LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an international green building certification system, developed by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and launched in 1998. It is the most widely used certification system globally and is applied in more than 180 countries. In Norway, LEED is less common than BREEAM-NOR, but it appears in international portfolios and in buildings with global tenants.
LEED certification is awarded at four levels: Certified (40 to 49 points), Silver (50 to 59), Gold (60 to 79) and Platinum (80+). Points are awarded across categories such as sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, innovation and regional priority. The system is set out as a points-based checklist tool where each requirement is either met or not, with no partial points.
LEED comes in several variants suited to building type and phase: LEED BD+C (Building Design + Construction) for new builds and major refurbishments, LEED O+M (Operations + Maintenance) for existing buildings in use, LEED ID+C for interior fit-outs, and LEED ND (Neighborhood Development) for urban development projects. LEED v5 is the current version from 2025; registration under v4.1 has been extended to June 2027.
Compared with BREEAM-NOR, LEED has a stronger focus on energy and water in operation and is more closely aligned with North American building conditions and standards. For Norwegian projects, aligning with Norwegian standards and climate can require extra documentation work. LEED Gold and Platinum are used by international companies as part of global ESG reporting requirements, and are in demand among tenants with global sustainability mandates.
LEED certified buildings are in the Environmental Certifications dataset, together with BREEAM-NOR and Svanemerket. Report: ESG and sustainability shows LEED status alongside the other certification schemes and the energy label, building by building.
How the dataset appears on the map
The dataset is part of the map layer Buildings as Environmental Certifications:
From Placepoint's glossary: LEED
More information: US Green Building Council: LEED, USGBC: LEED v5
English: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an international green building certification system by U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Frequently asked questions
What is LEED?
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is an international green building certification system from the US Green Building Council. It is awarded at four levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
What is the difference between LEED and BREEAM-NOR?
Both are voluntary environmental certifications for buildings, but BREEAM-NOR was developed and adapted for Norwegian conditions, while LEED is a global system with North American origins. In Norwegian commercial property, BREEAM-NOR is dominant; LEED is used mainly by international companies with global reporting requirements.
Which LEED variants are there?
The main ones are LEED BD+C for new builds and refurbishment, LEED O+M for existing buildings in use, and LEED ID+C for interior fit-outs. The current version is LEED v5 (2025); v4.1 registration has been extended to June 2027.
Is LEED relevant for ESG reporting?
Yes. LEED Gold and Platinum are used by international companies as documentation in ESG reporting and as a response to requirements from institutional tenants with global sustainability mandates.