LEED Building Certification

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a building environmental certification created by the US Green Building Council in 1998. It uses a points system across energy, water, materials, indoor air quality, site, and innovation, with four levels: Certified (40-49 pts), Silver (50-59), Gold (60-79), Platinum (80+). Applies to new construction, renovation, and operations. For travelers, LEED has become a standard signal for upscale urban hotels since 2010: Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas (Gold), Proximity Hotel Greensboro (Platinum, world's first LEED Platinum hotel in 2007), Bardessono Yountville (Platinum). Important caveat: LEED certifies the building, not how it's run day to day.