Updated LEED credits addresses regional differences during construction
USGBC releases LEED regional credits as part of the new green building rating system.
The U.S. Green Building Council released the LEED regional
credits as part of LEED 2009 ; the new version of the LEED Green Building Rating
System. The new LEED credit encourages specific regional environmental
priorities to be addressed during design, construction, and operations of
buildings in different geographic locations.
“Because environmental priorities differ among various
regions of the country-the challenges in the Southeast differ from those in the
Northwest, for example-regionally specific credits give LEED a way to directly
respond to diverse, regionally grounded issues,” said Brendan Owens, Vice
President of Technical Development, USGBC. “The inclusion of these regional
LEED credits is the Council’s first step toward addressing regional
environmental issues.”
USGBC’s regional councils, chapters, and affiliates addressed
six specific environmental issues within a region. For LEED 2009, LEED projects
will be able to earn “bonus points” for implementing green building strategies
that address environmental issues facing their region. A project can be awarded
as many as four extra points; one for each for achieving up to four to six
priority credits.
LEED 2009 is one of the three major components that make up
LEED Version 3; the next version of the LEED green building certification
program, which launches on April 27, 2009. The other components include LEED
Online, which is a tool for managing the LEED registration and
certification process, and a building
certification model administered by the Green Building Certification Institute
through a network of ISO-accredited certification bodies.
Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our WTWH Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.