Green Building Certifications and Policy Implementation in the United States: A Review of LEED, ENERGY STAR, and Net-Zero Building Programs

Authors: Ayotunde Daniel Akindele Daniel Akindele

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37082/IJIRMPS.v14.i1.232963

Short DOI: https://doi.org/hbqz5b

Country: United States

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Abstract: Building sector is one of the most important frontiers of climate action in the United States as it contributes about 40 percent of the energy consumption in the country and a third of its carbon emissions. The paper provides an overview of the structure, goals, and policy integration of three major U.S. certifications of green buildings: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), ENERGY STAR, and Net-Zero Building programs to evaluate their success in the promotion of sustainability and decarbonization. The analysis has compared the performance metrics, governance structure, and policy connection between these documents based on peer reviewed research published between 2020 and 2025 and the new policy official documents. Findings indicate that LEED and ENERGY STAR have gone a long way in enhancing building energy performance and environmental efficiency whereas Net-Zero initiatives are pushing towards carbon neutrality. Nevertheless, some issues have been persistent such as inconsistent policy implementation, delayed/random verification on program performance post-occupancy, and unequal accessibility to the program. The paper concludes that long-term climate and energy objectives will be inseparable without the restoration of certification frameworks in conjunction with the coordination of federal-state policymaking mechanisms and social equity requirements. This review connects certification design, policy implementation, and quantifiable outcomes to support how green building governance may take a coordinated future as a way toward Net-Zero, fair, and resilient built environments in the United States.

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Paper Id: 232963

Published On: 2026-02-28

Published In: Volume 14, Issue 1, January-February 2026

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