The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has created a rating system to certify green buildings. The system, called LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), promotes a whole building approach to sustainability with a focus on 5 areas - sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED has been widely accepted as a standard benchmarking system for green building design.

Solar thermal affords designers a host of eligible credits. Because solar thermal is so efficient, a simple hot water heating system may be eligible for the maximum amount of credits available, at a smaller cost than other types of on-site renewables.

LEED for New Construction

• Energy & Atmosphere Credit 2: (3 points) 1 point for the first 2.5% of the building’s total energy use that is produced by on-site renewable energy, and one point for each additional 5% (up to 12.5%)

LEED for Existing Buildings

• Energy & Atmosphere Credit 2: (4 points) 1 point for each 3% of the building’s total energy use produced by on-site renewable energy.

LEED for Commercial Interiors

• Sustainable Sites Credit 1, Option K: (1 point) ½ point for each 5% of total energy use that is produced by on-site renewable energy

LEED for Core & Shell

• Energy & Atmosphere Credit 2: (1 point) at least 1% of the building’s total energy is produced by on-site renewable energy