LEED - H is an abbreviation that stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes. It is awarded by the Green Building Rating System(GBRS), which is a division of the US Green Building Council (USGBC). It may more difficult and confusing to understand the abbreviations of each of these organizations than the designation itself.
Basically, the homeowner and/or builder must apply for this designation for inclusion. It is similar to the other Green Building designations but regulated on a larger scale. Rather than having a local or regional designation, such as an EarthCraft Home designation or Build Green Greater Columbia, LEED-H is a national organization for energy efficiency in the US. This seems like a great starting point when looking for an energy efficient home. Different regions have different weather patterns and it may be beneficial to look into local and regional organizations when buying or building a green home. In the Columbia area, now dubbed with the popular "Famously Hot" marketing campaign for the city, there may be differences in ventilation than other markets around the country. So it's always good to check locally for Green Home organizations to see if there are new developments that may not be included into the GBRS yet, You may visit the USGBC website for detailed information about LEED designations and requirements, or search for a LEED home in Columbia on our Columbia SC MLS page.