LEED v3: A Highly Evolved Solution" /> LEED v3: A Highly Evolved Solution" />

Contract - May 2009 - (Page 78)

green LEED v3: a highly evolved solution As environmentally sustainable design practices continue to go mainstream and change with time, so too do the standards by which to rate green design By Jan Lakin Since its first pilot in 1998, LEED has been a work in progress with the tremendously ambitious aim of making environmentally responsible building mainstream. Today, with green building a key part of the national conversation on the environment, LEED v3, as its name implies, remains an evolution but also presents the most comprehensive overhaul in the history of the system. It sets a framework that should enable the LEED program to continue to expand and develop for years to come. Launched April 27, 2009 (with an overlap of the LEED 2009 preserves the current system until LEED 2009 aligns various rating systems into one existing credit groups but June 25, 2009), LEED v3 consistent system. (Source: USGBC) utilizes revised weighting is a dizzying array of updates, simplifications, recalibrations, structural and point values. Integrating the EPA’s list of enviefficiencies, and redirection of priorities. For the ronmental “impact categories,” such as climate designer, essentially these changes promise a more change and resource depletion, LEED 2009 prioriuser-friendly online process, an easing of the tizes the categories and then weights the credits backlog of registered projects waiting for certifi- based on their ability to yield the greatest positive cation, and a rating system that’s more statistical- influence on these ranked environmental and ly accountable as well as responsive to the imper- human health concerns. The idea is to make LEED more responsive to current priorities, such as reducatives of climate change and energy efficiency. ing CO2 emissions. Scot Horst, senior vice president Under the rubric of LEED v3 are three very differ- of LEED at USGBC says, “In the past, you could do ent components. There’s LEED 2009, which brings a LEED building and not focus on energy efficiency. some significant changes to the rating system; a With LEED 2009, you will need to go 10 percent new iteration of LEED-Online’s registration beyond ASHRAE 90.1-2007 before you even get process, tools, and reference materials; and a shift points. Even the LEED Certified level is way beyond of certification and accreditation administration code in almost anyplace in the country.” from the USGBC to a third-party, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). That leaves the LEED 2009 also creates a point system that is more USGBC to focus on ongoing development of the scientifically based and enables the deconstruction of a credit’s worth—if you have a head for the math. rating system, education, and policy matters. The USGBC hopes this will place greater focus on Users immediately will note that LEED 2009 intro- the outcome of building design and construction duces a new consistent credit and point system decisions rather than the numbers. Additionally, across all commercial and institutional building types. Over time, new categories, such as Commercial Interiors (CI) and Existing Buildings (EB), emerged with disparate credit systems, language, and point scales. LEED 2009 cleans up these irregularities, consolidating and aligning their commonalities into one overarching system. Now they all operate with a 100 point scale, however, some building types retain credits that are specific to their category. (LEED For Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development are not impacted by LEED 2009.) 78 contract may 2009 www.contractmagazine.com http://www.contractmagazine.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - May 2009

Contract - May 2009
Contents
Editorial
Industry
Exhibition: Best of NeoCon® 2009
Keep It Simple, Sustainable
Generation NextGeneration Next
All Lit Up
Outside the Box
LEED v3: A Highly Evolved Solution
The Office Evolution
Brand New
Jump Start
Tailored Fit
The Energizer Effect
Diamond in the Rough
Chat Room
Designers Rate: Panel Fabrics
Ad Index
Perspectives

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