LEED

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the foremost tool used in America for benchmarking the performance of green buildings. 

While use of LEED is generally voluntary and it is up to a project development team to determine priorities for enhanced performance, becoming LEED certified requires that a project register with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) and submit documentation as proof of completed building performance.  The GBCI conducts a third-party review of this documentation to verify that performance goals and claims have been achieved. 

LEED tools continue to be developed for the various segments of the commercial building market.  The following tools are currently offered for Multifamily projects:

LEED for New Construction
The LEED program for new construction or major remodels of commercial buildings or multi-family projects over four floors is called LEED for New Construction (LEED NC).  It is organized into the following categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation in Design.

LEED for Homes
Currently in a pilot demonstration phase, LEED for Homes focuses on market rate single family homes.  Affordable and multifamily projects will be included in the pilot to explore how to best meet the needs of these unique markets. LEED for Homes is organized into the following categories:  Location and Linkages, Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Indoor Environmental Quality, Materials and Resources, Energy and Atmosphere, Homeowner Awareness and Innovation and Design Process.

Learn More about LEED
To learn more about LEED, visit the USGBC's LEED website. For more on how the City of Seattle uses the LEED program, see our main LEED page.