What is LEED and what does it assess?

• A. A green building rating system by the U.S. Green Building Council that awards points for sustainable site design, energy, water, materials, and indoor environmental quality.
• B. A weatherization program that certifies energy efficiency upgrades
• C. A green building rating system that awards points across categories like energy, water, and indoor environmental quality
• D. A certification program for industrial facilities only

Answer: (C)

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s a green building rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Instead of a pass/fail check, LEED assigns points across several categories—such as energy efficiency, water use, materials and resources, sustainable site design, and indoor environmental quality—to measure how well a building performs in terms of environmental impact. Projects accumulate prerequisites and credits to reach certification levels (Certified, Silver, Gold, Platinum) that reflect their overall sustainability. It’s designed for a wide range of building types and stages—design, construction, and operation—so it’s not limited to weatherization or to industrial facilities.