What does LEED means?

Now everywhere we see the acronym LEED when we read about green buildings. But what they mean, what are they for and how a building can claim to be LEED.

LEED means Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system, a certification for “green” buildings or developed by the Green Building Environmental Council of the United States (USGBC) and provides certain environmental standards for construction.

Since its inception in 1998 more than 14,000 projects have followed the rules for LEED construction. Those who have knowledge of the LEED system are allowed to use the acronym LEED AP (Accredited Professional) after their names, indicating they have passed the accreditation examination of the USGBC.

There are different levels of LEED certification for buildings, and are based on a points system since they are prerequisites to the different claims of the six main categories are:

* Sustainable Sites
* Water Efficiency
* Energy and Atmosphere
* Materials and resources
* Quality internal environment
* Innovation and design

In the 2.2 version of LEED is possible to get 69 points, and different levels of accreditation which are:

* Certificate – 26 to 32 points
* Silver – 33 to 38 points
* Gold – 39 to 51 points
* Platinum – 52 to 69 points

LEED certification is obtained by completing the documentation of compliance with LEED requirements and paying the fees for certification.

For more information visit the official website of LEED

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