Open Today: 2nd Public Comment for LEED 2012

USGBC is opening the 2nd public comment period for LEED 2012. Please see the attached press release, and vision document, which will provide you with some information on LEED 2012 and changes in the new draft. It is important to remember that the main message about LEED 2012 centers around inviting people to participate in the process. Any comments that come in during this time period could cause changes to the draft as part of the on-going development of LEED.

· LEED 2012 is currently open for 2nd public comment. Public comment periods are part of the on-going development of LEED.

 · USGBC members are invited to attend a series of interactive webcasts, which take a deep dive into the proposed technical changes for LEED 2012. All webcasts run from 1:30pm-3:00pm ET from August 8-24.

· The rating system drafts currently available for public comment feature updated credit language and scorecards, and include responses to comments to points associated with all credits. Credits have been allocated points based on a new weightings process similar to the process used for 2009, but based on impact categories developed by USGBC and tied more closely to the USGBC’s market transformation goals.

· The weightings/point allocation process informed many changes in the rating system, including organizational changes proposed for the Indoor Environmental Quality and Materials and Resources credit categories.

· A notable change to the LEED 2012 for Neighborhood Development draft includes a split into two rating systems: LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan and LEED for Neighborhood Development, aiming to provide a certification for entitled plans in addition to completed projects.