Common Myths

LEED for Homes Illinois: Greener, Healthier Living in the Midwest

The Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) guides Illinois homeowners, builders and project teams through the LEED for Homes certification process — from the first questions to final sign-off. Browse our events, tools and project stories to see green building in action.

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Questions about LEED for Homes? Call the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability toll-free at 888-LEED-AP H (888-533-3274) or email [email protected].

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Media Coverage

• Jan 10, 2010: Chicago Tribune
• Aug 3, 2010: Chicago Tribune
• Aug 10, 2010: Real Estate Rama
• Aug 13, 2010: Daily Herald
• Aug 25, 2010: New York Times
• Sept 1, 2010: Appliance Design
• Nov 13, 2011: Green Gut Rehab Goes Platinum

Green Building Resources & Guides

• 16 ways to Green Your Home
• AES Education and Training
• AES Home Page
• Eco Home Products
• Existing Homes - Green Guide
• Green Bean Chicago
• LEED AP + Homes Practice Exam
• LEED for Homes eligibility
• LEED for Homes – Builder FAQs
• LEED for Homes – Consumer FAQs

Helpful Organizations

• Become a LEED Professional
• Eco Achievers education
• Illinois Solar Energy Association
• ReBuilding Exchange
• USGBC - LEED Homes Education
• USGBC – Illinois Chapter
• USGBC – LEED for Homes

Tools for LEED-H Projects

• AE 1.3 - Order LEED-H Signage
• Affordable Housing Toolkit
• Find a LEED AP + Homes
• LL5, LL6 Tool - Walkscore
• Preapproved ID point - Utility Tracking
• Rating System 1-page Snapshot

Recent Articles

22 Tips for Building an Affordable LEED Home

June 06, 2026 :: Posted by Jason :: Category - Common Myths, LEED Credits

AES recently summarized an article showing how any project can apply many LEED strategies to build an affordable LEED home. Find these 22 tips on the main Alliance for Environmental Sustainability website.

LEED for Homes Myth #3: Certification Is Too Expensive

February 01, 2026 :: Posted by Jason :: Category - Common Myths, Economics

Many people believe LEED for Homes certification costs thousands of dollars — sometimes more than $10,000. That simply isn't the case, at least not when the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) is your LEED for Homes Provider. Let's set the record straight.

LEED for Homes Myth #2: Heavy Documentation Requirements

December 16, 2025 :: Posted by Jason :: Category - Common Myths

How difficult is it to document a LEED for Homes project? Many people are familiar with LEED commercial rating systems such as Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) or New Construction, now called Building Design and Construction (BD+C), or have heard about the large binders of documentation a project team must assemble and submit to the USGBC for review and final certification. LEED for Homes requires less documentation than other LEED rating systems. If you assume LEED for Homes has equally demanding documentation requirements, think again — documenting a LEED for Homes project is quite straightforward. The main submission is a small packet of pre-formatted documents, the LEED for Homes Project Checklist, generated from a single MS Excel file with multiple tabs for different submission information. Best of all, the forms are bundled together in that one Excel file.

LEED for Homes Myth #1: FSC Lumber Is Required

October 23, 2026 :: Posted by Jason :: Category - Common Myths

Occasionally a LEED for Homes project team arrives believing that Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified lumber is mandatory. This may stem from confusion with other LEED rating systems for commercial construction, which do include a prerequisite for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) lumber.

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