LEED® for New Construction:

What is LEED for New Construction?

LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations is a rating system for buildings that was designed to guide and distinguish high performance buildings that have less of an impact on the environment, are healthier for those who work and/or live in the building, and are more profitable than their conventional counterparts.The LEED for New Construction Rating System can be applied to commercial, institutional and highrise residential projects, with a focus on office buildings. Practitioners have also applied the system to K-12 schools, multi-unit residential buildings, manufacturing plants, laboratories and many other building types.

How does LEED for New Construction work?

 LEED for New Construction is a performance-oriented rating system where building projects earn points for satisfying criterion designed to address specific environmental impacts inherent in the design, construction,operations and management of a building. The LEED certification system is organized into five environmentalcategories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor
Environmental Quality. An additional category, Innovation and Design, awards points to LEED projects that develop new solutions, employ new technologies, educate, or realize exemplary performance in another area.

What are the benefits of LEED for New Construction?

LEED for New Construction offers many benefits including environmental, economic, and occupantoriented performance and health advantages. LEED certified projects cost less to operate and maintain, are energy- and water-efficient, have higher lease-up rates than conventional buildings in their markets, and contribute to occupant health and productivity.

Why would a building choose to get LEED Certified?

LEED certification is an achievement that signifies that the building is designed and is operating exactly as it was intended. LEED certification is third party verification from the U.S. green Building Council (USGBC) that helps owners can measure and manage their properties. LEED Certification is very similar the nutrition label on packaged foods it is information about the building that will help guide decision making.

Who should use LEED for New Construction?

LEED for New Construction was designed primarily for new construction office buildings, but it has been applied to many other building types. Commercial occupancies include (but are not limited to) offices, retails and service establishments, institutional buildings (libraries, schools, museums, places of worship, etc.), hotels and residential buildings of four or more stories.

LEED® for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

What is LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance?

LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is the revised tool for the ongoing operations and maintenance of existing buildings. The rating system identifies and rewards current best practices and provides an outline for building’s to use less energy, water and natural resources; improve the indoor environment; and uncover operating inefficiencies. It is one tool within a suite of LEED assessment instruments developed by the USGBC to promote market transformation to sustainable building and operating practices.

What are the benefits of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance?

LEED helps building owners and managers solve building problems, improve building performance, and maintain and improve this performance over time. LEED reduces cost streams associated with building operations, reduces environmental impacts, creates healthier and more productive employee workspaces, and provides public recognition for leadership in sustainability. The majority of requirements for LEED for Existing Building certification are operations and maintenance best practices. The process does not necessarily require any major upgrades; instead it promotes using performance records, testing and analysis and tracking resource use. LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M
certification ensures your building is meeting its potential.

How is LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance different than other
LEED certification systems?

The LEED for New Construction and Commercial Interiors Rating Systems focus largely on the construction and/or major renovation phase of a building. When the project is complete and the building is in operation, LEED for New Construction and Commercial Interiors have performed their intended task. The intent of LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is to certify the operations and maintenance of the building and create a plan for ensuring high performance over time. The rating system captures both a building’s physical systems (equipment, design, land use, etc.) and the way the building is occupied and operated by its managers (waste management, temperature monitoring, commuting programs, etc.).A key goal of LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is to institutionalize a process of reporting, inspection and review over the lifespan of the building. So when LEED is applied to new construction and commercial interiors, the one time act of renovating, constructing or tenant fit-out is certified. LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M certifies the completed and operated building as it functions on an ongoing basis.

Who should use LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance?

LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M helps building owners and managers solve building problems, and improve building life cycle performance. LEED is used by everyone from facility managers to operations contractors. LEED applies to the spectrum of facilities ranging from those wanting to identify efficiency improvement opportunities and put in place sustainable policies to those facilities in need of significant system and operational
improvements.