Major changes approved for LEED system
Triangle Business Journal - by Vandana Sinha Washington Business Journal
Members of the U.S. Green Building Council have approved major changes that will make climate change and energy efficiency higher priorities within the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design guidelines for environmentally healthy buildings.
The update of the LEED system, which will take effect in 2009, was approved by a majority of the 18,000 member organizations that comprise the U.S. Green Building Council, the group announced Nov. 18. LEED has become a sought-after certification in commercial and residential construction because of the positive publicity it generates and because of government incentives for buildings that maximize energy efficiency and minimize environmental impact.
The new LEED 2009 has re-weighted certain actions in favor of increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions in new and existing buildings. The updated LEED also introduces a new set of regional credits, which are points withing the rating system tailored to match environmental priorities in certain geographic areas.
The USGBC will also introduce new processes for amending its LEED standards, including a pilot period for individual credits that can be tested and incorporated on their own.
The organization had received more than 7,000 comments since May on how to update its 8-year-old rating system for green buildings.
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