U.S. Green Building Council Reflects on Long-Term LEED Impacts
By Fay Harvey
WASHINGTON — Three decades ago, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) was formed by a small group of likeminded individuals on a mission to create a green coalition to advance the building industry. By 1998, the USGBC had developed the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) 1.0, the first green-building rating system. Since then, the LEED standards have found global acceptance and are used throughout the building industry, raising the bar for sustainability, efficiency and health in construction and design while providing a framework for creating resilient, high-performing spaces.
In November, the USGBC released the LEED Impact Report highlighting progress the council has achieved over the past 30 year and the significant role that green building has played in achieving global sustainability goals.
“Our goal is to accelerate and scale transformation of the built environment to minimize climate impacts and enhance the well-being of people, the environment and communities worldwide,” Peter Tempelton, president and CEO of the USGBC, said in the report. “As the impact report shows, we have made remarkable progress in the green building community, and our progress has impacted the world in extraordinary ways.”
From retail buildings to warehouses to healthcare facilities, skyscrapers and more, the LEED framework has consistently adapted with the times to meet diverse building requirements. This evolution of standards and applications further exemplifies the council’s unwavering commitment to addressing diverse projects and pursuing widespread sustainability.
An initial snapshot in the report puts the USGBC impact on display for both builders and recipients. Over 195,000 LEED projects have been executed across 186 countries, resulting in 15.4 million metric tons of carbon saved over the first year of certification and 120 million metric tons of carbon since initial certification. Approximately 85% of employees who work in LEED-certified spaces report improved productivity and happiness due to biophilic elements like natural light and nature-filled views, while 5,000 LEED-certified schools impact the lives of eight million students.
USGBC has worked to collaborate with real estate and building industry professionals to ensure various field leaders keep sustainability at the forefront. Through education, credentialing, volunteering and networking, the USGBC has created a global community. Currently, there are 205,000 LEED professionals, 82.4% of them holding a LEED AP title.
“The impact of our community extends beyond buildings,” said Templeton in a statement. “Our global community has shaped policy, shifted markets toward sustainable and healthy materials, inspired generations of professionals, and proven that the built environment can be a leading contributor to a better future for all.”
According to the report, decarbonization has become a critical factor in reaching sustainability goals through construction and operation phases. Key strategies for carbon reduction include promoting compact development, prioritizing onsite renewables like solar energy and wind power, minimizing refrigerant leaks, procuring low-carbon materials and encouraging rainwater harvesting. LEED-certified Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) projects have played a large role in emission reduction. In their first year after certification, LEED BD+C and ID+C commercial certified projects were designed to save a cumulative 15.4 million metric tons of carbon —the equivalent of the yearly carbon emissions from electricity use in 3 million homes — and 120 million metric tons over time.
Over the course of 2024, USGBC focused on ways to enhance the novel LEED v5 to reach 2030 and 2050 targets set by the Paris Accord, the global agreement adopted in 2015 to combat climate change. The v5 standards aim to align the built environment with critical imperatives: ecosystem conservation, further decarbonization and quality of life. In the coming year, USGBC will provide greater stability and predictability with LEED v5 by solidifying best practices, technological advancements and emerging industry need through a modern comprehensive framework and feedback from stakeholders.