awarded LEED certification, exhibiting a genuine responsibility for sustainability. Moreover, the impact of LEED reaches worldwide, with projects in 180 various nations in quest of LEED certification and supporting environmentally friendly practices.
When you elect to certify your building with LEED, you’re opting to build a healthier and more sustainable future. LEED projects give precedence to more efficient, low impact building design and construction above and beyond more conventional construction practices. They do so in an attempt to lessen material waste, reuse materials where doable and incorporate resources used. Much further than just taking more environmental responsibility, owners of LEED-certified buildings also profit from enormous energy- and cost-saving prospects.
What exactly does it mean to be LEED-certified and how do you achieve it? Moreover, what are the chief benefits of LEED Certification? Keep reading our blog to discover what a LEED-certified building is and how to get LEED-certified building project can benefit your company.
What exactly is LEED Certification?
Before digging into the benefits, let’s begin by appreciating what LEED certification involves. LEED is an all-inclusive framework that assesses the environmental accomplishments and sustainability of buildings within assorted features of design, construction and maintenance. It functions on a points-based system, where projects are awarded credits for applying sustainable procedures and meeting precise benchmarks.
In the LEED rating system, a maximum of 110 points can be awarded, allowing buildings to achieve LEED certification and act as “shining examples” for sustainable development yet to come.
Upon confirmation of a project’s certification rating by a Green Building Council Inspector, a certificate asserting the achievement level is awarded by a LEED-accredited professional.
The LEED rating system comprises four separate echelons of certification:
Every certification level indicates a fulfillment of prerequisites, such as easing CO2 emissions, supporting environmental sustainability, boosting energy efficiency, enhancing indoor air’s eco-friendly quality, expanding energy performance and giving precedence to materials sustainability.
No matter if you’re wanting to make a commercial office building more energy efficient, boost indoor air quality in a healthcare facility, slash the operating expenses of a retail establishment or expand a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, LEED has practically unlimited applications within almost every building objective.
Owners and project teams decide on LEED certification to observe, benchmark and applaud their sustainability goals and achievements. LEED’s framework, built on years of know-how, inspires people to go for green options that support their project’s visions and objectives.
How does the LEED rating system work?
The good news is that nearly any building, be it an office building, a public facility such as a healthcare center or a residential home, can be awarded LEED certification by sticking to green building values. This pertains to both new construction projects and renovation initiatives.
The five main categories for project types are:
To attain LEED accreditation, each project type must attain certain prerequisites. Once these prerequisites are achieved, the project is now authorized to earn extra LEED credits through the point system.
Furthermore, a LEED-certified building is one where the construction and design showcases sustainability procedures. The choice of procedure is a function of the type of building, the focus of the design and the certification level it plans to reach. A building can become eligible to be LEED-certified when it takes into account the following metrics:
It’s also important to keep in mind that LEED-certified buildings normally are concerned with the well-being of humans, who are the building’s most important component. The builders improve their health and safety by including the above metrics while, at the same time, boosting their productivity.
Okay, so being LEED-certified indicates your structure is built or maintained to the utmost principles of sustainability and comes with plenty of benefits to building owners, occupants and the neighboring environment.
Here are a few of the various economic, environmental and health benefits created by LEED buildings, consistent with data assembled by the USGBC, among other environmental entities.
Benefits of LEED Certification
As a prime example, buildings that are considered healthier for occupants employ natural ventilation and daylighting and promote the use of stairs, cutting down the energy and maintenance costs related to HVAC, artificial lighting and elevators/escalators.
As a prime illustration, a recent CBRE study demonstrated that tenants are gradually more willing to pay a premium for spaces that give precedence to sustainability. The study disclosed that that “office buildings with sustainability certifications earn a 6 percent rental premium over their no-certified peers.”
Moreover, owning a LEED-certified building can also open doors to prominent clients and partnerships. Any number of larger corporations and organizations are committed to sustainability and seek out green spaces for their operations. By offering LEED-certified opportunities, real estate specialists can place themselves in a position as valuable partners in the hunt for a more sustainable future.
Furthermore, a number of LEED projects have put rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems into action. These modernizations gather and treat rainwater for non-potable uses, for example, flushing toilets and irrigation, essentially cutting the demand on municipal water supplies as well as bringing down utility bills.
Moreover, companies devoted to corporate social responsibility may possibly provide financial backing to projects that support their sustainability objectives. Such enticements make it more financially viable for builders and developers to implement LEED standards and support environmental conservation.
Final thoughts
LEED certification is becoming increasingly imperative for building owners and developers, as companies are searching for ways to lower their environmental impact and meet the increasing demand for green buildings.
Upon attaining LEED certification, a project exhibits its commitment to the uppermost level of sustainability, reassuring investors, tenants and other occupants that it lines up with rigorous eco-friendly standards. The certification also demonstrates the project’s diminished environmental footprint, reinforcing its climate qualifications and emphasizing its association with the green building industry through a well-known green business certification.
Interested in green building practices and LEED certification? Give the professionals at PDDM Solutions a call for more details.
This ensemble formed a new committee, the AIA Committee on the Environment (COTE), that would ultimately work in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to produce new, sustainable architectural design principles. Eventually, that committee would evolve into the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the world’s foremost organization that supports sustainability in building design, construction and operation.
Within a few years, the USGBC would create Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the internationally recognized rating system and symbol for sustainable and environmentally sound buildings.
Today, LEED is the most extensively used and well-known green building rating system in the world. Available for nearly all varieties of buildings, LEED offers a framework for healthy, efficient and cost-saving green structures. LEED certification is also a universally recognizable symbol of sustainability achievement and authority.
The consequences of Berkebile’s determined efforts are truly amazing. Over 100,000 commercial buildings have been awarded LEED certification, exhibiting a genuine responsibility for sustainability. Moreover, the impact of LEED reaches worldwide, with projects in 180 various nations in quest of LEED certification and supporting environmentally friendly practices.
When you elect to certify your building with LEED, you’re opting to build a healthier and more sustainable future. LEED projects give precedence to more efficient, low impact building design and construction above and beyond more conventional construction practices. They do so in an attempt to lessen material waste, reuse materials where doable and incorporate resources used. Much further than just taking more environmental responsibility, owners of LEED-certified buildings also profit from enormous energy- and cost-saving prospects.
What exactly does it mean to be LEED-certified and how do you achieve it? Moreover, what are the chief benefits of LEED Certification? Keep reading our blog to discover what a LEED-certified building is and how to get LEED-certified building project can benefit your company.
What exactly is LEED Certification?
Before digging into the benefits, let’s begin by appreciating what LEED certification involves. LEED is an all-inclusive framework that assesses the environmental accomplishments and sustainability of buildings within assorted features of design, construction and maintenance. It functions on a points-based system, where projects are awarded credits for applying sustainable procedures and meeting precise benchmarks.
In the LEED rating system, a maximum of 110 points can be awarded, allowing buildings to achieve LEED certification and act as “shining examples” for sustainable development yet to come.
Upon confirmation of a project’s certification rating by a Green Building Council Inspector, a certificate asserting the achievement level is awarded by a LEED-accredited professional.
The LEED rating system comprises four separate echelons of certification:
- LEED Certified: 40-49 points
- Silver Certification: 50-59 points
- Gold Certification: 60-79 points
- Platinum Certification: 80+ points
Every certification level indicates a fulfillment of prerequisites, such as easing CO2 emissions, supporting environmental sustainability, boosting energy efficiency, enhancing indoor air’s eco-friendly quality, expanding energy performance and giving precedence to materials sustainability.
No matter if you’re wanting to make a commercial office building more energy efficient, boost indoor air quality in a healthcare facility, slash the operating expenses of a retail establishment or expand a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, LEED has practically unlimited applications within almost every building objective.
Owners and project teams decide on LEED certification to observe, benchmark and applaud their sustainability goals and achievements. LEED’s framework, built on years of know-how, inspires people to go for green options that support their project’s visions and objectives.
How does the LEED rating system work?
The good news is that nearly any building, be it an office building, a public facility such as a healthcare center or a residential home, can be awarded LEED certification by sticking to green building values. This pertains to both new construction projects and renovation initiatives.
The five main categories for project types are:
- New Building Design and Construction: The path to New Building and Design certification deals with new larger-scale building projects such as schools, healthcare facilities and larger commercial buildings. It also includes major makeovers.
- Interior Design and Construction: This path involves small interior fit-out projects. Retail, hospitality and modest-sized commercial ventures are under its umbrella, particularly those in leased spaces.
- Operations and Maintenance: This specific path includes current buildings. Points are awarded for overseeing building and site environments and producing long-term plans for boosting energy efficiency.
- Neighborhood Development: The Neighborhood Development path focuses on land developments and re-developments. It suits district planning projects, such as residential, industrial, mixed-use and commercial projects.
- Homes: This path concentrates on single-family homes, plus low-rise and mid-rise multi-family projects. Large residential developments, however, fall into the New Design and Construction certification pathway.
To attain LEED accreditation, each project type must attain certain prerequisites. Once these prerequisites are achieved, the project is now authorized to earn extra LEED credits through the point system.
Furthermore, a LEED-certified building is one where the construction and design showcases sustainability procedures. The choice of procedure is a function of the type of building, the focus of the design and the certification level it plans to reach. A building can become eligible to be LEED-certified when it takes into account the following metrics:
- Responsible use of natural resources.
- Energy savings
- Reduction in CO2 emissions
- Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions reduction
- Reduction of negative environmental impacts
- Improved indoor environmental quality
- Efficient use of water
It’s also important to keep in mind that LEED-certified buildings normally are concerned with the well-being of humans, who are the building’s most important component. The builders improve their health and safety by including the above metrics while, at the same time, boosting their productivity.
Okay, so being LEED-certified indicates your structure is built or maintained to the utmost principles of sustainability and comes with plenty of benefits to building owners, occupants and the neighboring environment.
Here are a few of the various economic, environmental and health benefits created by LEED buildings, consistent with data assembled by the USGBC, among other environmental entities.
Benefits of LEED Certification
- Noticeably cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions is one of the clearer benefits of LEED-certified green buildings. This decrease is achieved by linking energy-saving practices with eco-friendly building techniques. To lower energy consumption as well as shrink the building’s carbon footprint, LEED advocates the use of upgraded insulating materials, renewable energy supplies and energy-efficient HVAC systems.
- If nothing else, the Covid-19 pandemic certainly underscored the significance of health and wellness for occupants in the built environment. Green building certifications support enhanced indoor air quality, daylighting, biophilic design and spaces that encourage physical activity. Not only does this improve the tenant’s experience with certified buildings, making the time spent there more pleasant, but also contributes substantially to the total health and well-being of occupants. A connection takes place between healthy buildings and efficient ones.
As a prime example, buildings that are considered healthier for occupants employ natural ventilation and daylighting and promote the use of stairs, cutting down the energy and maintenance costs related to HVAC, artificial lighting and elevators/escalators.
- Environmental benefits of LEED certification consist of 25 percent less energy consumed and 4 percent lower CO2 emissions. LEED certification assists the environment by saving energy, water, coal and rerouting waste. Additionally, LEED certified buildings help abate pollution and outdoor air quality by reducing smog in industrialized communities.
- Investing in LEED certification can considerably boost the value of a property. This upturn is powered by various factors. First and foremost, green buildings are in high demand amid environmentally mindful purchasers and tenants. Both businesses and individuals are looking for spaces that support their sustainability principles, making LEED-certified buildings a hot commodity in the real estate market.
- LEED-certified buildings are inclined to demand greater resale and rental values. Would-be buyers and lessees acknowledge the long-term benefits of reduced operating costs and a lower environmental footprint, making them eager to pay a premium for these benefits as a result. For example, property owners can frequently recoup their initial investment and appreciate a considerable return on their LEED certification.
As a prime illustration, a recent CBRE study demonstrated that tenants are gradually more willing to pay a premium for spaces that give precedence to sustainability. The study disclosed that that “office buildings with sustainability certifications earn a 6 percent rental premium over their no-certified peers.”
Moreover, owning a LEED-certified building can also open doors to prominent clients and partnerships. Any number of larger corporations and organizations are committed to sustainability and seek out green spaces for their operations. By offering LEED-certified opportunities, real estate specialists can place themselves in a position as valuable partners in the hunt for a more sustainable future.
- Water scarcity is an urgent worldwide concern, making the conservation of water resources a leading priority. LEED certification tackles the concern by endorsing water-efficient fixtures and appropriate landscaping. LEED buildings incorporate technologies including low-flow faucets, dual-flush toilets and ecologically-aware irrigation systems, bringing down water consumption without compromising functionality.
Furthermore, a number of LEED projects have put rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling systems into action. These modernizations gather and treat rainwater for non-potable uses, for example, flushing toilets and irrigation, essentially cutting the demand on municipal water supplies as well as bringing down utility bills.
- One of the most promising economic paybacks of LEED certification is the capacity to reduce operating costs during the building’s life cycle. Green buildings are intended to be energy-efficient and resource-conscious from the onset. Energy-saving essentials including LED lighting, intelligent building management systems and efficient insulation not only lower utility bills but also reduce current maintenance costs.
- Another financial enticement for going after LEED certification is the entree to assorted incentives and grants. Governments at the federal, state and local levels frequently offer tax credits, rebates and other financial inducements to encourage sustainable construction procedures. Private sector concerns and foundations also provide grants and financial backing to foster LEED certification.
Moreover, companies devoted to corporate social responsibility may possibly provide financial backing to projects that support their sustainability objectives. Such enticements make it more financially viable for builders and developers to implement LEED standards and support environmental conservation.
Final thoughts
LEED certification is becoming increasingly imperative for building owners and developers, as companies are searching for ways to lower their environmental impact and meet the increasing demand for green buildings.
Upon attaining LEED certification, a project exhibits its commitment to the uppermost level of sustainability, reassuring investors, tenants and other occupants that it lines up with rigorous eco-friendly standards. The certification also demonstrates the project’s diminished environmental footprint, reinforcing its climate qualifications and emphasizing its association with the green building industry through a well-known green business certification.
Interested in green building practices and LEED certification? Give the professionals at PDDM Solutions a call for more details.