LEED

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.

Source: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222

Over-the-Rhine
"Two redevelopment projects underway in Over-the-Rhine's Gateway Quarter are seeking to become the first LEED-certified residential buildings in the neighborhood, according to a media release.

Both Urban Sites' Belmain project at 1202 Main Street and Northpointe Group/B2B Equities' Mottainai Lofts at 1222-1224 Republic Street are part of a LEED-certified pilot project for mid-rise, multi-family buildings. ... Currently, the Art Academy of Cincinnati building at 12th and Jackson streets is the only LEED-certified building of any type in Over-the-Rhine. "