By Jacob Kriss Initially launched in the United States in 2000, the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building rating system has seen rapid uptake. One of the preeminent reasons for LEED’s success was the leadership of the U.S. federal government. With more than 1,500 certified projects to date, the government has remained committed to green building and was an early leader in implementing it. In 2003, the U.S. General Services Administration mandated LEED certification, with a target of LEED Silver for all of its capital building projects. In 2010, it raised this requirement to LEED Gold for all new…