WHAT IS USGBC®?
The U.S. Green Building Council® (USGBC®) is a nonprofit organization that supports the development of thriving, healthy, and resilient communities through the transformation of the built environment. Through its Green Buildings program, the USGBC® is committed to transforming the way our buildings and communities are designed, constructed, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and thriving environment that improves quality of life.
WHAT IS LEED?
LEED,® an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design™, is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council®. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world; It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of leadership and achievement in sustainability. LEED is for all building types and all phases of the building, including new construction, interior space fit-out, operations and maintenance, and core (common areas) and glazed envelope.
Depending on the number of sustainability points or strategies that a project manages to integrate, it can then obtain one of the following four levels of certification:
- Certificate
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
WHAT IS LEED BUILDING OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (LEED O+M)?
LEED O+M offers existing buildings the opportunity to pay close attention to building operations, supporting entire buildings and interior spaces that have been fully operational and occupied for at least one year. The project may be undergoing improvement works or little or no construction. LEED O+M requires projects to be recertified on an ongoing basis to evaluate ongoing performance. This ensures that the existing building works as intended.
BENEFITS OF A GREEN CERTIFIED BUILDING:
- It provides a competitive differentiator.
- Attract tenants.
- They are cost-effective and increase rental rates.
- It makes employees and occupants happier.
- It saves energy and resources, reduced operating costs.
- Optimizes health.
Reference: LEED for Building Operations+Maintenance. Who Says An Existing Building Can't Learn New Tricks? 2021. U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED certification for existing buildings and spaces. 2021 U.S. Green Building Council.
This is LEED brochure. Promotional. 2021 U.S. Green Building Council.