What is LEED?
LEED, which stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is an internationally recognized certification system. LEED provides third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at fostering energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and responsible stewardship of resources.
Developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide standards for environmentally sustainable design, construction, and operation, the LEED Green Building Rating System is an open, transparent process. Technical criteria are publicly reviewed for approval by the USGBC's 10,000+ members and organizations.
LEED applies to all building types, commercial and residential, and provides guidelines throughout the building life cycle. Since its creation in 1998, LEED has grown to include more than 14,000 building projects both in the U.S. and 30 other countries. Many state and local governments offer tax and other incentives to properties that earn a minimum LEED certification.
Sonoma Cool and LEED
Installing a Sonoma Cool system reduces a building's energy footprint. This reduction is currently being translated into LEED points by a LEED-certified professional.