USGBC releases LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

-- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 3/21/2008 10:06:00 AM

According to the USGBC, the  LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (LEED EB: OM) rating system has passed member ballot and registration is now available. Among the many upgrades to LEED EB provided by LEED EB: OM are more credits for energy efficiency.

The LEED EB: OM rating system helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements, and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts.  LEED EB addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades. It can be applied both to existing buildings seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction (LEED NC) or LEED for Core & Shell (LEED CS).  

The LEED EB: OM reference guide and submittal templates are currently under development, and are expected to be available in May. According to the USGBC, if you choose to register for O&M today, you will have access to the LEED Online Project Summary only.  Phase out of LEED EB version 2.0 and mandatory registration under O&M will go into effect once all supporting rating-system materials are finalized by the USGBC. Meanwhile, all projects registered under LEED EB version 2.0 that wish to upgrade to O&M will “need to save any uploaded template data before requesting the switch.” 

USGBC offers free registration for all previously certified LEED NC and LEED CS projects. 

For more information about LEED EB: OM, contact the USGBC at leedinfo@usgbc.org.