LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a globally recognized green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED provides a framework for designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining buildings in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.

LEED encourages the use of sustainable building practices and technologies to minimize the environmental impact of buildings and enhance occupant health and well-being. It promotes strategies such as energy-efficient design, use of renewable energy sources, water conservation, waste reduction, use of eco-friendly materials, and improved indoor air quality.

LEED certification evaluates buildings and projects across several categories, it includes the following categories:

1. Integrative Process: This category emphasizes a collaborative approach to sustainable design, encouraging project teams to integrate sustainability goals and strategies early in the project’s planning and design phases.
2. Location and Transportation: This category assesses the project’s location in terms of factors such as site selection, access to public transportation, bicycle infrastructure, and proximity to amenities to encourage sustainable transportation choices.
3. Sustainable Sites: This category focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of the building site, including issues such as site selection, site development, stormwater management, and restoration of natural habitats.
4. Water Efficiency: This category addresses water conservation and efficiency measures, such as efficient fixtures and fittings, water reuse systems, and strategies to minimize water consumption and wastewater generation.
5. Energy and Atmosphere: This category emphasizes energy efficiency, renewable energy use, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. It includes requirements for efficient building systems, energy modeling, on-site renewable energy generation, and commissioning processes.
6. Materials and Resources: This category promotes sustainable material selection, waste reduction, and life-cycle thinking. It covers aspects such as environmentally preferable materials, construction waste management, and building reuse.
7. Indoor Environmental Quality: This category focuses on creating a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. It addresses issues such as indoor air quality, thermal comfort, acoustics, and access to daylight and views.
8. Innovation: This category recognizes and rewards innovative strategies and practices that go beyond the standard LEED requirements, encouraging project teams to explore new approaches to sustainable design and construction.
9. Regional Priority Credits: These credits vary by geographical location and address specific environmental priorities or concerns within a given region.

Each category has a specific set of prerequisites and credits that projects must fulfill to earn points. The total number of points determines the level of LEED certification: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

The total number of points earned determines the level of certification:
1. Certified: 40-49 points
2. Silver: 50-59 points
3. Gold: 60-79 points
4. Platinum: 80+ points