A variety of new and existing buildings have received LEED certification over the recent years. The following are ten examples of these awards:

1) Office Depot: Gold Award, New Construction. In 2007, Office Depot recognized its 39 million square feet of commercial real estate in North America was responsible for significant carbon emissions and a solid-waste footprint. As a prototype for future construction retail locations, the Austin, Texas, construction followed the LEED certification process. Included is a roof that reflects sunlight and cools the store, requiring less energy for air conditioning; high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning units; water-efficient fixtures in restrooms; locally sourced and recycled materials; and skylights that adjust with the sun and provide natural day lighting. The business offers green line merchandise, which sold $1.6 billion in the U.S. And Europe in 2007. They created a detailed LEED-EB Credit Report documenting sustainable purchasing of office supplies, technology, and furniture. Shopping carts are refurbished, and the store has an recycling center for cell phones, rechargeable batteries, ink and toner cartridges, paper and electronics.

2) Clearview Elementary: Gold Award, New Construction. This K-4 school in Hanover Pennsylvania was designed to protect the children's health and teach environmental protection. The $6.35 million 43,000-square-foot building cost less than 2.5% more to build than average elementary schools in Pennsylvania. The building saves about $18,000 a year on energy. The collaboration of the school's designers and faculty led to an eco-friendly school with a curved energy-efficient sunscreen offering shade from the sun, an acoustical backdrop for outdoor presentations, and a sundial for hands-on learning. Other features include a floor-mounted, air-diffusing system that responds to temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide level changes; low- and no-volatile organic compound paints, non-solvent-based adhesives, and low-emitting carpeting; 40% of building materials harvested and manufactured within a 500-mile radius; recycled insulation, fiberboard panels and rubber flooring; over 75% of construction waste recycled; over 30% less potable water and waterless technology in bathrooms.

This is a
347,000-square-foot speculative industrial building in Bloomingdale, Georgia, that includes considerable cost savings on operating expenses and healthier work environments for tenants; project costs were $.70 per square foot; high albedo materials, including white-painted facades, cool roofing and concrete driveways to reduce heat island effect and save on cooling; sensor-controlled lighting and HVAC systems to save an estimated $100,000 annually in energy; water consumption usage reduction of 67% through drought-tolerant native plants outside building and water-efficient plumbing fixtures inside helped reduce water usage by 67%, or 2,000,000 gallons annually.

4) Signature Center: Platinum Award, Core and Shell. In Golden, Colorado, Signature includes a five-story, 186,000-square-foot office building and 112,000-square-foot underground parking area for 900 employees with fitness center and cafe and includes: large windows, interior and exterior light shelves, high ceilings, glazed partition walls and open layout for daylight deep into the building; occupancy sensors, photo sensors and dimming ballasts for electrical light savings; pervious pathway, bio swales for managing storm water and native grasses to reduce irrigation; dual-flush toilets, waterless urinals and faucets, low-flow showerheads to reduce potable water by 47%; low-velocity under floor system; perimeter areas conditioned by radiant heaters and chilled beams; low-emissivity glazing, an outside-air economizer, and a sophisticated building-automation system to use 37% less energy than a conventional building, or $80,000 each year; all air-supply intakes on the building roof away from traffic exhaust; low-chemical emissions for paints, adhesives, sealants, carpeting, and composite-wood products; over 20% of materials from within 500 miles of site and half of wood certified to Forest Stewardship Council standards; all green features pay for themselves within three years.

5) L.L. Bean: Silver Award, New Construction. Located in Mansfield, Massachusetts, this sustainable store incorporates natural day light into the space to reduce electricity. The lighting control system, occupancy sensors, an energy use management system and mechanical system commissioning reduced store's energy consumption by 40% over comparable facilities. Other features include metal halide and fluorescent lights; waterless urinals, low-flow toilets and sinks, to reduce water use by 29%; carpet and rubber flooring with contained recycled content, FSC-certified hardwoods and reclaimed barn boards for materials; and 94% construction waste diversion from landfills.

6) Exelon Headquarters: Platinum Award, Commercial Interior. This is the largest office space to earn a Platinum rating for Commercial Interiors.