The U.S. Green Building Council will launch a Japanese version of LEED, its certification programs to rate energy efficiency of buildings. Translating documents of two of the 21 categories and examinations of a credential, LEED GA, the council aims to promote the program further in Japan.

LEED programs, launched in 2000 in the United States, have been used in more than 150 countries globally and have registered 50,000 buildings. 59 buildings have gained LEED certification in Japan by January 2015 and 72 are in pipeline. A voluntary group to promote LEED in Japan, Green Building Japan was established in 2013, which have cooperated with USGBC and have contributed to publicity of Japanese state of the art green buildings.

LEED programs are currently available in English and five other languages. “A language barrier has been a major obstacle of penetration in Japan,” said Roger Platt, President of USGBC. The Council will complete translation by the end of 2015 and look to increase the number of the categories and credentials to be offered in Japanese. (2015/3/18)