(/) Our work (https://www.usgbc.org/about/mission-vision) LEED (/leed) Professionals (/credentials) Education (https://www.usgbc.

LEED certification for

new buildings and
major renovations
LEED works for all project types from hospitals to manufacturing
plants, showrooms and office buildings.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Center for Advanced Pediatrics (https://www.usgbc.org/projects/center-advanced-pediatrics) | LEED Gold | Photo: Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

LEED for Building Design and Construction

LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C) provides a framework for building a holistic green building, giving you the chance to nail down
every sustainability feature, maximizing the benefits.

A LEED for every project

LEED BD+C has options to fit every project. Use a specialty option for unique needs or use New Construction and Major Renovations for everything
else.

New Construction and Major Renovation. Addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing
buildings that do not primarily serve the uses below. (Teams using LEED v4 may also use this option for multifamily residential projects of four or
more occupiable stories above grade).
Core and Shell Development. For projects where the developer controls the design and construction of the entire mechanical, electrical,
plumbing and fire protection system but not the design and construction of the tenant fit-out.
Data Centers. Specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of high-density computing equipment, such as server racks, used for data
storage and processing.
Healthcare. For hospitals that operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and provide ipatient medical treatment, including acute and
long-term care.
Hospitality. Dedicated to hotels, motels, inns or other businesses within the service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or
without food.
Retail. Addresses the unique needs of retailers—from banks, restaurants, apparel, electronics, big box and everything in between.
Schools. For buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K-12 school grounds. Can also be used for higher education and non-
academic buildings on school campuses.
Warehouses and Distribution Centers. For buildings used to store goods, manufactured products, merchandise, raw materials or personal
belongings, like self-storage.
This website collects and uses cookies to ensure you have the best user experience. Please click on the "Accept " button to
Accept
LEED also works
affirmfor existing
your consent buildings and
and continue interior
to use spaces,
our website. Forhomes, communities
more information, and our
please view cities.
Cookies Statement

(/resources/usgbc-cookie-statement). Help
 LEED v4.1
Leaders in the private sector as well as state and municipal governments are stepping up with initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
expanding activities that impact human health and well-being.

LEED v4.1 is the next generation standard for green building design, construction, operations and performance. Learn more about LEED v4.1 for
new buildings and spaces (https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v41#bdc).

To directly address the carbon impact of a building, the energy metric now includes both cost and greenhouse gas emissions
In addition, to ensure leadership in building efficiency, the referenced standard for energy performance is ASHRAE 90.1-2016
The Materials and Resources credits have been restructured to include options that acknowledge efforts at varying levels
Other credits have adjusted thresholds based on market feedback, such as Rainwater Management requirements that now include a lowered
minimum percentile for rainfall events and more guidance for zero-lot-line projects
The Daylight and Acoustic Performance credits are restructured to give more flexibility

How certification works

For projects in progress
There are a number of tools and resources available to support you when working on your LEED project including:

LEED credit library (/credits)

LEED v4.1 BD+C guide (https://build.usgbc.org/bd+c_guide)
Education (https://www.usgbc.org/education-listing?Course+Credentials=%5B%22LEED+AP+BD%2BC%22%5D)
View all of the tools (/leed-tools)

For new projects

1. Choose your rating system. For the new construction of whole buildings, start by finding the option that best fits your project by exploring the
BD+C offerings. For residential projects (both sing family and multifamily) review the options specific to that sector. View the full list of LEED v4.1
rating systems (/articles/leed-v41-all-in%E2%80%94one-space-building-and-place-time) or view the full list of LEED v4 rating systems (/rating-
system-selection-guidance). There are also Certification models for multiple buildings (/programs/leed-multiple-buildings) and options for federal
building projects (/articles/understanding-federal-compliance-and-guiding-principles).
2. Check the requirements and options. Minimum Program Requirements (/credits?
Version=%22v4.1%22&Rating+System=%22New+Construction%22&MinimumProgramRequirements=%5B%22Minimum+program+requirements%22
(MPRs) are the basic requirements that let you know if your project can pursue LEED. LEED credits allow project teams to customize how they
pursue LEED. By fulfilling credits, project teams earn points that, once added together, determine a project’s certification level. Learn more about
LEED prerequisites and credits (/articles/whats-difference-between-leed-credit-leed-prerequisite-and-leed-point) or access the LEED credit library
(/credits).
3. Deadlines. At any given time, a LEED rating system is either open for registration and certification, closed for registration but open for certification
or sunset (closed for both registration and certification). View the deadlines (/tools/leed-certification/deadlines) to make sure you know the status of
your desired rating system/version.
4. Fees. View the fees table (/tools/leed-certification/fees) to find the LEED registration and certification costs.
5. Build your team. Goals and roles are key elements to consider when starting any project and it's no different in LEED. There could be several
people who are members of the project team. Learn more in the Guide to Certification (/cert-guide) for your selected project type.
6. Register your project in LEED Online (https://www.leedonline.com/) and follow the steps in the Guide to Certification (/cert-guide) for your project
type. This website collects and uses cookies to ensure you have the best user experience. Please click on the "Accept " button to

affirm your consent and continue to use our website. For more information, please view our Cookies Statement

(/resources/usgbc-cookie-statement).
 Post-certification
Once your project has earned LEED certification, there are some steps you can take to promote or maintain your certification.

Get the word out; you can start by updating your project profile in the usgbc.org LEED Project Directory (/projects).
As a LEED-certified project, you have access to Arc, a platform that allows you to meet LEED energy and water data tracking requirements
(post certification) and manage performance across five areas: energy, water, waste, transportation and human experience. Learn more about
Arc (https://arcskoru.com/).
Protect your investment with LEED recertification. This new guidance presents a simple and data-driven pathway, reassuring projects that they
are meeting ever-changing goals and staying on the cutting edge. Learn more about LEED recertification (/articles/usgbc-now-offers-
recertification-all-leed-projects).
Go further with LEED Zero certification, a complement to LEED that verifies the achievement of net zero goals in carbon, energy, water and
waste. Learn more about LEED Zero (/leed-zero).

Connect

Contact (https://www.usgbc.org/contactus) Help Center (https://support.usgbc.org/hc/en-us) Press (https://www.usgbc.org/press-room)

Careers (https://www.usgbc.org/about/careers)

Partners

Arc (http://arcskoru.com/) Center for Green Schools (http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/) GBCI (http://www.gbci.org/)

Greenbuild (https://informaconnect.com/greenbuild/) LEED Online (https://www.leedonline.com/) PEER (http://peer.usgbc.org/)

SITES (http://www.sustainablesites.org/) TRUE (https://true.gbci.org)

 (https://www.linkedin.com/company/u-s--green-building-council)  (http://instagram.com/usgbc)  (https://www.facebook.com/USGBC)

(https://twitter.com/usgbc)  (https://www.youtube.com/usgbc)  (https://soundcloud.com/usgbc/)

Sign up for email

Enter your email address: *

Sign up

© 1996-2024 U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All Rights Reserved | Policies (/policies) | Terms of Use (/resources/usgbc-legal-terms-and-conditions) | Cookie Statement

(/resources/usgbc-cookie-statement) | Privacy Statement (/resources/usgbc-privacy-policy)

This website collects and uses cookies to ensure you have the best user experience. Please click on the "Accept " button to

affirm your consent and continue to use our website. For more information, please view our Cookies Statement

(/resources/usgbc-cookie-statement).