A quick look at the steps to becoming Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-certified:

Step 1 — Register your project. It can be done online, at www.usgbc.org, and covers the project basics like location, type of building, square footage and choice of rating system. There's a flat fee of $450 for members and $650 for non-members.

Step 2 — Identify and implement operational improvements and equipment upgrades. This step is primarily for LEED Existing Buildings.

Step 3 — Prepare your application. “Documenting everything,” the USGBC’s Marc Heisterkamp explains, is the probably the most important piece of the puzzle.

Step 4 — Submit the certification application for review. The USGBC takes a preliminary look and lets the project team know what credits are earned and what remains in question. The team can add information or explanations and resubmit.

Step 5 — Final Review. This can take several months after opening depending on the back-and-forth between the two sides. According to the USGBC, the average certification cost is $2,000, although more can be spent with various other options and credit resolutions.

Scorecard for LEED New Construction

Certified – 26-32 points

Silver – 33-38 points (Nines submitted for 35)

Gold – 39-51 points

Platinum – 52-69 points (Proximity earned 55).

LEED Existing Buildings works much the same way, but the categories and credits are a little different to reflect sustainable operations and maintenance best practices.

For the full story: http://lhonline.com/green/leed/understanding_leed_0327/

Web Resources: http://www.usgbc.org/