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U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL®

PUBLIC RELATIONS
GUIDELINES FOR NEW LEED® PROJECTS
UPDATED FALL 2017
PUBLIC RELATIONS GUIDELINES
FOR LEED CERTIFIED PROJECTS
Congratulations! Your project is joining a select group of sustainable and innovative buildings that
are LEED-certified. If you’re looking to tell your building’s story, here are some ideas to help get
you started:

DISTRIBUTE A PRESS RELEASE

Once you’ve earned LEED certification, go ahead and make it known! A press release template,
sample quotes from USGBC and other resources can be found on pages 5-8 of these guidelines.
You can also request to use the corresponding LEED logo in your press release.

HOLD A CERTIFICATION CEREMONY

Looking for a USGBC representative to speak or present a plaque for a LEED certification
ceremony? USGBC’s management team and network of local communities may be available.
Complete the Speaker Request Form and a member of USGBC’s staff will follow up with you.

SEND USGBC YOUR PHOTOS

USGBC is always looking for high-resolution digital photos of certified projects for use in our
marketing efforts including promotional advertisements, literature, websites and news articles.
Contact the USGBC communications department to learn more.

BE SOCIAL
There’s an active green building community on social media. Promote your achievement and join
USGBC’s conversation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+, and be
sure to tweet @USGBC with the hashtag #LEED to let us know of your work. Here are some
sample tweets to get you started:

• Proud to announce XXX has just received #LEED XXX certification by @USGBC for our HQ in
XXX [PHOTO] [LINK]

• Putting health & well being first for our employees: XXX receives #LEED certification by @
USGBC this week! [PHOTO] [LINK]

• #Sustainability is a growing priority at XXX! Proud to announce #LEED XXX certification for
our XXX offices! [PHOTO] [LINK]

• XXX scores #LEED XXX today! Proud to have the ultimate #greenbuilding seal of approval on
our new space in XXX! [PHOTO] [LINK]

• #DYK? We’re now #LEED-certified by @USGBC for highest standards in #greenbuilding

leadership! [PHOTO] [LINK]

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 2

UTILIZE THE GREEN BUILDING INFORMATION GATEWAY (GBIG)
GBIG is a global innovation platform for exploring and comparing the green dimensions of the
built environment. All non-confidential projects have a page highlighting their green features. Point
inquirers there to learn more about your project and other green building activities and strategies
in your community and around the world.

SEND US A TESTIMONIAL
How has achieving LEED certification helped you? Have you noticed a significant change in energy
and natural resource consumption? Are you saving money? Submit a quote or testimonial about
how LEED certification has benefited you.

PR TIP
If you’ve visited USGBC’s LEED project directory and noticed that your project is not
listed, you may be marked as confidential in our system. If you’d like to change the
confidential status of your project, enlist a project administrator to update the
confidentiality information in LEED Online.

USGBC will not be able to verify your certification to media and outside
parties if your project is listed as confidential.

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 3

BRANDING GUIDELINES FOR YOUR PRESS RELEASE
USGBC NAME
The official organization name is the U.S. Green Building Council. “USGBC” is the official acronym.
Use the complete name on any first reference. Subsequent references in copy may use USGBC.
NOTE: When using “USGBC” as a noun, do not precede with “the.” For example: Contact USGBC
for more information.

LEED® RATING SYSTEM

LEED® as a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council does not have to be spelled
out in the first reference; however, the complete name is the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design) green building program.

LEED® − the registered trademark superscript is only necessary for the first use in a short
document or the first use in each section of a longer document if desired. Following the first
mention, use “LEED.”

TRADEMARKS
The U.S. Green Building Council owns the following trademark registrations. USGBC Trademark
Policy and Branding Guidelines can be found here.

• U.S. Green Building Council • Leadership in Energy and • LEED

• USGBC Environmental Design • LEED logo

• USGBC logo

CERTIFICATION LEVELS
There are four levels of LEED certification – Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. When a project
achieves certification it should be referred to as a LEED-certified project (not: LEED for New
Construction certified or LEED for Commercial Interiors v2.0 certified). If appropriate, supporting
text may be written that gives additional detail about the specific rating system under which the
project was certified.

• "LEED certification" with lowercase "c" is used to describe the certification process.
• "LEED-certified" with lowercase "c" is used to describe a project that has been certified.

• "LEED Certified" with capital "C" (and no hyphen) is used to describe a project that has been
certified to the base level: Certified.

When a project is certified, the correct wording is "project ‘X’ is LEED Silver" or "project ‘X’ is
LEED certified to the Silver level" or "project ‘X’ is LEED Silver certified." Due to repetition, the
wording "project ‘X’ is LEED Certified certified" is not recommended. "Certified" to reference both
certification and level is sufficient.

If your LEED-certified project is using Arc to track and monitor performance, please email Sarah
Stanley, sstanley@gbci.org, for messaging and branding guidelines.
U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 4
SAMPLE COMMERCIAL PRESS RELEASE
XXX Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

Date, (City, State) -- The XXX announced today that it has been awarded LEED (level of
certification). The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system,
developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings,
homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved
environmental and human health performance.

QUOTE FROM THE PROJECT

INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROJECT

XXX achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and
solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings. More
than XXX commercial and institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising
more than XXX square feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than XXX countries and
territories. (Note: These numbers are dynamic. Please visit USGBC's Statistics page for updated
statistics).

QUOTE FROM USGBC (Sample quotes available on page 6).

Discuss the strategies used in the various aspects of design and construction broken down by the
LEED categories:

• Sustainable Sites

• Water Efficiency

• Energy & Atmosphere

• Materials & Resources

• Indoor Environmental Quality

• Innovation in Design

• Location and Transportation (LEED v4 only)

###

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 5

SAMPLE COMMERCIAL QUOTES FROM USGBC
You’re welcome to use a quote from USGBC in your press release. Here are a few samples. If you
would like to seek approval on an alternate quote, please contact our communications department,
contact information on page 9.

“XXX’s LEED certification demonstrates tremendous green building

leadership,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED was
created to make the world a better place and revolutionize the built
environment by providing everyone with a healthy, green and high performing
buildings. XXX serves as a prime example of how the work of innovative
building projects can use local solutions to make a global impact on the
environment.”

“The work of innovative building projects such as XXX is a fundamental driving

force in transforming the way buildings are built, design and operated,” said
Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Buildings that achieve LEED
certification are lowering carbon emissions, creating a healthier environment
and reducing operating costs while prioritizing sustainable practices. Because
of XXX, we are increasing the number of green buildings and getting closer to
USGBC’s goal to outpace conventional buildings, while being environmentally
and socially responsible and improving the quality of life for generations to
come.”

“LEED is a transformative tool that ensures a building is designed and

operating to achieve high performance in key areas of human and
environmental health while enhancing the triple bottom line - people, planet
and profit,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “By
prioritizing sustainability, XXX project is leading the way in their industry and
helping USGBC continue toward our vision of a sustainable built environment
within a generation.”

“Market transformation happens one building at a time. XXX project

understands the value of LEED and has exemplified extraordinary leadership in
reshaping their sector,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC.
“The success of LEED is due to the partnership and support of those
committed to advancing green building and sustainability. Each new LEED
certification is one step closer to revolutionizing the environment in which live,
work and play.”

“Achieving LEED certification is more than implementing sustainable practices.

It represents a commitment to making the world a better place and influencing
others to do better,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC.
"Given the extraordinary importance of climate protection and the central role
of the building industry in that effort, XXX demonstrates their leadership
through their LEED certification of XXX.”

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 6

SAMPLE HOMES PRESS RELEASE

XXX Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification

Date, (City, State) -- The XXX announced today that it has been awarded LEED (level of
certification).

The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system, developed by the U.S.
Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities
that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human
health performance. A home can achieve LEED certification under the LEED homes program
after undergoing a technically rigorous process, including the incorporation of green strategies to
achieve efficiency and healthy indoor environments. The sound design and operation of the home
is tested and measured using tools like a home energy (HERS) rating and onsite inspections.

QUOTE FROM THE PROJECT

SPECIFIC INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOME

XXX achieved LEED homes certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and
solutions aimed at achieving high performance in: sustainable site development, water savings,
energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. (See LEED homes press kit
for more information.)

LEED is the foremost program for the design, construction and operation of green buildings.
There are nearly XXX certified LEED homes residential units and more than XXX commercial and
institutional projects are currently participating in LEED, comprising more than XXX billion square
feet of construction space in all 50 states and more than XXX countries and territories.
(Note: These numbers are dynamic. Please visit USGBC's Statistics page for updated statistics).

QUOTE FROM USGBC (Sample quotes available on page 8).

Discuss the strategies used in the various aspects of design and construction broken down by the
LEED categories:

• Sustainable Sites

• Water Efficiency

• Energy & Atmosphere

• Materials & Resources

• Indoor Environmental Quality

• Innovation in Design

• Location and Transportation (LEED v4 only)

###
U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 7
SAMPLE HOMES QUOTES FROM USGBC
You’re welcome to use a quote from USGBC in your press release. Here are a few samples. If you
would like to seek approval on an alternate quote, please contact our communications department,
contact information on page 9.

“We spend 90 percent of our time indoors, so where we live greatly impacts
our health and well-being,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO,
USGBC. “By achieving LEED certification, X has become a place that a family
will truly love to call home, not only because it’s energy and water efficient, but
because its designed with the health of its inhabitants in mind.”

“LEED-certified homes are transforming America’s neighborhoods,” said

Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “Innovative products,
technology and sustainable strategies are making homes more resilient, healthy
and high- performing for years to come.”

“The green housing market is growing,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and
CEO, USGBC. “LEED-certified homes are healthier places to live, produce lower
utility bills, have better air quality and leave a smaller environmental footprint
behind.”

“With each new LEED-certified building, we get one step closer to USGBC’s
vision of a sustainable built environment within a generation,” said Mahesh
Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “As the newest member of the LEED
family of green buildings, XXX is an important addition to the growing strength
of the green building movement.”

“LEED certification is an innovative way to tackle rising energy costs by cutting

a home’s energy usage by as much as 60 percent,” said Mahesh Ramanujam,
president and CEO, USGBC. “The homeowners of X will be saving money year-
round by living in a beautiful LEED-certified home.”

“The residential sector is responsible for 21 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide

emissions, making it a real contributor to climate change,” said Mahesh
Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. “LEED-certified homes like X are a
measurable and impactful way individuals can make a difference for the
environment, and this project serves as an example to the community of the
benefits of doing good by living well.”

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 8

NEWSWORTHY STATS
Visit our online press kits and statistics page for notable stats and figures. Visit our state and
country market briefs for information on LEED project trends by location. Also visit the LEED
Project Directory look at LEED-certified and registered projects in your area.
Consult our trademark policy online for additional guidance.

HELPFUL CONTACTS

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

202-828-7422

usgbc.org/contact

PUBLIC RELATIONS
Marisa Long Amanda Komar
Vice President, PR & Communications Media & Communications Specialist
USGBC USGBC
mlong@usgbc.org akomar@usgbc.org

LOGO/BRANDING USE
marketing@usgbc.org

CERTIFICATION CEREMONY REPRESENTATIVE REQUEST

Speaker Request Form

PLAQUE/CERTIFICATE ORDERING
Post-certification resources

U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL UPDATED FALL 2017 9