Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

(LEED) is one of the most popular green building certification

programs used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) and launch in 2000, it includes a set of
rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and
maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods that
aims to help building owners be environmentally responsible and
use resources efficiently.
LEED is a comprehensive and flexible rating system. LEED
is applicable to buildings at any stage in their life-cycles such as new construction, operations
and maintenance of an existing building or even at design and construction stage of a building.
The rating systems and their companion reference guides help teams make the right green
building decisions for their projects through an integrated process, ensuring that building systems
work together effectively. Through a consensus-based process, the rating systems are continually
evaluated and regularly in order to keep themselves updated to new technologies and policies
and changes in built environment. In this way, yesterdays innovation can becomes todays
standard of practice.
The following project types and scopes are addressed by LEED rating systems.

Project Type Scope

LEED For Building Design and Construction LEED BD+C: New Construction
LEED BD+C: Core and Shell
LEED BD+C: School
LEED BD+C: Retail
LEED BD+C: Healthcare
LEED BD+C: Data Centers
LEED BD+C: Hospitality
LEED BD+C: Warehouse and
Distribution Centers
LEED BD+C: Homes
LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise
LEED For Interior Design and Construction LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors
LEED ID+C: Retail
LEED ID+C: Hospitality
LEED For Building Operations and LEED O+M: Existing Buildings
Maintenance LEED O+M: Data Centers
LEED O+M: Warehouse and
Distribution Centers
LEED O+M: Hospitality
LEED O+M: School
LEED O+M: Retail
LEED For Neighbourhood Development LEED ND: Plan
LEED ND: Built Project

Table xx: LEED Project Types and Scope (USGBC LEED Handbook)

RATING SYSTEM STRUCTURE

The LEED rating systems consist of prerequisites and credits. Prerequisites are required
elements or green building strategies that must be included in every LEED-certified project.
Credits are optional elements, such as strategies that projects can elect to pursue to gain points
toward LEED certification. In order to achieve LEED certification it requires satisfying all
prerequisites and earning a minimum number of credits. Each LEED rating system have a
reference guide that explains credit criteria, the benefits of complying with the credit, and
approaches to achieving credit compliance.
Although the organization of prerequisites and credits varies slightly depending on the
building type and associated rating system, LEED is generally organized by the following broad
concepts:

1 SUSTAINABLE SITES. This encourages strategies that minimize the impact on

ecosystems and water resources and addresses location for example site selection, density
and community connectivity, alternative transportation, site development (to protect and
restore habitats and maximize open space), storm water design to control rainwater runoff
, heat island reduction, and light pollution reduction. It discourage development of
previously undeveloped land and damage to ecosystems and waterways

2 WATER EFFICIENCY. This promotes smarter use of water, inside and out and reduce
potable water consumption and it addresses water use reduction and innovative
wastewater treatment. Water reduction is typically achieved through more efficient
appliances, fixtures, and fittings inside and water-wise landscaping outside.
3
4 ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE. LEED promotes better building energy performance
through innovative strategies and addresses commissioning, energy performance, use of
renewable energy, efficient appliances include systems and lighting and efficient design
and construction
5
6 MATERIALS AND RESOURCES. Buildings generate large amounts of waste and use
large volumes of materials and resources during construction and operation. These credits
encourage the use of sustainable building materials and reducing waste, and addresses
 building reuse, materials reuse, construction waste management, recycled content
materials, regional materials, rapidly renewable materials

7 INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY. LEED credits promote strategies that can

improve indoor air quality (IAQ), comfort, and access to daylight and views indoor air,
improve acoustics and ventilation, construction IAQ management, using low-emitting
materials, chemical and pollutant source control and controllability of lighting and
thermal comfort systems.
8 INNOVATION. LEED promotes innovation by offering points for improving a
buildings performance well beyond what is required by the credits. This credit category
also rewards the inclusion of a LEED Accredited Professional on the project team.

LEED rating systems have 100 base points plus six Innovation points and four
Regional Priority points, for a total of 110 points. The level of certification is determined
according to the following scale:
1 Certified, 4049 points
2 Silver, 5059 points
3 Gold, 6079 points
4 Platinum, 80+ points

Figure xx: LEED Level of Certification (USGBC LEED Handbook)

PROCESS

- Project team submit registration form with fees prescribe

- Team will receives information, tools, and communications that

PROJECT
will help guide the certification process.
REGISTRATION
- This process is complete online
 - LEED credit and prerequisite documentation requirements must be
completed
APPLICATION
PREPARATION - Selects credits to pursue
- Necessary information and calculation done will be uploaded

- Project administrator submits the appropriate fee and

documentation when the project is ready for review
SUBMISSION

- Each credit undergoes one preliminary review. The reviewer may

request additional information or clarification.
APPLICATION
REVIEW - After the final review, a team may appeal any adverse decisions on
individual credits for an additional fee.

- LEED-certified projects receive formal certificates of recognition,

a plaque, and tips for marketing the achievement.
CERTIFICATION
-Project will then place in USGBCs online LEED Project Directory
of registered and certified projects.

Example of building that certified by LEED is:

 Project/Building
Teknion Showroom Malaysia
Taipei 101
Menara Hap Seng 3
Plaza Shell
Nike Factory Store at Malacca
Location Certification Level
Klang, Selangor, Platinum-certified
Malaysia
Xinyi District, Taipei, Platinum-certified
Taiwan
Seksyen 57, Kuala Gold-certified
Lumpur, Malaysia
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Silver-certified
Malaysia
Freeport AFamosa Certified
Outlet, Melaka, Malaysia