LEED 2009 Rating System Open For Comment

The U.S Green Building Council (USGBC) is soliciting input on the rating system during this second public comment period. LEED 2009 is a new version of the rating system that delivers against key environmental and human health impacts, and puts in place a transparent framework for weighting credits accordingly, based on the best available science.

The first public comment period for LEED 2009 ran May 19 to June 22, 2008, and received 5,800 comments. The second public comment period opened yesterday, August 19, and will be open through 5pmPT on September 2. The shorter time frame reflects the fact that only changes made in response to the first public comment period are now up for comment.

All technical comments from the first period that were within the scope of the proposed credit changes under LEED 2009 were reviewed by the LEED Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) and are now reflected in tracked changes to the credit language. Even though a comment may have been made on only one rating system, it was applied across all rating systems to keep credits aligned where applicable. Technical comments that were outside of the LEED 2009 scope will be discussed as part of the next LEED development cycle, which will happen at regular intervals going forward.

Following is a sampling of the revisions most frequently suggested or most technically changed, by credit category. More are listed on the USGBC site.

Sustainable Sites

Credit 2: Development Density & Community Connectivity If the project is mixed use, it may be considered one of the ten basic services that are required to be located within ½ mile, as long as the service is open to the public.

Credit 4.3: Alternative Transportation: Low Emitting & Fuel Efficient Vehicles The language that said one low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided per 8 people should have said 267 occupants.

Water Efficiency

Credit 1: Water Efficient Landscaping: Reduce by 50% Groundwater language was moved from the Potential Technologies & Strategies to the Requirements section.

Energy & Atmosphere

Prerequisite 2 & Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance Additional ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guides are now included under the prescriptive path for compliance. Additional point thresholds have been added in EAc1.

Credit 5: Measurement & Verification (M&V) Corrective action is now required if the results of the M&V plan indicate that energy savings are not being achieved.


3 COMMENTS

  1. LEED is doing a wonderful job, except, it does not consider Lighting enough. There are many alternate lighting tools besides the traditional incandescent, halogen and fluorescent. Some are complete light source/systems, like light pipe, LEDs and glass fibre optics functional architectural lighting. Many times, they can do a better job for certain applications than the traditional ones.

    Better practical education in choices, along with building codes that recognize differences between older construction methods and materials and contemporary one, are needed. Only then can green, sustainable and energy efficient solutions that are sophisticated and affordable be created within the increasing restrictions.

  2. Follow-up,
    Currently, no LEED points are granted for privacy levels, and yet privacy is one of the few things that the physical environment can actually provide that enhances productivity and quality of work life (QOWL).
    Acoustic privacy would need to be defined rigorously, in terms of levels of speech privacy, along with subjective measurement, because objective sound levels often do not correlate with perceived privacy or the quality of privacy.
    In fact, some LEED-rewarded changes in the interior environment can actually compromise privacy levels–not a good outcome if QOL is the ultimate goal of sustainable design.
    Best Wishes,
    Jay L. Brand, Ph.D.
    Ideation Group

  3. The whole sustainability movement must be redefined in terms of quality of life for humans. The moral foundation for the entire trend involves preserving the quality of life for future generations, so if the quality of life (QOL) for current generations is compromised in pursuit of the same goal for future generations, this undercuts its moral legitimacy. “A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.”
    In this regard, LEED needs much more detail and rigor around occupancy quality of the built environment. Just as one example, many LEED projects result in excessive glair for occupants, because LEED points are given for exterior views and daylight without regard for the quality of the light defined in terms of human experience.
    In my opinion, this MUST change.
    Energy savings is far less important and well nigh irrelevant compared to the quality of human experience.
    Best Wishes,
    Jay L. Brand, Ph.D.
    Workplace Scientist
    Ideation Group

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