LEED is a points-based building certification using independent, third-party verification to ensure that a building, home, or community was designed and built using strategies to achieve sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, green materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.  As of 2012, LEED has approximately 9 billion square feet of building space participating in its rating systems and 1.6 million feet certifying per day around the world. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 2000, the LEED rating systems are developed through an open, consensus-based process led by LEED committees.