The U.S. Green Building Council rolled out new programs and updates to foster the LEED Positive approach.
The goal is to move LEED further down the road to net zero and prepare for a shift to regenerative strategies. The new initiatives include:
· USGBC ALL IN – A new equity program to serve as a roadmap for how the organization and the green building community can better contribute to addressing social, health, and economic disparities in communities around the world.
· Living Standard – An expanded Living Standard campaign will become the organization’s pivotal grassroot initiative, a tool to share best practices.
· Return on Investment (ROI) Study – This program is intended to help the industry better quantify the benefits of green building. USGBC will conduct an ROI study that looks at the value of investment and the impact of green building.
· LEED Zero for design – A LEED Zero rating system will be released for projects in the design phase.
“The world today is facing intersecting crises that cannot be resolved with fragmented solutions, but require integrated, equitable practices and an industry-wide commitment to standardizing those practices,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC, Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and Arc, in a news release.
Related Stories
| Nov 10, 2011
California seismic codes spur flurry of hospital projects
New seismic requirements in California are helping to drive a flurry of new projects and retrofits in the state’s health care sector.
| Nov 10, 2011
Senate ready to repeal 3% withholding on government contracts
The U.S. Senate is set to approve legislation that would eliminate a law requiring federal, state, and local governments to withhold 3% of their payments to contractors and companies doing business with the government.
| Nov 10, 2011
New legislation aimed at improving energy efficiency in federal buildings
Recently introduced legislation, the “High-Performance Federal Buildings Act,” would help federal agencies save energy and money by improving building performance.
| Nov 4, 2011
CSI and ICC Evaluation Service agree to reference GreenFormat in ICC-ES Environmental Reports?
ICC-ES currently references CSI's MasterFormat and other formats in all of its evaluation reports. The MOU will add GreenFormat references.
| Nov 3, 2011
House Votes to Kill 3% Withholding Requirement; Senate Yet to Vote
The U.S. House of Representatives voted last week to repeal a 3% IRS withholding tax on businesses that do work for the government.
| Nov 3, 2011
OSHA Publishes Information on Rights and Safety
OSHA recently published new and revised information that explains workers’ and employers’ rights, as well as how to protect workers from hazards in the construction industry.
| Nov 3, 2011
Sierra Club Critical of Albuquerque Mayor’s Push to Weaken Green Code
The mayor’s plan to move to a less environmentally friendly code would mean confusion for people in the construction industry and a loss of energy efficiency and money for consumers, said Shrayas Jatkar of the Sierra Club.
| Nov 3, 2011
Lax Code Enforcement Blamed for Deaths in Turkey’s Earthquake
Despite tough safety codes approved a decade ago after earthquakes killed 18,000 people, lax enforcement led to hundreds of deaths after a recent earthquake in Turkey.
| Nov 3, 2011
International Green Construction Code Will Provide Template for Local Codes
A uniform code for green construction is being readied for publication in March.
| Oct 31, 2011
NIST issues new code requirements
Buildings taller than 420 feet are now required to include an extra exit stairwell or a specially designed elevator that occupants can use for evacuations.