On July 2, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the results of the member ballot for the newest version of its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system for green buildings. With 67 percent of the overall vote needed to pass the changes, LEEDv4 received 86 percent if the membership’s vote. USGBC will launch LEED v4 this fall at its annual conference, Greenbuild, in November 2013.
According to the USGBC, the percentages are as follows for each of the three interest categories of voters:
90% approval from those in the user category
77% approval from those in the general interest category
89% approval from those in the producer category
Currently, there are nearly 100 projects undergoing a beta test of LEED v4. USGBC will use the feedback from the beta projects to further improve the rating system.
USGBC also recently announced the availability of several new pilot credits that are available for use in projects seeking LEED certification, in addition to the Clean Construction Pilot Credit (see Observer article, January 31, 2013). The most recent round of pilot credits includes one that takes into account green training programs for contractors, trades, operators and service workers contributing to a project. More information on these pilot credits and others is online in the LEED Pilot Credit Library.
