Environmental Design & Construction magazine has reached an agreement with the U.S. Green Building Council naming it “the official magazine for the LEED professional.”

As part of the 15-year agreement, the magazine will be given free to more than 96,000 people accredited under the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

“The U.S. Green Building Council’s partnership with EDC will help us provide quality content and education to our network of LEED APs and LEED green associates,” said Taryn Holowka, the USGBC’s vice president of marketing and communications. “We look forward to working closely with EDC on this new endeavor and the promising opportunities it will bring to the LEED professional community.”

New content that will be featured in print and on the magazine’swebsite includes columns from LEED fellows, rating system changes, project details and educational information.

EDC publisher Diana Brown said she is excited about the agreement.

“EDC has been a proud and active member of USGBC since the magazine launched in 1997,” Brown said. “As the only monthly green building magazine, we’re excited about this partnership - to be able to reach the entire LEED professional audience with LEED news, information, projects and most importantly, education. The LEED professional is the cornerstone of a sustainable built environment. LEED professionals with specialty, as well as LEED green associates and the LEED fellows, are involved in all aspects of the project, from the charettes, design, specifications and construction, to continued building operations and maintenance.”

A redesigned magazine marking the partnership will debut in May.

EDC is published by Troy, Mich.-based BNP Media, the parent company of Snips.