LEED 2009 Follows MS Windows model of customer choice

Gleefully embracing the idea that if one LEED rating system is good then 9 LEED systems must be whatever is more impressive than gaping mouthed awe. It’s unclear if this is an effort to make the process look more rigorous or ‘attentive’ to special building types, but all those studying for or re-upping for AP designation will need to get some more flashcards.

In fairness, LEED 2009 (aka LEED v3) will incorporate some baseline concepts common to all 9 (!) systems as well as more coherent and achievable goals. Most interestingly is the notion of regionalization as defined by regional councils of USGBC.

Nevertheless, what sounds most intriguing is the concept of an Alternate Compliance Path using lifecycle assessments to award points in the Materials and Resource section. This program is discussed in greater detail at NTHP’s “Preservation Nation”, but everything is still in hush-hush draft mode and not yet ready for public comment.

You can read more about these initial efforts at an earlier Preservation Nation post, “A Report from the Greenbuild Conference in Chicago – Part 2”