Home › LEARN › LEED® Resources ›

LEED™ 2009/ 3.0

Click here to download Printable Version of LEED V3/2009 

LEED Project Certification

The following document is based on information available in August 2009. Please note that this information is subject to change based on decisions made by the USGBC. Check for updates at www.usgbc.org/.

LEED Version 3 Overview

LEED Version 3 (LEED v3) includes three main components:
  1. LEED 2009, which encompasses LEED rating system updates/revisions (see below) 
  2. Revision and evolution of the LEED certification process 
  3.  LEED Online Version 3

LEED 2009

LEED 2009 aligns five of the existing ratings systems and incorporates recent advances in science and technology. The ratings will be based on a 110-point system:
  • 100 points plus 10 potential bonus points.
  • Six of the potential points are for Innovation and Design (only 3 are available for exemplary performance) and four potential points are available for regional priority credit.
LEED 2009 will incorporate the following rating systems:

The LEED 2009 Rating System is the sum of several parts:
  1. LEED Prerequisite/Credit Alignment and Harmonization 
    1. The new prerequisite/credit structure is a consolidation, alignment and update of all existing LEED rating systems into their “most effective common denominator.” 
    2. LEED 2009 will provide a pool of prerequisites/credits for all rating systems. 
    3. Existing credit interpretation rulings were reviewed, and necessary precedent setting and clarifying language has been incorporated into the prerequisites/credits.
  2. Predictable Development Cycle
    1. LEED 2009 will evolve on a set schedule using a cycle that is principally based on the familiar method by which building codes are developed.
  3. Transparent Environmental/Human Impact Credit Weighting
    1. The most significant change to LEED 2009 is the re-weighting/point reallocation of LEED credits.
    2. A scientifically grounded process was used to redistribute the available points in LEED so that a given credit’s point value more accurately reflects its potential to either mitigate the negative or promote the positive environmental aspects of a building.
    3. USGBC weighed each credit using the areas of concern identified by EPA’s Tools for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemicals and other Impacts (TRACI life-cycle analysis).
    4. Climate change has been identified as the most important area of concern and, thus, receives the most weight.
  4. Regionalization
    1. The new structure allows for regional bonus credits (driven by chapters, regional councils and the LEED Steering Committee).
    2. Incentives are provided through LEED ID-style points to add value to those credits that are considered most important for their defined regions.
    3. Project teams may select bonus points from a list of eligible credits based on the project’s location.
    4. Six credits in each rating system will be identified as regional credits. A maximum of four regionalization credits can be achieved.
    5. Visit the USGBC website to learn more about regional priority credits: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1984.