1.2b LEED

Date Created	LEED (Leadership for Energy and Environmental Design) started in 1992 with a focus on commercial buildings.  The LEED for Homes pilot program was released in 2006, while the final version was released in 2008.
Who Created	U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit comprised of 40,000 member companies, created the LEED programs.
How It Works	LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes, including affordable housing, mass-production homes, custom designs, stand-alone single-family homes, duplexes and townhouses, suburban and urban apartments and condominiums and lofts in historic buildings. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, “LEED homes have lower energy and water bills, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and fewer problems with mold, mildew and other indoor toxins.” LEED homes can achieve four levels of certification: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
What Features Are Involved?	There are eight categories of concern:  1.    Innovation & Design Process (ID). Special design methods, unique regional credits, measures not currently addressed in the Rating System, and exemplary performance levels. 2.    Location & Linkages (LL). The placement of homes in socially and environmentally responsible ways in relation to the larger community. 3.    Sustainable Sites (SS). The use of the entire property so as to minimize the project’s impact on the site. 4.    Water Efficiency (WE). Water-efficient practices, both indoor and outdoor. 5.    Energy & Atmosphere (EA). Energy efficiency, particularly in the building envelope and heating and cooling design. 6.    Materials & Resources (MR). Efficient utilization of materials, selection of environmentally preferable materials, and minimization of waste during construction. 7.    Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ). Improvement of indoor air quality by reducing the creation of and exposure to pollutants. 8.    Awareness & Education (AE). The education of homeowner, tenant, and/or building manager about the operation and maintenance of the green features of a LEED home.
Rating System	See the whole LEED for Homes rating system
Statistics	As of April 30, 2009, there were 2013 certified LEED homes. There about 11,000 registered homes in the pipeline, growing by about 1,500 a month. See list of all homes
Education	LEED courses Elements of Green Leases — online seminar
Website	LEED for Homes: The Green Home Guide
Rating System	Download the entire rating system in PDF
Sample Homes	144 LEED-certified homes in Rocklin, California See the report here in PDF   LEED Silver-rated home in Freeport, Maine. See the whole report in PDF
More	See more project profiles