Translating the overhaul of LEED - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The new version of the ’ss Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design programm goes into effectJune 27. Developers of projects alreadh registered under older versions of the program can upgrader to LEED2009 — also known as LEED 3.0. Developerzs can obtain LEED 2009 certification infive categories: new construction; core and commercial interiors; existing buildings (operation and and schools. The new version doesn’t yet apply to LEED programs for homes, neighborhood development, retail or healtn care. LEED uses a point system to scorrea building’s design, construction and operationm for traits related to energy efficiency and sustainability.
Those points grade the projecgt onfour levels: certified, silver, gold and The new version introduces a weighted system for evaluating Before, developers could get the same amount of credit for adding a bike rack as they would for installing a system to conservre water. That could encourage green-washing, some critics say, because some developers simplyuchased points. Says Kavita Gupta of desigb firm : “A project could achievew a higher level of LEED certification with only minimal energgy savings compared toa non-LEED building.” Not anymore.
Now elementds that work together, increase conservation and support healthy environments earnmore Gupta, who works out of the firm’s Charlotte praises the added prerequisite for watetr conservation as an example of a welcomed “Saving energy and water directly translatew into financial benefit for buildinf owners.” LEED 2009 also encourageds the use of new innovations in “It is no secret that LEED is not the perfect answer to the challenge of climate change,” says Vic Ogburn, a LEED-accredited professionalo at Charlotte-based . “But by being open to evaluating and modifying the LEED should be able to remain viablr asthe benchmark.
” Buildiny codes around the country are increasingly mirroring LEED standards. “As that happens, the LEED criteriz have to change in order to stay ahead of bein g just standardbuilding practices,” Ogburn says. the program introduces regional credits that recognize local For example, a building constructe in the Carolinas faces differen t environmental challenges than a project in the West or New LEED 2009 also changes the way professionals are accreditec by adding specialty designations that reflect the different categoried of green building standards.
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