Why do developers and project managers seek LEED certification? Why don’t they just “build green” in the way they see fit, and avoid the verification process altogether?

These are questions we sometimes hear at USGBC—and the answer is that without third-party assessment, there can be no accountability. USGBC allows building professionals and occupants alike to have confidence that the spaces in which they live, learn, work and play truly meet the high standards of sustainability of our global community.

Putting our ideals into practice through measurable steps and strategies, and compiling the data to compare them with others, brings us closer to our targets for carbon reduction, human health and cost reduction.