The LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System® is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. The LEED system was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, an organization that is dedicated to the construction of buildings that are built in an environmentally friendly manner AND are healthy places for workers or residents. LEED was created to: define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement; promote integrated, whole-building design practices; recognize environmental leadership in the building industry;stimulate green competition; raise consumer awareness of green building benefits; and  transform the building market. The designs of both TREC and landscape were guided by sustainable considerations.  The building has been designed to achieve a LEED Silver rating from theUnited States Green Building Council.  This is the first LEED rated building in DCNR and Erie County. 
The following are some of the key “green” features of TREC:

• Ample bicycle storage to encourage alternative transportation
• Changing facilities for employees who bike to work
• Reduced site disturbance by using already developed building site
• Preserved open space
• Porous parking lot – reduces stormwater runoff and pollution
• Native plants used in landscaping that reinforce the ecology of the peninsula and negate the need for irrigation
• Exterior shading of windows to reduce cooling costs
• Translucent panels to reduce reflectivity, lessening likelihood of bird strikes
• Almost all building materials obtained from within a 500-mile radius thereby reducing the need to burn fossil fuels
• Many materialshave high-recycled content such as steel, carpet, wheat board and linoleum
• Rainwater collection system for reuse in toilet flushing
• White roof that reflects sun and reduces cooling
• Raised floor system that serves as a plenum and provides maximum flexibility
• Operable windows that allow for fresh air exchange
• Building oriented southward to take advantage of heating and sunlight exposure
• Light colors incorporated to landscaping to reduce heat islands
• Designed luminance levels reduce light pollution on surrounding properties
• Low or no VOC’s (volatile organic compounds) used in all adhesives, glues and paints
• Building flush-out to maximize indoor air quality
• All building systems are required to be commissioned by certified commissioning agent
• Building has purchased 100% wind power through renewable energy credits
• Recycling storage and accessibility
• Daylight incorporated into 75% of the building spaces