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The Greening of IT
118 How Companies Can Make a Difference for the Environment

registration and certification fees. Certification is granted solely by the Green
Building Council responsible for issuing the LEED system used on the
project.
Recently the application process for new construction certification has
been streamlined electronically, via a set of active PDFs that automate the
process of filing the documentation.

LEED Versions
Different versions of the rating system are available for specific project
types:

■ LEED for New Construction: New construction and major renovations
(the most commonly applied-for LEED certification).
■ LEED for Existing Buildings: Existing buildings seeking LEED
certification.
■ LEED for Commercial Interiors: Commercial interior fitouts by
tenants.
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■ LEED for Core and Shell: Core-and-shell projects (total building minus
tenant fitouts).
■ LEED for Homes: Homes.
■ LEED for Neighborhood Development: Neighborhood development.
■ LEED for Schools: Recognizes the unique nature of the design and con-
struction of K–12 schools.
■ LEED for Retail: Consists of two rating systems. One is based on New
Construction and Major Renovations version 2.2. The other track is based
on LEED for Commercial Interiors version 2.0.

LEED has evolved since its original inception in 1998 to more accurately
represent and incorporate emerging green building technologies. LEED-NC
1.0 was a pilot version. These projects helped inform the USGBC of the
requirements for such a rating system, and this knowledge was incorporated
into LEED-NC 2.0. The present version of LEED for new construction is
LEED-NC v2.2. LEED also forms the basis for other sustainability rating
systems such as the EPA’s Labs21.
LEED is a popular guide for green building in the United States, and it is
developed and continuously modified by workers in the green building
industry. Some criticism suggests that although the LEED rating system is