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they contribute to a growing body of knowledge that will advance research in this rapidly evolving field. This will allow future projects to build on the successes of today’s designs and bring innovations to the market. GBCI independently verifies sustainability performance against LEED, ensuring the integrity of outcomes and strengthening market confidence in sustainability investment and innovation.

LEED CERTIFICATION PROCESS

A LEED project begins when the team determines scope, selects the appropriate rating system, confirms alignment with the minimum program requirements, and registers the project on the Arc platform. The team designs the project to meet the requirements for all prerequisites and for the credits they have chosen to pursue, in coordination with their sustainability goals. The required documentation is compiled and submitted to GBCI for review. GBCI provides feedback on the documentation received, which gives project teams the chance to make any needed design and construction changes or take additional steps to improve an existing project’s performance and/or provide additional clarification needed for GBCI to determine compliance. Additional rounds of review follow, as needed and allowed, to earn certification of the project. For a more in-depth understanding of the certification process, see the Guides to Certification.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 3