How are LEED standards used to measure a building's environmental performance?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Know how painting the roofs white help cool the buildings and its environmental benefits — Green architecture Learn how a white roof helps cool a building in hot sunny weather.

LEED® standards are a voluntary, consensus-based rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to measure and encourage sustainable building practices.1

Performance is measured through a point-based system across five critical areas of environmental impact:

Sustainable site development: Prioritizes the reuse of existing structures and the preservation of the surrounding environment, including the use of roof gardens and earth shelters.1
Water savings: Focuses on monitoring usage and implementing conservation strategies like rainwater catchment and gray water recycling.1
Energy efficiency: Encourages building designs that leverage seasonal solar positioning and utilize regionally appropriate, renewable energy sources.1
Materials selection: Favors durable, locally sourced, and non-toxic materials that are either recycled or renewable and require minimal energy to manufacture.1
Indoor environmental quality: Enhances occupant well-being by ensuring proper ventilation, temperature control, and the use of materials that do not emit toxic gases.1

Buildings earn points for compliance in these categories, resulting in one of four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.1