Have you seen a local building described as “LEED-certified” and wondered what that means? We won’t leed you on — here’s everything you need to know.

What is LEED?

LEED — which stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” — is an international green building system developed by the US Green Building Council (UGBC). The certification encourages more efficient buildings and communities through all phases of development, from new builds to maintenance.

What are the levels?

A project earns its LEED certification through points. Points are awarded through 20+ categories, which address carbon, energy, water, waste, transportation, materials, health, and indoor environmental quality.

The more points a project earns, the higher its certification level. The four levels are:

Certified: 40-49 points
Silver: 50-59 points
Gold: 60-79 points
Platinum: 80+ points

Local LEED-certified projects

Broadway Public Safety Station, 316 Broadway St.
The newest location to join the local crew of certified spots earned Gold for elements like water savings and on-site renewable energy.

East Asheville Library, 3 Avon Rd.
When the library was rebuilt in 2021, it became the first LEED-certified building built by the county, with energy-efficient design choices like water-use reductions and optimized energy systems.

New Belgium Brewing, 21 Craven St.
The distribution center earned Silver, while the brewery earned Gold and the liquid center earned Platinum certification.

Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, 285 Livingston St.
Phase one of the community center earned a LEED certification for its green roof and geothermal heating and cooling, making it the first facility constructed by the City of Asheville to earn the award.

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River
The brewery's expansive campus earned Platinum certification, with 2,200 solar panels and microturbines that turn methane biogas into electricity.

Search the database to find more local LEED-certified projects. Plus, dive into the LEED certification process for new or in-progress residential projects.