Latest LEED version debuts against Greenbuild backdrop

Sources: U.S. Green Building Council, Washington, D.C.; CP staff

USGBC has marked a turning point in its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building program, unveiling LEED v4 in Philadelphia, host city for the 2013 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. Council officials cite among highlights of the new LEED version:

  • New market sector adaptations for LEED include data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, hospitality, existing schools, existing retail and mid-rise residential projects.
  • Time-saving support tools and resources to simplify LEED credit submittal requirements; descriptive step-by-step reference guide materials with videos and tutorials, and a more intuitive technology platform.
  • Building performance management focus affording owners better understanding of how to manage their facilities to meet full performance potential.
  • New impact categories: Climate change, human health, water resources, biodiversity, green economy, community and natural resources.

“LEED v4 is a quantum leap,” says USGBC CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “Over the past 15 years, LEED has fundamentally revolutionized how we design, construct, operate and maintain our buildings and communities, [and] created a completely new industry of business enterprise committed to energy savings and efficiency.”

“LEED v4, at its core, provides insight into the synergies within the building system, providing solutions for optimizing performance, and ultimately achieving better environmental, economic and social outcomes in our buildings,” adds Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED. “LEED v4 is the LEED of the future, where we challenge the marketplace to go further, to make the next great leap toward better, cleaner, healthier buildings where people live and work.”