The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. Our more than 13,000 member organizations and our network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance our mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.
Core purpose
The U.S. Green Building Council's core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.
Guiding principles
At USGBC, we take how we make our decisions as seriously as the decisions themselves. Our Board of Directors has articulated a set of guiding principles to provide clarity and continuity in our decision making.
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About LEED for Schools
LEED for Schools is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council for K-12 schools and higher education buildings. The rating system is designed to improve children’s health, productivity and learning capacity while also helping school buildings to be more energy efficient and resource friendly.
LEED is like a “nutrition label” for green, healthy schools so you know exactly where your children are spending their days. School buildings can earn LEED certification, which provides third-party verification that the building was designed and is operating the way it was intended to be.
The LEED for Schools Rating System emphasizes classroom acoustics, master planning, indoor air quality, mold prevention, energy efficiency and water conservation.
LEED is accompanied by a full suite of support resources, including a comprehensive LEED Reference Guide and LEED workshops focused on school construction. LEED gives school administrators, school boards, community leaders, teachers, professors, and parents the tools to have an immediate and measurable impact on the health of their children, the health of their educational system, and the health of the environment.