In 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building certification system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. It provides building owners with a framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations, and maintenance solutions.
Indiana University incorporates green principles in all phases of a building's life cycle and is dedicated to developing and renovating buildings that use resources efficiently and create healthy environments.
LEED
This point-based rating system rewards commercial, institutional, and residential projects for innovative solutions that support public health and our environment through sustainable, efficient and cost-saving buildings.
LEED offers four different certification levels: Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Certified. Buildings under consideration are evaluated for their performance in seven different categories:
- Sustainable sites
- Water efficiency
- Energy and atmosphere
- Materials and resources
- Indoor environmental quality
- Innovation
- Regional priority credits
The LEED building process produces a building that conserves resources, reduces operating costs and pollution, helps address global warming, improves marketability, protects occupant health, and improves occupant productivity.
