page_title: Green building certification systems
section_title: United States
hierarchical_section_title: Green building certification systems / Building Certification Systems used around the world / United States
caption_attribution_description: English: Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan set new skyscraper records when it opened in 2004. (Alton Thompson, 2007) Bân-lâm-gú: Tī i 2004-nî khai-bōo liáu-āu, Tâi-uân Tâi-pak-tshī ê Tâi-pak-101 tshòng-hā tong-sî môo-thian tuā-lâu ê sin kì-lo̍k. 佇伊2004年開幕了後，台灣台北市的台北101創下當時摩天大樓的新記錄。
context_page_description: Green building certification systems are a set of rating systems and tools that are used to assess a building or a construction project's performance from a sustainability and environmental perspective. Such ratings aim to improve the overall quality of buildings and infrastructures, integrate a life cycle approach in its design and construction, and promote the fulfillment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by the construction industry. Buildings that have been assessed and are deemed to meet a certain level of performance and quality, receive a certificate proving this achievement.
  According to the Global Status Report 2017 published by United Nations Environment Programme in coordination with the International Energy Agency, buildings and construction activities together contribute to 36% of the global energy use and 39% of carbon dioxide emissions. Through certification, the associated environmental impacts during the lifecycle of buildings and other infrastructures could be better understood and mitigated. Currently, more than 100 building certifications systems exist around the world.
context_section_description: In 1998, the US Green Building Council devised its own building certification system through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.  It has its own set of criteria for assessment and utilizes the ASHRAE codes and standards. Due to its simplicity and ease-of-use, the LEED quickly gained international recognition within a short period. Over the years, LEED has undergone many changes and is now currently in its fourth iteration, which was launched in late 2013.
  LEED rating systems differ according to the type of the project. The different types of rating systems fall under:
  Building Design and Construction: For new construction or major renovations
  Interior Design and Construction: For commercial interior fit-out projects
  Building Operations and Maintenance: For existing buildings undergoing improvement but with little construction work
  Neighborhood Development: For new land development projects or redevelopment projects
  Homes: For single family, low-rise multi-family or mid-rise multi-family homes
  Cities and Communities: For entire cities or sub-sections of a city. Assessment of a city's water consumption, energy use, waste, transportation etc.
  LEED Recertification: For occupied and currently-in-use projects that have already received LEED certification but aiming to maintain and improve the building.
  LEED Zero: For projects with net-zero goals in carbon emissions and resource use.
  LEED certification is voluntary and a qualified assessor evaluates the projects on the basis of various established categories. These categories are as follows:
  Integrative process
  Location and transportation
  Sustainable sites
  Water efficiency
  Energy and atmosphere
  Materials and resources
  Indoor environmental quality
  Innovation in design
  Regional priority
  The four levels of LEED certification are: Platinum, Gold, Silver and Certified.
caption: Taipei 101, the tallest and largest LEED Platinum certified building in the world since 2011.
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