GSA published a notice in the Federal Register seeking public comments until April 6 on how the government can best use certification systems to measure the design and performance of its construction and major modernization projects. Every five years, GSA is required to evaluate green building certification systems for the government’s use, and this review has been and will continue to be open to an extensive public process.

“GSA would like to hear more from the public, stakeholders, and experts before we develop a formal recommendation on the government’s use of green building certification systems,” said Dan Tangherlini, GSA acting administrator. “This review has been open to an extensive public process, and an additional comment period will assist us in making a final recommendation for the next five years. The federal government has its own building standards in place, and we are seeking input on how and which certification systems can best help us measure performance and operate federal buildings more efficiently.”

GSA is currently evaluating three certification systems for green building standards, which include the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED 2009, the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes, and the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge.

After the public comment period, GSA will use the feedback and make a recommendation to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This recommendation could be one system, multiple systems, or no system. GSA held public listening sessions last summer regarding certification systems and facts and findings of this review are included in the Federal Register notice.

Presently, GSA uses LEED 2009 for new construction and major modernization projects with LEED Gold as the certification system and target level.

Publication date: 4/1/2013