Foundations of LEED 1_2023 - Page 009

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5. LEED Structure

LEED is voluntary, consensus-based, and market-driven. Based on existing and proven technology, it evaluates environmental performance from a whole building perspective over the life cycle of a project, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building in design, construction, and operation.

The LEED rating system is designed for rating new and existing commercial, and residential buildings as well as neighborhood development, and cities and communities. It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a balance between known, established practices and emerging concepts.

i. Minimum Program Requirements

Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) are minimum characteristics that a project must possess in order to be eligible for LEED Certification. These requirements define the types of buildings that the LEED green building rating system was designed to evaluate, and taken together serve three goals:

1. To give clear guidance to customers

2. To protect the integrity of the LEED program

3. To reduce complications that occur during the LEED certification process.

LEED certification may be revoked from any project upon gaining knowledge of non-compliance with any applicable Minimum Program Requirement. The purpose of these requirements is to ensure an understanding of the fundamentals of green building

ii. Rating System Structure

The LEED Steering Committee shall adopt categories to be used in the relevant LEED rating system.

Each LEED rating system shall be based on a point scale as determined by the LEED Steering Committee, which may allow for bonus points. LEED project certification shall be based on achievement of the following percentage of points:

 -  40-49% Certified


- 50–59 % Silver


- 60–79 % Gold


- 80% + Platinum

iii. Credit Structure

LEED rating system development considerations:

- Prerequisites: Required elements, all of which must be met before a project can be considered for LEED certification.


- Core Credits: Specific actions a project may take in the categories described above. All Core Credits are voluntary,

but each level of LEED certification requires that certain thresholds of credits used must be met.

- Innovation Credits: Bonus credits given for exemplary performance beyond Core Credit performance levels or

implementation of innovative actions that confer significant environmental benefits not covered in the rating system.

- Regional Priority Credits: Bonus credits that acknowledge the importance of local conditions in determining best

environmental design, construction, and operations practices.

Effort is made to present credits and prerequisites in LEED in a common format. This structure is considered part of the LEED brand and should be retained in all LEED versions:

- Intent


- Requirements

This also helps those familiar with previous versions of LEED to learn the new rating system and helps to maintain consistency in the assessment processes.

As knowledge of sustainable design, construction, operations, and maintenance practices increases and improved methods are developed to structure credits, LEED will evolve and these changes will be implemented within the rating system. This

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