In response to member concerns, USGBC has postponed the planned ballot of LEED 2012 until June 2, 2013. The system upgrade will now be called LEED v4. In addition, a fifth public comment period will run from Oct. 2, 2012 through Dec. 10, 2012, according to USGBC. USGBC also will debut new forms, submittal documents, and LEED Online enhancements at Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in November 2012 to help improve the user experience and garner feedback.
Other changes announced by the organization in relation to the proposed changes to LEED include keeping LEED 2009 open for registration for three years, and allowing the market to test drive LEED v4.
“This is 100% in response to our members’ desire that we give them a bit more time to absorb the changes in this next version of the rating system” says USGBC president and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. “We want to do everything we can to ensure that the market can fully embrace LEED v4 because it represents significant progress on carbon reduction and human health. Greenbuild will provide us the perfect venue to experience the look and feel of the new system as an integrated package. Then we can take the first part of 2013 to make sure the consensus body has everything it needs for a successful ballot.”
The full letter from Fedrizzi regarding the changes can be found here. For more information on the proposed changes to LEED 2009, see ECO-STRUCTURE's recent interview with USGBC senior vice president Scot Horst, and visit usgbc.org.
