The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is revamping the LEED rating system this year. “LEED 2012″ will focus on improving the rating system’s clarity (providing more precise technical criteria) and making the system more user-friendly. Some may consider these competing notions, so it’s quite a lofty goal to meet. There will be revisions of prerequisites [...]

Green building has had its ups and downs lately. Many professionals complain about the USGBC’s LEED standards, ranging from it’s too expensive and difficult to get certification to it does not truly result in sustainability. The number of projects in the LEED pipeline has reportedly stagnated lately. Some have talked about putting out new competing [...]

November 30, 2010 There is much talk recently about “green” buildings. Many diverse interests from CEOs to governors and banks to customers are interested. What is a “green” building, what are its benefits, and how does one determine if this is real or not? Could your existing buildings already be “green” or meet standards at [...]

August 8, 2010 There is growing interest in the USGBC’s LEED program. Though criticized, this is an accepted, concrete (no pun intended) program that defines “green” building. Some companies who are cool to climate change (another pun, there!) or sustainability programs have embraced LEED for several reasons. First, it requires outside body certification. One accumulates [...]