8TFive Studio – U.S. Green Building Council Member
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
We decided to not only renew our Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. We would also begin a membership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Our company is now a Member of the USGBC. To become a participating organization, we’ll receive continued educational opportunities centered around green building practices and design.
Key Takeaways
- 8TFive Studio has renewed its LEED certification and joined the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
- As a USGBC member, the studio gains educational opportunities focused on green building practices.
- LEED promotes sustainable design and operation of buildings, enhancing environmental and economic outcomes.
- The USGBC provides educational programs, advocacy resources, and events like the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo.
- LEED certification offers benefits like higher property values, lower operating costs, and improved indoor air quality.
Table of Contents
Architect Neil Silva has been a registered and accredited professional in the LEED building rating system since back in 2009. He continues to maintain qualifications on sustainable design.
You can find out more About Us and our sustainability approach or just Contact Us.
Better Buildings are our Legacy
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and its community is changing the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated.
We believe in better buildings; places that complement our environment and enhance our communities. Places that give people better, brighter, healthier spaces to live, work and play.
Green building is a win-win, offering both environmental and economic opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet future demand for energy in the United States. Furthermore, a commitment to green building has the potential to generate jobs.
About the USGBC
USGBC is transforming the building landscape in a number of ways.
- LEED: The most widely recognized and widely used green building program across the globe. LEED is a certification program for buildings, homes and communities that guides the design, construction, operations and maintenance.
- Credentials: The LEED Green Associate credential and the various LEED AP credentials offer professionals a designation. This helps them stand out in the building industry. The LEED Green Associate and LEED AP credentials help demonstrate knowledge in sustainable design, construction, operations and maintenance of buildings and communities.
- Greenbuild International Conference & Expo: The world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Each year, tens of thousands of professionals from all over the world attend this can’t-miss event.
- Education: USGBC provides green building educational programs in a variety of formats for professionals from all sectors of the building industry. Thousands of designers, builders, suppliers and managers have attended our seminars. All USGBC educational offerings support the LEED professional credentials
- Advocacy: At every level of government, USGBC provides policymakers and community leaders with the tools, strategies and resources they need. This helps inspire action toward a sustainable built environment.
- Chapters: Through an actively engaged network of regional USGBC chapter organizations, our reach is nationwide. We offer resources, education and networking opportunities in every community.
We reference and copy some text from the USGBC website for exactly clarification and definitions.
Q&A – USGBC
The USGBC is a private, membership-based non-profit organization dedicated to transforming how buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated. Its vision is to create a regenerative environment that sustains the health and vitality of all life within a single generation. It is most widely known for creating and maintaining the LEED rating system.
Q&A – LEED
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. It provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings by measuring excellence across core impact areas, including decarbonization, water efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and ecological conservation.
Projects earn points by meeting specific prerequisites and elective credits. In 2026, there are four distinct levels of certification based on the points earned:
Certified: 40–49 points
Silver: 50–59 points
Gold: 60–79 points
Platinum: 80+ points (the highest level of achievement)
Formally launched for project certification in late 2025, LEED v5 is the active standard for 2026. It shifts the focus beyond just “doing less harm” toward three primary pillars: decarbonization (targeting operational and embodied emissions), quality of life (prioritizing health, equity, and resilience), and ecological restoration (actively contributing to ecosystem recovery).
LEED-certified buildings are high-performance assets that offer significant financial advantages:
Higher Property Value: They command up to an 11% higher resale value and a 21.4% higher average market sales price per square foot than non-certified buildings.
Lower Operating Costs: They typically reduce energy and water bills by as much as 40%.
Occupant Benefits: These spaces improve indoor air quality, which can reduce absenteeism and enhance employee productivity.
Incentives: Many local and federal governments offer tax credits, rebates, and expedited permitting for LEED projects.
Neil has over 20 years’ experience on a range of large (15,000 sf) and small (500 sf) residential, non-profit, and commercial projects with a small business focus. He has two kids with his wife, Victoria, and loves family time camping, hiking, and traveling. While he grew up in New England, Neil is a diehard Buffalo Bills fan!
