The LEED® guideline focuses exclusively on an individual building structure, not a specific product. The purpose of the program is to evaluate the whole building from an environmental performance perspective over the building’s life cycle to determine if the building is a green building.  Therefore, specific products cannot be "LEED® certified."

There are currently six LEED® programs operating or under development:

   • New Construction & Major Renovations (LEED – NC) v.2.2
   • Existing Building Operations (LEED – EB) v.2.0
   • Commercial Interiors Projects (LEED – CI) v.2.0
   • Core & Shell Projects (LEED – CS) v2.0
   • Homes (LEED – H) under development
   • Neighborhood Developments (LEED-ND) under development

The LEED® initiative has led to the establishment of a rating system that defines what constitutes a green building and rates a building according to the level of commitment demonstrated in the building design. Buildings are deemed LEED®  buildings if they earn a certain number of points.

The four levels of LEED-NC certification are:
   • General Certification: 26–32 points
   • Silver Certification: 33–38 points
   • Gold Certification: 39–51 points
   • Platinum Certification: 52–69 points

Each category has several points available as well as certain prerequisites that are required