In order for a building or home to be certified as "Green" it must be certified by one of the nationally recognized rating programs.  The Most Common are as follows:

1) LEED (Leadership In Energy And Environmental Design) 

2) ENERGY STAR

3) HERS Index (Home Energy Rating System). 

Today I will focus on LEED so I don't overwhelm you with information, tomorrow I will focus on ENERGY STAR and so on.

LEED is a third party certification program that sets design, construction, and operational standards for high performance green buildings.  The certification is awarded by the US Green Building Council.

Qualifying Criteria Includes:

1) New Construction And Major Renovations

2) Existing Buildings

3) Commercial Interiors

4) Core And Shell

5) Schools

6) Homes

The Certification are awarded as:

1) Certified

2) Silver

3) Gold

4) Platinum


Points are earned to complete the certification in the following categories:

1) Sustainable Sites

2) Water Efficiency

3) Energy And Atmosphere

4) Materials And Resources

5) Indoor Environment Quality

6) Innovation And Design Process

7) Neighborhood Development

The process of getting certified is time intensive and complicated.  There is a lot of documentation and independent verification by a LEED Certified Professional.  If you are interested in the process you should consider hiring a consultant to guide you through the process.

For more comprehensive information feel free to visit http://www.USGBC.org.