Order Reprints

Sustainability Desk

By Renae Hesselink
VP of Sustainability, Nichols Paper
Chair of the U.S. Green Building Council West Michigan Chapter

On Aug. 1 the second public comment period for LEED 2012 began. It runs through Sept. 14. LEED, a.k.a. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, continues to evolve and with each new version the bar is again raised. It remains the leading catalyst for changing today’s built environment, the buildings in which we live, work and play.

The public comment period allows millions of people who are directly involved in the design and construction process, as well as those who occupy buildings, to provide their input — to tell us what is working and what isn’t, where enhancements should be made, what new technologies should be included, etc. This period follows one that ran from November 2010 to January 2011. During that time, approximately 6,000 comments were submitted and considered.

LEED is a consensus-based process, and the proposed changes will eventually come to a vote by the USGBC membership. “Consensus” typically means that a simple majority of those voting approves a given issue. However, Council policies require a two-thirds approval. Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs), comprised of volunteer industry experts, are charged with providing a consistent source of reliable advice to LEED committees and working groups. TAGs ensure that the integrity of LEED is grounded in technical and scientific considerations of the highest quality.

The schedule for the LEED 2012 rollout allows for a third comment period if necessary from Jan. 1-31. The ballot for voting would then be released in August 2012. The projected date for the new rating system to launch is November 2012.

Ultimately, the goals of the LEED process are significant and wide-ranging. They include our efforts to reverse the built environment’s contribution to global climate change; to enhance human health, wellbeing and vitality; to protect and restore water resources; to protect, restore and enhance biodiversity and ecosystem services; to conserve and renew natural resources; to build a greener economy; and to enhance community, social equity, environmental justice and quality of life.

Among proposed changes for LEED 2012 are the two new credit categories of Integrative Process and Performance. They would join the existing categories of Location and Transportation; Sustainable Sites; Water Efficiency; Energy and Atmosphere; Materials and Resources; and Indoor Environmental Quality. Integrative Process would be placed at the front-end of the list, while Performance would follow at the end.

The Integrative Process credits are designed to incorporate the kind of thinking that carries through all successive credits right up to building performance, addressing such touchstones as satisfaction and long-term costs. There will be credits that reward project teams for achieving these benchmarks and also for drawing connections between occupants, facilities management, building maintenance and design teams. The Performance credit category highlights the importance of ongoing operational performance, including measurement and verification.

As the review and public comment period for LEED 2012 continues, we recognize that we are no longer the only green building certification option available today. Other protocols, both national and regional, are making their presence known. We welcome the competition, as it can only serve to advance the cause. Since the USGBC first formed in 1993, we have certified more than one billion square feet of building space. We are proud of our record, committed to the continuing evolution of LEED, and confident of our time-tested, rigorous green building standards. Our reputation speaks for itself.

West Michigan in particular has been leading the charge with LEED for the past 11-plus years. We use this four-letter acronym so much that I think we should step back and think about what LEED really stands for, especially the very first letter: Leadership. As I stated initially, our mission continues to be the transformation of the built environment. Just when we think we have achieved the standard, it will evolve and the bar will continue to be raised. This is as it should be: a continuous improvement process.

The U.S. Green Building Council makes every attempt to educate its members and the general public about proposed changes to the LEED certification process. Our organization hosted a series of webinars for members throughout August, explaining the changes in detail. Information is also available to everyone on the LEED Rating System Development page at www.usgbc.org.

The U.S. Green Building Council is a coalition of leaders from across the building industry working to promote environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. The West Michigan Chapter provides and develops leadership through affiliations and education at all levels. Please send comments and column proposals to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .