The USGBC and LEED were created in the 1990s to promote sustainable building practices. LEED certification is awarded based on environmentally friendly features, and the GBCI offers independent certification. The US government has sponsored and incentivized LEED standards.
The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) and its certification program called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) are part of the sustainability movement that became very active in the early 1990s. Concern about the effects of global warming had grown to the point that governments were passing laws requiring action by industry, government and individuals. With these laws came the need for measurable standards. Professionals in multiple fields have volunteered to draft the first green building standard. The USGBC and LEED are the result of work done by individuals in industry and government.
The USGBC is a 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation whose purpose is to educate the public and other builders about the need for and methods of designing and constructing buildings that minimize environmental impact on the Earth. As part of this effort, the USGBC administers LEED. Buildings receive certification at various levels of LEED achievement.
LEED was developed in 1994 from the voluntary efforts of a few professionals united by the belief that the environmental impact of the building and the construction process could be managed and minimized. The original funding came from environmental groups and a project within the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The USGBC, formed in 1993, stepped in when it was recognized that the development and implementation of standards required formal management effort.
The LEED rating system consists of a count of points. Points are awarded when environmentally friendly features are added, such as the use of low-flow toilets or motion sensors to control room lights. Critics have said this approach is gadget-driven rather than system-driven, but LEED has worked to ensure all building systems are addressed. Surveys of certified buildings have shown improved indoor environments and lower energy consumption.
Another entity, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), established in 2008, operates a registry and examination service based on the USGBC and LEED approach to construction. The GBCI operates independently of USBGC and LEED to help establish its credibility as a certification organization. The institute offers three levels of certification, with the middle level being divided into five specialties.
Vendors of specific products to green building efforts may seek membership and exposure to prospective customers within the USGBC, but not a USGBC and LEED endorsement. USGBC welcomes the participation of suppliers to inform the building community of new environmentally friendly materials and products. An annual expo highlighted supplier offerings.
The USGBC and LEED have enjoyed government sponsorship. Many US agencies have required new buildings and renovations of existing buildings to meet certain LEED minimum levels. In 2009 and 2010, federal incentive money went to research and development of standards under the USGBC and LEED umbrellas.
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