The American LEED model is an internationally recognised, successful certification system, whose acronym stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”. For more than ten years, the approach has been setting global standards for the development and planning of so-called “Green Buildings”, i.e. buildings with an extremely good ecological performance.

LEED certificates are awarded on the basis of points measuring the extent to which a building lowers operating expenses and its overall effect on the environment.

In October 2014, the Ioannis Karras kindergarten in Athens became the first building in Greece to be awarded the highest possible LEED certification, platinum, with 83 points.

Besides the green roof, the integration of the building into the existing environment, and the efficient use of rainwater, the kindergarten also scored points for using the environmentally friendly Resysta (‘the better wood’) as a building material.

The certification procedure and its standards stand for consciousness, efficiency, and healthy usage parameters – for commercial and private buildings alike.