More than 10,000 buildings are LEED certified

United States. With LEED Platinum certification awarded to the Live Oak Family Resource Center in Santa Cruz, California, the Green Building Council of the United States (USGBC) reached a record 10,000 commercial projects certified as LEED buildings in August.  The LEED system was first launched in 1998 as a pilot program, and then became operational in 2000, since then it has established itself as a benchmark in terms of sustainable construction; so this achievement not only demonstrates the success of the program, but also that green construction is increasingly used. "Business leaders around the world are using LEED to design, construct, maintain and operate their buildings," said Rick Fedrizzi, CEO, president and founder of the U.S. Green Building Council. He added that "much more can still be achieved in green construction. In just 10 years, we have changed the way buildings are constructed and operated; during that time the LEED standard has continued to evolve, and with each evolution drives the development of sustainable construction."