WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has unveiled a series of major process improvements to its LEED(R) (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) green building rating system, including a significantly streamlined documentation and certification process that's now 100% online. A direct result of market surveys and extensive dialogue with the organizations and individuals who use LEED, USGBC anticipates the changes to the LEED process will reduce the time and cost of LEED certification.