USGBC Members Approve Energy Requirement

Members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) approved a measure that effectively increases the minimum energy performance of LEED-certified projects by 14% for new buildings and 7% for major renovations. Introduced in November 2006, the measure requires all projects to obtain a minimum two out of ten points in the energy optimization section of the four currently balloted LEED rating systems, which all apply principally to commercial buildings (see

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Vol. 16, No. 3). All projects registered after June 26, 2007—the date the measure passed—must meet the new requirements. More information about the energy optimization section is available at www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=2303.