WASHINGTON - The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has opened the first public comment period on LEED 2009, the next evolution of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system. LEED 2009 represents a reorganization of the existing LEED rating systems for commercial buildings, combined with a series of major technical advancements focused on improving energy efficiency, reducing carbon emissions, and addressing other environmental and human health outcomes.

“Continuing to seek the right balance between technical advancement and market transformation was a driving force behind the LEED 2009 work,” explained Scot Horst, chairman of the volunteer LEED Steering Committee, which leads the technical development of the LEED rating system. “The ‘big ideas’ we’ve proposed include transparent weightings of LEED credits so the highest-priority credits achieve the most points, a new mechanism for incorporating bioregional credits, and a more nimble framework that supports rapid response to emerging environmental and human health issues.”

“When it was introduced in 2000, the LEED Green Building Rating System helped to spark a revolution that is changing the way we build and operate our offices, schools, hospitals, and homes,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO, and founding chair, USGBC. “LEED 2009 resets the bar for green building leadership because the urgency of our mission has challenged the industry to move faster and reach further.”

During the public comment period, all stakeholders are invited to review all proposed improvements and offer technical or market-oriented perspectives through USGBC’s Website on the slate of changes represented by LEED 2009. All public comments are reviewed by the USGBC volunteer committees that oversee the LEED rating system. USGBC will respond to all comments and post the comments and responses (without commenter names or organizations) to the USGBC Website.

The public comment period is open through June 22, 2008, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. To submit comments, go to www.usgbc.org/LEED/LEEDDrafts/RatingSystemVersions.aspx?CMSPageID=1458.

If changes to the LEED system are made as a result of comments, a second public comment period will be undertaken. The resulting draft will be sent to all USGBC member organizations for ballot prior to release.

Publication date:06/02/2008