Green Building Practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts and improve existing unsustainable design, construction and operational practices. As an added benefit green design measures reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase worker productivity, and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems. This system is called the LEED Green Building Rating System for New Commercial Construction and Major Renovations, or LEED for New Construction. The LEED Rating System was created to transform the built environment to sustainability by providing the building industry with consistent, credible standards for what constitutes a green building.

LEED for New Construction evaluates environmental performance from a whole building perspective over a building's life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building. The rating system is organized into five environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. An additional category, Innovation & Design Process, covers everything not covered under the five environmental categories.

LEED is a measurement system designed for rating new and existing commercial buildings. It is based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strikes a balance between known established practices and emerging concepts. LEED provides a set of performance standards for certifying the design and construction phases of commercial and residential buildings.

LEED for New Construction is to assist in the creation of high performance, healthful, durable, affordable and environmentally sound commercial buildings. LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings.

As of January 2006, project teams pursuing LEED for New Construction certification are required to use LEED-Online, which enables teams to submit 100% of their documentation online in an easy-to-use format. LEED-Online enables team members to upload credit templates, track Credit Interpretation Requests, manage key project details, contact customer service, and communicate with reviewers throughout the design and construction reviews.

Visit LEED at www.usgbc.org. for more information.