LEED certification distinguishes building projects that have demonstrated a commitment to sustainability by meeting higher performance standards in environmental responsibility and energy efficiency.

LEED requires a project to submit detailed documentation of performance standards which are technically reviewed before certification.

The first step toward LEED certification is registering the project with the Canada Green Building Council.

The Canada Green Building Council was formed to accelerate the design and construction of Green Buildings across Canada .

The Council is a broad-based inclusive coalition of representatives from different segments of the design and building industry.

The Council is working to change industry standards, develop best design practices and guidelines, and advocate for green buildings

The scoring system rates whether a building hits a range of targets beneficial to the environment.

The prerequisites and credits are organized in the five principal LEED categories:

•   Sustainable Sites
•   Water Efficiency
•   Energy and Atmosphere
•   Material and Resources
•   Indoor Environmental Quality

Project ratings are certified by the Canada Green Building Council based on the total point score, following an independent review and audit of selected credits of documentation submitted by a design and construction team.