Benchmark Study on Green Buildings - Royal Architectural Institute ...

The largest accomplishment of the USGBC to date has been the development of the
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System
(www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19). Introduced in 2000, LEED is a
voluntary national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings.
Representing every sector of the building industry, USGBC’s members developed and
continue to refine LEED, and have completed standards for numerous types of building
projects including homes, new commercial construction and major renovation projects,
existing building operations, commercial interiors projects, core and shell projects,
neighbourhood development projects, and application guides for schools, healthcare
facilities, laboratories, commercial lodgings, multiple building projects (such as
university campuses) and retail stores (currently in pilot).
LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting
sustainability goals. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state
of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency,
materials selection and indoor environmental quality. LEED recognizes achievements
and promotes expertise in green building through a comprehensive system offering
project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources.
LEED’s main goal is to facilitate positive results for the environment, occupant health
and financial return through sustainable buildings. LEED is a successful green building
rating system because it defines “green” by providing a standard for measurement. It also
helps prevent “greenwashing” (false or exaggerated claims of sustainability and
“greenness”) and promotes an integrated design process involving collaboration between
architects, civil and mechanical engineers, electricians, plumbers, and construction
workers to maximize sustainability, process interconnectedness and efficiency. Other
benefits of LEED include the availability of numerous design guidelines to aid in green
building planning and development, recognition of green building leaders, the stimulation
of green competition, the establishment of recognizable “green” products, and its ability
to increase global awareness concerning green buildings.
Another main accomplishment of the USGBC is the Greenbuild International Conference
and Expo (www.greenbuildexpo.org). Since 2002, this annual gathering of industry
professionals, companies, media organizations, sustainable building sponsors and
enthusiasts from across the globe has reflected the world’s increasing interest in
sustainable building practices. In Greenbuild’s first year, it drew more than 4,000
attendees to Austin – more than double the number projected. Since then, Greenbuild has
grown by almost 40% per year with almost 10,000 attendees at the most recent show in
Atlanta.
Greenbuild’s mission is threefold: to provide an exciting annual meeting place for the
rapidly expanding green building industry, to serve as the pre-eminent showcase for
leading-edge green technologies worldwide, and to deliver an outstanding educational
program that highlights benchmarks of sustainability across a broad array of issues
including site location and development, water and energy use, building materials, indoor
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