The document outlines various LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating systems designed to certify the sustainability of different types of projects, including new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, and neighborhoods. Each rating system addresses unique needs, promoting energy efficiency, water conservation, and improved indoor air quality through a points-based approach that determines the level of certification. Additionally, various strategies and credit categories are designed to guide project teams in achieving sustainable practices throughout design, construction, and operation phases.

1. LEED
http://new.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/
Selection
Guidance
LEED Green Building Rating Systems
Rating systems are groups of requirements for projects
that want to achieve LEED certification. Each group is
geared towards the unique needs of a project or building
type.
LEED is flexible enough to apply to all project types including healthcare
facilities, schools, homes and even entire neighborhoods. The Rating System
Selection Guidance will help you determine which specific rating system is right
for your project.
Projects earn points to satisfy green building requirements
Within each of the LEED credit categories, projects must satisfy prerequisites and
earn points. The number of points the project earns determines its level of LEED
certification.
Main credit categories
Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems
and water resources.

2. Water efficiency credits promote smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable
water consumption.
Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance through
innovative strategies.
Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and
reducing waste.
Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to
daylight and views.
Additional LEED for Neighborhood Development credit
categories
Smart location & linkage credits promote walk able neighborhoods with efficient
transportation options and open space.
Neighborhood pattern & design credits emphasize compact, walk able, vibrant, mixed-
use neighborhoods with good connections to nearby communities.
Green infrastructure & buildings credits reduce the environmental consequences of
the construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure.
Additional LEED for Homes credit categories
Location & linkage credits encourage construction on previously developed or infill
sites and promotes walk able neighborhoods with access to efficient transportation
options and open space.
Awareness & education credits encourage home builders and real estate professionals
to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with the education and tools
they need to understand and make the most of the green building features of their home.
Two bonus credit categories
Innovation in design or innovation in operations credits address sustainable building
expertise as well as design measures not covered under the five LEED credit categories.
Six bonus points are available in this category.
Regional priority credits address regional environmental priorities for buildings in
different geographic regions. Four bonus points are available in this category.
New Construction & Major Renovations
LEED for New Construction & Major Renovations takes
an integrative approach to producing buildings that are

3. designed to be efficient and have a lower impact on their
environment.
LEED (for New Construction) v1.0 was released in 2000 as the first LEED rating
system geared towards new commercial office buildings. Today, LEED for New
Construction is applied to many building types including offices, libraries,
churches, hotels and government buildings.
LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both
new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings, which includes major
HVAC improvements, significant envelope modifications, and major interior
rehabilitation.
While primarily focused on design and construction, LEED for New Construction
also helps lay the foundation for sustainable operations and maintenance practices
once the project has been completed. Upfront planning for green operations and
maintenance can help building owners and operators ensure that the building
performs to its full potential.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
Existing Buildings
LEED for Existing Buildings helps maximize the
efficiency of your operations while minimizing the impact
on the environment.
The rating system encourages owners and operators of existing buildings to
implement sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impacts of their
buildings, while addressing the major aspects of ongoing building operations:
exterior building site maintenance programs
water and energy use
environmentally preferred products and practices for cleaning and alterations
sustainable purchasing policies
waste stream management

4. ongoing indoor environmental quality
All buildings (as defined by standard building codes) are eligible for certification
under LEED for Existing Buildings. It is targeted at single buildings, whether
owner occupied, multitenant, or multiple-building campus projects. It is a whole-
building rating system; individual tenant spaces aren‘t eligible.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
An Ongoing Process
The prescriptive and performance strategies of LEED for Existing Buildings are
intended to provide operational benefits throughout the life of the building. If these
strategies are continued, a building can maintain and even improve its performance
over time. Projects that certify under any version of LEED for Existing Buildings
must recertify at least once every five years in order to keep their certification
current.
The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Recertification
Guidance provides clear direction for Existing Buildings projects that are ready to
recertify.
Core & Shell
Prepare your buildings for environmentally conscious
tenants with LEED for Core & Shell.
We recognize the unique nature of the speculative development market, where
project teams don‘t control all aspects of the entire building‘s design and
construction. Depending on how a project is structured, a developer's influence can
vary significantly from project to project. LEED for Core & Shell acknowledges
this and can be adapted to a variety of project types.
LEED for Core & Shell can be used for projects where the developer controls the
design and construction of the entire core and shell base building (e.g., mechanical,
electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems) but has no control over the
design and construction of the tenant fit-out. Projects could include a commercial
or medical office building, retail center, warehouse, or lab facility.

5. Because of the nature of the core and shell project type and scope, the LEED for
Core & Shell rating system has some unique aspects.
Default occupancy counts: Guidance is provided for Core & Shell projects, which
typically do not know what the actual building occupancy, for how for determining
FTE and transient occupants.
Energy modeling guidelines: Guidance on how to model building systems that are
beyond the developer‘s scope of work is provided.
It is designed to be complementary to LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED
for Retail: Commercial Interiors.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
Precertification
After registering a project under LEED for Core & Shell, the project team can
apply for precertification. Precertification is a formal recognition given to a
candidate project that has established a goal to develop a LEED for Core & Shell
building. Developers or owners of these projects can then market the building's
proposed green features to potential tenants and financiers.
LEED 2009: projects can use LEED Online to apply
LEED v2.0: need to use the off-line process and hardcopy submittal templates for
precertification
LEED for Commercial Interiors
LEED for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark
for the tenant improvement market.
LEED for Commercial Interiors is the recognized system for certifying high-
performance green tenant spaces that are healthy, productive places to work; are
less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint. It
gives tenants and designers, who do not always have control over whole building
operations, the power to make sustainable choices. Making these choices during
tenant improvements and interior renovations can dramatically affect the indoor
environment.

6. This rating system was developed specifically for tenants in commercial and
institutional buildings who lease their space or don‘t occupy the entire building.
LEED for Commercial Interiors was designed to work hand-in-hand with the
LEED for Core & Shell rating system, used by developers to certify the core and
shell of a project and prepare the building for environmentally conscious tenants.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
LEED for Retail
LEED for Retail is designed to guide and distinguish
high-performance retail projects, including banks,
restaurants, apparel, electronics, big box and everything
in between.
A unique fit for retail and hospitality
LEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of the retail environment and
addresses the different types of spaces retailers need for their product lines.
Compared with other commercial buildings, retail has different occupancy
characteristics and hours of operation, different parking and transportation
considerations, and different process water and energy consumption. Retail
projects also may be part of a larger multi-tenant retail complex, where certain
issues are addressed at the site level rather than by the project itself.
LEED for Retail provides two options for projects seeking certification:
New Construction & Major Renovations
Addresses specifics for the construction or major renovation of a retail building. A
major renovation includes major HVAC improvements, significant envelope
modifications and major interior rehabilitation.
Commercial Interiors
Addresses the specifics of tenant spaces where a retailer is retrofitting an existing
building, and the shell of the building is outside of the tenant‘s control. Individual
tenants may seek LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors certification for their spaces
whether the rest of the building is LEED-certified or not. Works hand-in-hand with
LEED for Core & Shell.

7. Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
LEED for Homes
LEED for Homes is the right fit for residential projects.
Savings: A LEED home is designed to save energy, water, and therefore money.
Health: A LEED home has been built to provide a healthy environment for families.
Value: Data has shown that green and efficient buildings often sell for more, and in less
time, than non-green buildings. "Yahoo! Study: American Dream Homes Turn Green."
Yahoo! Real Estate, 2011
Trusted: A LEED home is performance tested and green measures are third-party
verified.
LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system for single
and multifamily, affordable and market rate housing
projects.
LEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high-performance
homes – energy efficient, resource efficient, and healthy for occupants. A home
that achieves LEED certification has been designed to maximize fresh air indoors,
minimizing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants. It also has the potential to
use 20-30% less energy—and some up to 60% less—than a home built to code.
And less energy use means lower utility bills every month.
LEED certification recognizes and celebrates leadership in green homebuilding,
and allows a builder to clearly differentiate their work. For the homebuyer, LEED
is like the nutrition label that demonstrates in measurable terms that a home
incorporates efficient techniques and features, and that the final product has been
third party-verified and performance tested.
Builders interested in pursuing LEED for Homes certification begin the process by
contacting a LEED for Homes Green Rater. Green Raters are local experts who
conduct the on-site project verification services required for certification.
LEED for Homes Scoring Tool

8. Learn how close you are to earning LEED certification by using the LEED for
Homes Scoring Tool.
LEED for Homes Green Rater Program
Green Raters provide in-the-field verification services at
each and every LEED for Homes Project.
Green Raters play a critical part in LEED for Homes certification. With tens of
thousands of registered LEED for Homes projects, the demand for qualified Green
Raters is growing every day.
Green Raters are responsible for:
Providing on-site verification services on a LEED for Homes registered project
Assembling the Project Submittal Package and submitting it for certification review
Verifying that the home is designed and built to the rigorous requirements of the LEED
for Homes rating system through onsite verification.
Green Raters must be involved with the project from the design phase (prior to a
preliminary rating) and throughout the construction process.
Project teams interested in participating in the LEED for Homes program must
contact a LEED for Homes Green Rater.
All Green Raters work with LEED for Homes Provider Organizations to complete
the verification process for each LEED for Homes project. Providers provide
quality assurance oversight for each Green Rater. LEED for Homes Providers are
local organizations selected by USGBC based on demonstrated experience and
expertise in supporting builders in the construction of high-performance,
sustainable homes in their market.
Is a Green Rater qualified to complete performance testing?
All projects pursuing LEED for Homes certification also require performance
testing to be completed by a qualified energy rater, or a Home Energy Rating
System Rater (HERS Rater). Many Green Raters are also qualified energy raters
(HERS Raters) and can provide both the onsite verification and performance
testing services. Ask your LEED for Homes Green Rater if they are qualified or
locate a HERS Rater near you.

9. LEED for Neighborhood Development
LEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the
principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building
into the first national system for neighborhood design.
Whole neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods, multiple neighborhoods—there
is no minimum or maximum size for a LEED for Neighborhood Development
project.
A rating system for today — for a brighter tomorrow
Thoughtful neighborhood planning can limit the need for automobiles and their
greenhouse gas emissions. Mixed-use development and pedestrian-friendly streets
encourage walking, bicycling and public transportation. Green buildings and
infrastructure also lessen negative consequences for water resources, air quality
and natural resource consumption.
The character of a neighborhood, including its streets, homes, workplaces, shops
and public spaces, affects quality of life. Green developments respect historic
resources and the existing community fabric. They preserve open space and
encourage access to parks.
Combine the substantial environmental and social benefits, and the case for green
neighborhoods makes itself.
Unlike any other
LEED for Neighborhood Development, developed in collaboration with Congress
for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council,
emphasizes elements that bring buildings and infrastructure together and relates the
neighborhood to its local and regional landscape.
LEED for Schools
LEED for Schools is the recognized third-party standard
for high performance schools that are healthy for
students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective.

10. The LEED for Schools rating system was developed to address the design and
construction of K-12 schools. Based on LEED for New Construction, it focuses on
classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention, environmental site
assessment and other issues important to these buildings. LEED for Schools
provides a comprehensive tool for schools that wish to build green with
measurable results by recognizing the uniqueness of school spaces and their
occupants.
All projects involving a full building dedicated to K-12 instruction must use either
LEED for Schools or LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.
Other projects (university educational buildings, K-12 athletic facilities, or
interpretive centers) may choose to use LEED for Schools if they wish.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
Get involved
The Center for Green Schools is how USGBC is making sure every student has
the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From the
kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing researching
in a lab, the Center provides the resources and support to elevate dialogue,
accelerate policy and institute innovation toward green schools and campuses.
High-performing schools result in high-performing students, and the Center works
directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and
communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to
live and learn, work and play.
LEED for Healthcare
First, do no harm. The goal of the LEED for Healthcare
rating system is to help you design, build and operate,
high-performance healing environments.
The needs of healthcare facilities are very unique. Healthcare buildings often have
strict regulatory requirements, 24/7 operations, and specific programmatic
demands are not covered in LEED for New Construction. The LEED for
Healthcare rating system acknowledges these differences by both modifying

11. existing credits and creating new, healthcare-specific credits. The goal is to help
promote healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound practices in
these projects.
LEED for Healthcare is geared towards inpatient and outpatient care facilities and
licensed long term care facilities. It can also be used for medical offices, assisted
living facilities and medical education and research centers.
Projects that meet certain criteria are required to use LEED for Healthcare. These
include licensed and federal inpatient and outpatient care facilities and licensed
long term care facilities.
Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.
A collaborative effort for health
LEED for Healthcare is the result of seven years of working closely with the Green
Guide for Health Care (GGHC), a joint project of Health Care Without Harm and
Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.
Rating system selection guidance
This guidance was developed to explain what type of project each LEED rating
system was written for. It provides general guidance for project teams to consider
in order to make a reasonable decision before registering their project. This
document also picks up where the LEED Reference Guides leave off when
deciding which rating system is best for a given project.
Project teams should pay careful attention to the prerequisites and credits outlined
in the given rating system, and make sure that the project can earn all prerequisites
and enough points to earn certification.
How to use this guidance
Step 1
Determine which construction type the project falls into.

12. Step 2
If there are multiple systems applicable to the construction type, choose
one based on space usage type.
Step 3
If the correct rating system is not obvious, carefully review the 40/60 rule.
Exceptions
LEED for Schools and LEED for Healthcare projects. There are very specific building
types that must certify under these rating systems. See the introduction section of the
relevant reference guides, as well as this guidance, to outline when it is necessary to use
these rating systems.
This document does not address the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating
system. Please refer to LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system for
more information.
Occasionally, USGBC recognizes that an entirely inappropriate rating system has been
chosen for a project. In this case, the project team will be asked to change the
designated rating system for their registered building project. Please review this
guidance carefully, and contact USGBC if it is not clear which rating system to use.
If both the following two statements describe the project, then a whole building rating
system, with the exception of LEED for Commercial Interiors or LEED for Retail:
Commercial Interiors, should be used.
The entity conducting the work leases OR owns and controls 90% or more of
the building that the space is located in
The same entity is conducting new construction or major renovation in 40%
or more of the gross floor area of the building
New construction additions cannot include any portions of the existing building
(renovated or not) within their LEED project boundary when pursuing a whole building
rating system, unless they include the entirety of the existing building. For further detail
on how to pursue certification for addition projects as ‗Attached Buildings‘, please
reference MPR #2 in our 2009 Minimum Program Requirements – Supplemental
Guidance document
Step 1 - Choose a rating system based on
construction type

13. Determine which construction type the project falls into.
Be sure to consider the building in its entirety or the
complete interior space.
Many projects will be undergoing construction work that does not fall neatly under
one construction type definition (such as ‗major renovation‘ or ‗interior fit-out‘). It
is the project team‘s responsibility in this case to make a reasonable determination
on which definition best fits their project. A strict application of each definition is
not required.
Complete Construction
These rating systems are appropriate for buildings that are undergoing new
construction or major renovation (or gut rehab, for low- and mid-rise residential)
and a complete interior fit-out. There are five rating systems in this category.
Core and Shell Construction
This rating system is appropriate for buildings that are
undergoing new construction or major renovation on its exterior shell and core
mechanical, electrical, and plumbing units but NOT a complete interior fit-out.
There is only one rating system in this category.
Commercial Interior Construction

14. This rating system is appropriate for commercial Interior
spaces that are undergoing a complete interior fit-out of at least 60% of the
certifying gross floor area. There are two rating systems in this category.
Existing Buildings: Limited Construction
This rating system is appropriate for existing buildings
undergoing improvement work or little to no construction. There is only one rating
system in this category.
Step 2 - Choose a rating system based on
space usage type
If there are multiple rating systems applicable to the
construction type, choose one based on space usage
type.
New Construction
This rating system is appropriate for buildings that do not primarily serve K-12
educational, retail, or designated healthcare uses. It is also appropriate for high rise
(7+stories) residential buildings.
Schools
This rating system is required for buildings made up of core and ancillary learning
spaces on K-12 school grounds. It is also appropriate for buildings made up of core
and ancillary learning spaces on non K-12 school grounds, as well as non-
academic buildings on school campuses.

15. See the LEED for Schools Applications table for more information.
Table 1. Applying the LEED for Schools Rating System
% of building square footage dedicated to learning space
More than 60% core 40-60% core and Less than 40% core
and ancillary ancillary, and ancillary OR
including 25%+ including 10%+ less than 10% core
core core
K-12 Must use LEED for Should use LEED Should not use
Schools for Schools LEED for Schools
Other Should use LEED May use LEED Should not use
than K- for Schools for Schools LEED for Schools
12
Healthcare
This rating system is required (beginning January 1, 2012) for buildings that serve
individuals who seek medical treatment, including licensed and federal inpatient
care facilities, licensed and federal outpatient care facilities, and licensed and
federal long-term care facilities. These are considered LEED for Healthcare
‗designated‘ uses. It is also appropriate for buildings with other kinds of medically-
related uses, such as unlicensed outpatient facilities, medical, dental and veterinary
offices and clinics, assisted living facilities and medical education & research
centers are examples of ‗non-designated‘ uses, and may use LEED for Healthcare
at the project team‘s discretion.
See the LEED for Healthcare Applications table for more information.
Table 2. Applying the LEED for Healthcare Rating System
% of building square footage dedicated to
healthcare use
more than 60% 40-60% Less than 40%
Licensed or federal Must use LEED Should use May use
inpatient care, for Healthcare* LEED for LEED for
outpatient care, long- Healthcare Healthcare
term care
Other medically- May use LEED May use May use

16. related buildings for Healthcare LEED for LEED for
Healthcare Healthcare
* Effective January 1, 2012
Retail New Construction
This rating system is appropriate for buildings or interiors dedicated to the sale of
goods or commodities directly to consumers who come onto the premise for the
purpose of obtaining those goods or commodities. It includes, but is not limited to,
banks, restaurants (quick and full-serve), stores of any kind, spas, etc. It is also
appropriate for both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or
storage areas that support customer service.
Commercial Interiors
This rating system is appropriate for Interiors dedicated to functions other than
retail.
Retail Commercial Interiors
This rating system is appropriate for buildings or interiors dedicated to the sale of
goods or commodities directly to consumers who come onto the premise for the
purpose of obtaining those goods or commodities. It includes, but is not limited to,
banks, restaurants (quick and full-serve), stores of any kind, spas, etc. It is also
appropriate for both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or
storage areas that support customer service.
Homes
The Homes rating system is appropriate for low-rise (1-3 stories) residential
buildings. The LEED for Homes Multi-Family Midrise rating system is appropriate
for mid-rise (4-6 stories) residential buildings.
See the Residential Applications table for more information.
Table 3. Applying the LEED for Homes Rating System
# of occupiable, % of square footage that meets the
above-grade definition of 'residential'
stories Less Between 40 More than
than and 60% 60%
40%

17. Single-family home n/a n/a n/a LEED for
Homes
Multi-family with 1-3 stories NC
NC or Homes
HVAC systems shared Homes
across living units 4-6 stories NC NC or Mid- NC or Mid-
rise rise
7+ stories NC NC NC*
Multi-family with 1-3 stories NC NC or Homes
individual unit HVAC Homes
systems 4-5 stories NC NC, Homes, NC, Homes
or Mid-rise or Mid-rise
6 stories NC NC or Mid- NC or Mid-
rise rise
7+ stories NC NC NC*
*If the building is more than 6 stories, it may use Mid-Rise in exceptional
situations. Please contact Kelsey Mullen for further information.
If the correct rating system is not obvious, use the 40/60 rule.
Step 3 - Make a decision
When several rating systems may be appropriate, use
the 40/60 rule
If the correct rating system is not obvious, for example, if different parts of the
project are undergoing different kinds of construction or are serving different space
usage types, carefully review the rule below.
Percentage of square footage appropriate for a particular rating system
0% to 40% Should not use that rating system
40% to 60% Project team's choice
60% to 100% Should use that rating system

18. The following ―40/60 rule‖ provides guidance for making a decision when several
rating systems appear to be appropriate for a project. To use this rule, first ‗assign‘
a rating system to each square foot of the building based on the guidance in this
document.
Example: LEED for Schools for an existing K-12 school undergoing major
renovations and LEED for New Construction for an addition being built onto it.
Choose the best rating system depending on the resulting percentages. Be sure to
include the entire certifying square footage (but no more) in this exercise.
Keep in mind that the entire gross floor area of a LEED project must be certified
under a single rating system, and is subject to all prerequisites and attempted
credits in that rating system, regardless of a mixed construction or space usage
type.
1. If a rating system is appropriate for less than 40% of the
gross floor area of a LEED project building or space, then
that rating system should not be used.
2. If a rating system is appropriate for more than 60% of the
gross floor area of a LEED project building or space, then
that rating system should be used.
3. Project teams with buildings and spaces that do not fall into
the scenarios described in 1) and 2) must independently
assess their situation and decide which rating system is most
applicable.
The 40/60 rule is not applicable to LEED CI and LEED CS. For additional
guidance on using LEED CS versus another rating system, see LEED
Interpretation 10102, and for LEED CI, see Step 1 of this guidance document.