January 9, 2006—The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has unveiled a series of process improvements to its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system, including a significantly streamlined documentation and certification process that’s now 100% online, says the organization.
The changes, a direct result of market surveys and extensive dialogue with the organizations and individuals who use LEED, are expected to reduce the time and cost of LEED certification.
The LEED credit requirements themselves have not changed, and project teams are still required to verify their achievements through third party validation and ensure that the building is built as it was designed. But, among other changes, project teams will have the option to submit documentation in two separate phases for new construction projects: first for the design phase, and then the construction phase; and customer feedback and interaction has been improved throughout the process, says the USGBC.
The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary third party rating system in which building projects earn credits for meeting specified green building criteria.
USGBC is the nation’s leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government agencies and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. For more information, visit the Web site.
