USGBC Delays LEED Upgrades Until 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council has recently announced that the planned revision of the LEED green building system that was due later this year is now delayed until June 1, 2013.

The new system, renamed from LEED 2012 to LEED v4 because of the date change, has been delayed due to members feeling the changes were happening too fast — and many were not prepared.

“This is 100 percent 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,” said USGBC president and CEO Rick Fedrizzi in a statement. “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.”

The current LEED 2009 standards will continue to be in effect given the delay of the ballot. The USGBC said it would keep the previous standards open for registration for three years.

“This means that the rating system our stakeholders have begun to master is still there so they can make the switch when they are ready,” wrote Fedrizzi in a statement.

Fedrizzi is asking for the market’s continuing assistance in “test driving” LEED v4 to gain important insight during a time when improvements in usability can be made. USGBC is also committing to a fifth public comment that will open on Oct. 2, 2012 and run through Dec. 10, 2012 to take advantage of the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in November in San Francisco — where USGBC will hold public forums and educational sessions.

“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,” Fedrizzi said.