U.S. Green Building Council members are currently deciding
on what the 2009 version of its standards will look like.
The 2009 version of the USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design standards contain major changes for its section on
commercial buildings, and include sections on reducing carbon emissions and
increasing energy efficiency.
Voting is open until 5 p.m. Eastern time Nov. 14.
“Over the last eight years, LEED
has been a successful tool in the market, transforming the built environment
towards sustainable building practices,” said Brendan Owens, vice president of
technical development for LEED. “Just as integral to our mission is the process
of continuous improvement within LEED so it can continue to reset the bar, as
new information, technologies and processes become available. With the approval
of our members, the launch of 2009 will give the market a tool that is more
flexible and adaptive, while retaining the technical rigor and practicality
LEED has always been known for.”
Among the changes in the 2009
proposal are regional credits rules on interpreting credit eligibility.
