• See also: Help Keep the “Green” in Green Building

Independent and credible building standards like the “Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design” (LEED) standards of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) have the potential to encourage more environmentally sound design and construction of commercial and residential buildings.

The USGBC and its LEED standards are the preeminent green building rating system—and the only environmentally credible, national-level green building system in the US.  The USGBC and LEED standards seek to transform building practices by assigning credits to the most environmentally responsible design and construction methods, including those that conserve energy, water, and natural resources.  Projects that earn sufficient credit are then given platinum, gold, or silver ratings.

LEED standards give recognition and credit to construction projects that use wood from forests certified by the independent Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).  The LEED standards do not give credit for use of wood certified by the SFI and other weak certification schemes.  

The USGBC’s members include architects, designers, builders, building product suppliers, non-profits, industry trade associations, and other stakeholders.  The USGBC uses an inclusive, stakeholder driven process to develop the LEED standards.  The USGBC’s membership is open.  Boardmembers are chosen by the membership.

The USGBC, LEED system, and their workings are transparent and described in detail on the USGBC’s website.

Some highly credible local green building systems also exist; examples include the San Francisco Bay Area “Build it Green” system.  

Meanwhile, some industry trade associations have created “green” building programs whose standards are not environmentally credible.