LEED

The global standard in green building

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design or LEED^® is an international symbol of sustainability excellence and green building leadership. LEED’s proven and holistic approach helps virtually all building types lower carbon emissions, conserve resources, and reduce operating costs by prioritizing sustainable practices. Canada is one of the top territories in the world for LEED certification.

Buildings generate nearly 30% of all greenhouse gases, and 35% of landfill waste, while consuming up to 70% of municipal water.

Why LEED

LEED works because it recognizes that sustainability is key to the design, construction, and operation of all buildings. LEED helps owners and developers create high-performing, resilient buildings that reduce carbon emissions, save water, conserve energy and reduce waste. LEED also improves people’s quality of life by delivering the optimal conditions for health, comfort and productivity – such as better quality air and natural light.

LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project was designed and built, or operated, to achieve high performance in six areas of human and environmental health:

CAGBC’s role in LEED

LEED leans on the green building community to continuously improve and stay ahead of evolving government policy. CAGBC represents Canada in LEED’s international development process, and supports the market with certification, verification, education and training. CAGBC members play a vital role in this work, supporting the LEED Canada Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Groups.

LEED Interpretations

Administered by the USGBC, LEED Interpretations are published periodically in the form of official addenda. LEED Interpretations provide answers to technical inquiries about applying LEED in situations not already addressed by the rating systems, reference guides and Minimum Program Requirements. Teams can access published LEED Interpretations online in the searchable addenda database.

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) and Resources

ACPs provide project teams the flexibility to use locally-relevant, equivalent means of demonstrating compliance to credit requirements. Read up on ACPs applicable in Canada: 

LEED v4 Canadian Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs) – outlines ACPs available to Canadian LEED v4 projects

Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) Pilot ACP – enables LEED v4 and LEED v4.1 projects to use any version of NECB or ASHRAE 90.1. Uses energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions savings, and the zEPI calculation methodology.

Link Guidance and Calculators for Canadian ACPs

Minimum Energy Performance Calculator for NECB 2011 ACP (Version 1) – This excel based tool is used for documenting Minimum Energy Performance using the NECB ACP for LEED v4 BD+C and LEED v4 ID+C EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance and EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance.

Multifamily Energy Model Simulation Guidelines for the NECB 2011 ACP – This document provides guidance specific to multifamily residential projects using the NECB ACP under LEED v4 BD+C: New Construction and LEED v4 BD+C: Multifamily Midrise.