LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class building strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Prerequisites and credits differ for each rating system, and teams choose the best fit for their project. Each rating system groups requirements that address the unique needs of building and project types on their path towards LEED certification. Once a project team chooses a rating system, they’ll use the appropriate credits to guide design and operational decisions. There are five rating systems that address multiple project types: Building Design and Construction, Interior Design and Construction, Building Operations and Maintenance, Neighborhood Development and Homes. Each rating system is made up of a combination of credit categories. Within each of the credit categories, there are specific prerequisites projects must satisfy and a variety of credits projects can pursue to earn points. The number of points the project earns determines its level of LEED certification. There are four levels of certification - the number of points a project earns determines the level of LEED certification that the project will receive. Typical certification thresholds are: Platinum (80+ Points), Gold (60-79 Points), Silver (50-59 Points) and Certified (40-49 Points).