U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The nonprofit organization that created and administers LEED certification, setting the rating system's standards and overseeing the certification process projects go through to earn a LEED rating.
Why it matters
LEED doesn't exist as a government regulation, it's a voluntary certification program run by this specific nonprofit, which matters for understanding how LEED's standards get set, updated, and enforced, through the organization behind it rather than through a building code.
On a real project
A project team pursuing LEED certification submits documentation through the USGBC's certification process, which independently reviews the project's actual performance against the rating system's requirements before awarding a certification level.
Who this matters most to
A Sustainability/LEED Consultant manages a project's certification process directly with the USGBC, tracking documentation requirements throughout design and construction.
Where this goes wrong
A project markets itself as LEED certified before actually completing the USGBC's formal certification process and documentation review. The claim turns out to be premature once the certification is still pending, creating a credibility problem if anyone checks the actual status.