To certify a LEED project, sustainable design and construction strategies must be incorporated from the earliest stage of the project and must consider the joint participation of all actors, including the owner, architects, engineers, landscapers, builders, etc.[6]​.

LEED certification encourages specialties to implement joint efficiency strategies. This integration, focused on the sustainable design and sustainable development of our green building, allows us to better articulate the goals or objectives set and thus achieve a better level of certification. The certification process is carried out through consulting offices[7]​ that advise the projects, they are not certifiers or reviewers, since the only body empowered to grant LEED certification is the USGBC in the United States. The certification service is carried out completely online, through the USGBC website. For this, the consulting body documents the necessary information and uploads it to the network. This information can be uploaded divided into stages (design and construction), or all the information at once.

Regional credits are another feature of LEED through which the importance of local conditions in determining best environmental construction and design practices is recognized. LEED projects will be able to earn “bonus points” for implementing sustainable building strategies that address important environmental issues facing a specific region. A project may be awarded up to four additional points, each of which will be awarded for achieving up to four of the six priority credits.

Total: 100 basis points; 6 possible in Design Innovation and 4 points in Regional Priority.

Result:.

There are various types of LEED certification aimed at the use that a green building can have. Within the project evaluation, it is first defined which certification system is appropriate for that specific project. Among the most important systems we find:[8]​.

The LEED certification system is based on the analysis and validation by an independent agent, the US Green Building Council (USGBC), of a series of aspects of each project related to sustainability.

There are several evaluation systems depending on the use and complexity of the buildings. Although initially focused on new buildings, other evaluation systems have subsequently been developed for interior conditioning works (LEED for Commercial Interiors) or for buildings in operation (LEED Operations and Maintenance). These standards evolve over time, with a criterion of continuous improvement focused on progressively increasing the degree of demand, in parallel with the improvement of aspects related to sustainability in the building industry. In 2009, the following standards were set:

Green Building Design & Construction.

Green Interior Design & Construction.

Green Building Operations & Maintenance.

Green Neighborhood Development.

Green Home Design and Construction.

In general, the methodology of all LEED evaluation systems is the same. Several categories are established, typically seven: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design and Regional Priorities. These chapters include a series of mandatory compliance requirements (Prerequisites) and voluntary compliance credits (credits). The justification of compliance with these parameters grants a series of points, based on which the degree of certification is granted (LEED Certificate, Silver, Gold or Platinum).

The certification process in the most common modalities (new buildings) takes place during the design and construction phases of the building, with certification being obtained at the end of the construction phase. Although there is no requirement to undertake certification, it is common for project agents to incorporate a specialized advisor.

In addition to building certification, the USGBC has training and certification programs for professionals, through the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) degrees.

Certification is the proof that guarantees the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice the profession. Its revalidation must be periodic to guarantee the professional's updating and offer high quality services to clients and users.

Although LEED was initially conceived in the United States, it has been used in other parts of the world, with certified buildings currently existing in more than 30 countries. In this sense, the relevance of the use of LEED criteria in various contexts has been discussed, given that the certification refers to American regulations (such as the ASHRAE/IESNA, ANSI or ASTM standards) of complex or unviable applicability in other countries.

The weight of aspects related to the energy efficiency of buildings in LEED certification has also been criticized. In that sense, the different versions have progressively increased the weight of these aspects in the certification.

Buildings currently consume 17% of drinking water and 40% of energy consumption in the world. Sustainable buildings are a consequence of climate change; the green buildings project has been under development for fourteen years. By 2010, the United States had the largest number of LEED buildings in the world, with a total of 5,707 certified buildings out of 27,851 registered buildings. Clearly the United States leads the way in the construction of green buildings but due to the effects of the real estate crisis that the United States has suffered since 2008, the trend has been decreasing. In Latin America, the opposite is true; in recent years the region has been experiencing significant growth in its economies. The development of green buildings in the region occurred thanks to the growth of exports from several countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru; These exports grew at historic levels and also thanks to the fact that construction did not penetrate the GDP of the aforementioned countries so much.

The top ten countries that in 2010 were in the process of obtaining LEED certification or certified projects:.

Mexico is the country in Latin America that has the largest number of certified green buildings as well as the most buildings in the certification process.

Brazil is the second country with the most green buildings in Latin America, this is because Brazil had to organize the 2014 World Cup and the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. The Olympic Committee ordered that all stadiums that were going to be used in 2016 for the games had to comply with environmental regulations, this led to the construction of green stadiums. For the 2014 World Cup, FIFA does not require its stadiums to comply with environmental regulations. Likewise, 4 of the 12 stadiums that were used for the World Cup already had LEED certification before the event began, the remaining 8 obtained their certification later. All of this made Brazil begin to think more about the construction of green buildings and worry about the environment, such is the case that today they are the leaders in the region in constructions of this type.

Lila Herrera of Econova Institute") supports that in the near future "international sustainability certificates such as the Living Building Challenge will begin to be implemented, and some developers will seek to make office buildings, hotels, and other buildings for public use, seeking the maximum in sustainability and, new themes such as regenerative architecture and biophilia will become increasingly important."[12]

Currently, in Spain, there is a single representative body for LEED issues in Spain, and a direct interlocutor with the USGBC (the body that creates, verifies and develops the LEED tool in the world); This organization is GBCe: GBC Spain, which also works in parallel in collaboration with the USGBC (Green Building Council of the United States, and other GBCs around the world) to help develop and implement the tool, adapting it to the demands, requirements and regulations in each country.

Currently in Spain there is another controversy, since there is a company, Spain GBC, that claims to be an official body, which is not the case; sometimes creating confusion due to the name it has. On May 26, 2013, this company, the Spain Green Building Council, issued a press release in support of hydraulic fracturing, which motivated various entities that support ecological architecture and environmental NGOs to issue a statement of disagreement.[13]​.

To certify a LEED project, sustainable design and construction strategies must be incorporated from the earliest stage of the project and must consider the joint participation of all actors, including the owner, architects, engineers, landscapers, builders, etc.[6]​.

LEED certification encourages specialties to implement joint efficiency strategies. This integration, focused on the sustainable design and sustainable development of our green building, allows us to better articulate the goals or objectives set and thus achieve a better level of certification. The certification process is carried out through consulting offices[7]​ that advise the projects, they are not certifiers or reviewers, since the only body empowered to grant LEED certification is the USGBC in the United States. The certification service is carried out completely online, through the USGBC website. For this, the consulting body documents the necessary information and uploads it to the network. This information can be uploaded divided into stages (design and construction), or all the information at once.

Regional credits are another feature of LEED through which the importance of local conditions in determining best environmental construction and design practices is recognized. LEED projects will be able to earn “bonus points” for implementing sustainable building strategies that address important environmental issues facing a specific region. A project may be awarded up to four additional points, each of which will be awarded for achieving up to four of the six priority credits.

Total: 100 basis points; 6 possible in Design Innovation and 4 points in Regional Priority.

Result:.

There are various types of LEED certification aimed at the use that a green building can have. Within the project evaluation, it is first defined which certification system is appropriate for that specific project. Among the most important systems we find:[8]​.

The LEED certification system is based on the analysis and validation by an independent agent, the US Green Building Council (USGBC), of a series of aspects of each project related to sustainability.

There are several evaluation systems depending on the use and complexity of the buildings. Although initially focused on new buildings, other evaluation systems have subsequently been developed for interior conditioning works (LEED for Commercial Interiors) or for buildings in operation (LEED Operations and Maintenance). These standards evolve over time, with a criterion of continuous improvement focused on progressively increasing the degree of demand, in parallel with the improvement of aspects related to sustainability in the building industry. In 2009, the following standards were set:

Green Building Design & Construction.

Green Interior Design & Construction.

Green Building Operations & Maintenance.

Green Neighborhood Development.

Green Home Design and Construction.

In general, the methodology of all LEED evaluation systems is the same. Several categories are established, typically seven: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, Innovation in Design and Regional Priorities. These chapters include a series of mandatory compliance requirements (Prerequisites) and voluntary compliance credits (credits). The justification of compliance with these parameters grants a series of points, based on which the degree of certification is granted (LEED Certificate, Silver, Gold or Platinum).

The certification process in the most common modalities (new buildings) takes place during the design and construction phases of the building, with certification being obtained at the end of the construction phase. Although there is no requirement to undertake certification, it is common for project agents to incorporate a specialized advisor.

In addition to building certification, the USGBC has training and certification programs for professionals, through the LEED Accredited Professional (LEED AP) and LEED Green Associate (LEED GA) degrees.

Certification is the proof that guarantees the knowledge, skills and abilities required to practice the profession. Its revalidation must be periodic to guarantee the professional's updating and offer high quality services to clients and users.

Although LEED was initially conceived in the United States, it has been used in other parts of the world, with certified buildings currently existing in more than 30 countries. In this sense, the relevance of the use of LEED criteria in various contexts has been discussed, given that the certification refers to American regulations (such as the ASHRAE/IESNA, ANSI or ASTM standards) of complex or unviable applicability in other countries.

The weight of aspects related to the energy efficiency of buildings in LEED certification has also been criticized. In that sense, the different versions have progressively increased the weight of these aspects in the certification.

Buildings currently consume 17% of drinking water and 40% of energy consumption in the world. Sustainable buildings are a consequence of climate change; the green buildings project has been under development for fourteen years. By 2010, the United States had the largest number of LEED buildings in the world, with a total of 5,707 certified buildings out of 27,851 registered buildings. Clearly the United States leads the way in the construction of green buildings but due to the effects of the real estate crisis that the United States has suffered since 2008, the trend has been decreasing. In Latin America, the opposite is true; in recent years the region has been experiencing significant growth in its economies. The development of green buildings in the region occurred thanks to the growth of exports from several countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru; These exports grew at historic levels and also thanks to the fact that construction did not penetrate the GDP of the aforementioned countries so much.

The top ten countries that in 2010 were in the process of obtaining LEED certification or certified projects:.

Mexico is the country in Latin America that has the largest number of certified green buildings as well as the most buildings in the certification process.

Brazil is the second country with the most green buildings in Latin America, this is because Brazil had to organize the 2014 World Cup and the Rio Olympic Games in 2016. The Olympic Committee ordered that all stadiums that were going to be used in 2016 for the games had to comply with environmental regulations, this led to the construction of green stadiums. For the 2014 World Cup, FIFA does not require its stadiums to comply with environmental regulations. Likewise, 4 of the 12 stadiums that were used for the World Cup already had LEED certification before the event began, the remaining 8 obtained their certification later. All of this made Brazil begin to think more about the construction of green buildings and worry about the environment, such is the case that today they are the leaders in the region in constructions of this type.

Lila Herrera of Econova Institute") supports that in the near future "international sustainability certificates such as the Living Building Challenge will begin to be implemented, and some developers will seek to make office buildings, hotels, and other buildings for public use, seeking the maximum in sustainability and, new themes such as regenerative architecture and biophilia will become increasingly important."[12]

Currently, in Spain, there is a single representative body for LEED issues in Spain, and a direct interlocutor with the USGBC (the body that creates, verifies and develops the LEED tool in the world); This organization is GBCe: GBC Spain, which also works in parallel in collaboration with the USGBC (Green Building Council of the United States, and other GBCs around the world) to help develop and implement the tool, adapting it to the demands, requirements and regulations in each country.

Currently in Spain there is another controversy, since there is a company, Spain GBC, that claims to be an official body, which is not the case; sometimes creating confusion due to the name it has. On May 26, 2013, this company, the Spain Green Building Council, issued a press release in support of hydraulic fracturing, which motivated various entities that support ecological architecture and environmental NGOs to issue a statement of disagreement.[13]​.