LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It was first started in the United States, but now spans over 30 countries. It is used to make building designs more environmentally sustainable. If a building designer or developer wishes to have his or her project certified they must adhere to several fairly strict requirements.

Contributed from the American Society of Landscape Architects. This video explains how to divert waste from demolishing buildings to create a new park.

In old style construction materials from torn-down buildings are dumped in a local landfill.

The office building in downtown Houston has become the first Texas skyscraper to achieve LEED Platinum certification for existing buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The 33-story tower owned by Hines was the first downtown office building to receive LEED certification from the council when it was awarded a Silver certification in early 2009.

The question remains will the mining industry develop the facilities to generate heat from its other processes or break the rules when they are allowed to desalinate and go through with their operations.

"Seawater desalination for industrial activities in Chile and Peru has a relatively low impact on energy consumption when compared to water conveyance"- the director of Hatch Water in Chile, Raymond Philippe.

Water availability is one of the most significant challenges for further development of the mining industry in Chile and Peru.

GUAM - At Guam Community College, it's another year, another building and another means to modern learning.
This morning dignitaries clipped the ribbon outside GCC's new LEED certified Learning Resource Center. The LRC is a modern library with energy efficient computers, LED lighting, and furniture made from recycled materials.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design. It's an international standard—a green building certification system. And GCC President Mary Okada says the $5.2 million project is another milestone in the 2005 Physical Master Plan to modernize for growth.