What is the name of the voluntary building certification program that establishes a common standard of high performance green building?

The LEED Green Building Rating System stands out as the widely recognized voluntary certification program aimed at promoting high-performance green building practices. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) encourages sustainable building practices across various aspects of construction and operation, including energy efficiency, water savings, sustainable site development, material selection, and indoor environmental quality.

LEED provides a comprehensive framework that is globally accepted and allows projects to earn points for each sustainable feature they incorporate. Based on the total points accumulated, buildings can achieve different certification levels—Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum. This tiered recognition draws attention to the commitment of construction projects to environmental stewardship, resource efficiency, and occupant health.

In contrast, while Energy Star is focused on energy efficiency in appliances and buildings, BREEAM is primarily used in the UK and emphasizes similar sustainable building practices but is not as globally recognized as LEED. Green Globes is another certification system that emphasizes sustainability but has a different methodology and is less prominent than LEED. Therefore, the LEED Green Building Rating System is the definitive choice for establishing high-performance standards in green building.