| This descriptive, exploratory study focused on how institutions of higher education have used the United States Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEEDRTM) Green Building Rating system. It employed statistical methods to assess which types of universities have used LEED, what ratings they earned, and what credit categories most influenced their success.;Results generated from studying 181 LEED-rated buildings indicate that of the six LEED categories, Energy and Atmosphere (EA) had the most influence over LEED rating. Analysis of all 446 postsecondary buildings certified under LEED-NCv2 prior to December 9, 2009 indicates clear evolution of the system. It reveals patterns that will influence future use of LEED and its categories.;Patterns in the data indicate effective planning and organizational learning. Over time, universities have achieved higher ratings. The LEED system has been integrating feedback and improving its measures. Applicants have been learning how to succeed in green building. LEED relies on organizational leadership and it appears to support a range of institutional goals. It also provides a tool for strategic planning that has demonstrated improvement in areas defined by the USGBC.;Findings regarding the use of various LEED categories can help leaders formulate green building strategy. The MANOVA tests conducted in this study indicated that within the sample group, Energy and Atmosphere (EA) shared 47% of its variance rating. Water Efficiency (WE) shared 31%, Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) 30%, Sustainable Sites (SS) 25%, Innovative Design (ID) 20%, and Materials and Resources (MR) 9%. A multiple regression was calculated to determine how the categories operate cumulatively. Using a stepwise model, Energy and Atmosphere predicted the most about the sample's ratings. After EA, Sustainable Sites added the most new and unique information to the prediction model. The overall order of loading to achieve the optimal predictions was EA, SS, IEQ, ID, MR, and WE.;The sample used to generate these results over represented early applicants (those certified under LEED v2.0). Ratings have been increasing under v2.1 and v2.2. Because high ratings are associated with active use of EA, the population is likely to have earned more credits in EA than the sample group did. Within the sample, SS and IEQ contributed most to increases in ratings under v2.2. The USGBC recently instituted new policies that encourage higher achievement in energy, site, and water conservation. It more than doubled the number of points available in EA and WE, and it increased the points available in SS by 186%. The organization's newest version (LEED v3) also requires applicants to reach higher thresholds to earn each rating. This will undoubtedly shift the way applicants achieve certification and will likely raise the predictive capacity of EA, SS, and WE. |
