LEED Zero
LEED Zero verifies net zero goals.
Petinelli Curitiba | LEED Zero | Photo: © Petinelli
What happens when we take lessening the impact of buildings on the environment to the next level? For more than two decades, LEED has provided a framework for high performance buildings and spaces, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions through strategies impacting land, energy, transportation, water, waste and materials. Building on that work, USGBC has developed LEED Zero, a complement to LEED that verifies the achievement of net zero goals in existing buildings.
- LEED Zero Carbon recognizes net zero carbon emissions from energy consumption through carbon emissions avoided or offset over a period of 12 months.
- LEED Zero Energy recognizes a source energy use balance of zero over a period of 12 months.
- LEED Zero Water recognizes a potable water use balance of zero over a period of 12 months.
- LEED Zero Waste recognizes buildings that achieve GBCI’s TRUE certification at the Platinum level.
LEED Zero represents a new level of achievement in green building that is not just attainable but is the goal of LEED certified projects around the world. View the slide deck to learn more.
Getting started
- Register
Email leedzero@usgbc.org to register your project. There is no registration fee. View certification fees.
- Provide Documentation and Share Performance Data
Share performance data and upload supporting documentation.
- Projects pursuing LEED Zero Waste submit TRUE Platinum certification for GBCI review
- All other projects provide 12 months of performance data required for the desired category (operations, energy or water) through LEED Online and initiate the GBCI review process once a carbon-dioxide equivalent (CO2E) balance of zero, a source energy use balance of zero, and/or a potable water use balance of zero, is achieved
- Review
Email leedzero@usgbc.org to confirm that the project’s application is ready for review.
LEED Zero is valid for three years from the date of acceptance.