LEED for Homes is the oddball of USGBC’s rating systems in many ways. LEED for Homes Providers, Green Raters, and exemption from using LEED-Online are just a few of these differences. An additional noticable difference is the cost of getting a Homes project certified. While initial registration fees for non-Homes projects was recently increased to $900 for USGBC members and $1,200 for non-USGBC members, LEED for Homes registration fees remain more affordable at $150 for USGBC members and $225 for non-USGBC members. Click here to read about the recent changes to fees for non-Homes projects. 

Certification fees also remain relatively low, especially in the case of single family housing. In the case of multifamily housing, fees not only depend on national USGBC membership, but they also depend on the square footage of the project. Though multifamily projects are eligible for Homes certification, such projects must demonstrate a maximum building height of three stories.

Another unique feature is that only LEED for Homes has the option of volume pricing. These fees vary depending on which LEED for Homes Provider a project team chooses. Volume pricing is utilized for master-planned communities or in a situation where multiple Homes projects will be somewhat identical. Such fees are essentially the equivalent of paying for certification in bulk.

To learn more about the unique nature of the Homes rating system, click here.