News - LEED Program Evolving in Important Ways

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LEED Program Evolving in Important Ways

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adapted from CaGBC press release, Aug.2007

In response to market demand, the Canada Green Building Council is updating the LEED® Canada Green Building Rating System to address existing as well as new buildings, include all building types, and streamline the process to lower costs and shorten the time required for certification. The next generation of LEED Canada will be web-based, and incorporate actual performance-based energy and water efficiency credits.

Success to Date

The LEED Green Building Rating System continues to build momentum across Canada with an estimated green building market penetration of 6.6 million sq.m. LEED is a market-based rating system that facilitates and certifies higher energy and environmental performance of buildings and communities. The rating system is adapted to the Canadian market through an inclusive process that engages stakeholders and experts representing the various sectors of the Canadian industry. A rapidly-growing number of governments and private sector organizations are adopting LEED certification in their policies, programming and operations, aimed at achieving and demonstrating sustainability

Key Aspects of "LEED Complete" Evolution

Custom credit sets – flexibility to select project-specific prerequisites and credit sets based upon building type and life cycle parameters. These will consider actual energy and water use performance, and emphasize carbon emission reductions.

Web-based delivery – the new online process will reduce cost to project teams and streamline certification, while providing a value-added building performance management system for owners and managers to support continuous performance improvement.

Performance-based certification – design and performance standards established through actual energy and water billing data, to provide performance feedback to building owners, operators and designers.

Technical rigour – best current scientific, risk and life-cycle assessment knowledge developed in collaboration with leading standards organizations.

Certification at all key life cycle milestones – performance-based certification at distinct stages of a building’s life cycle to foster a long-term relationship with LEED, and develop an energy and environmental history for the building. LEED will shift from a "one-time intervention" tool into an ongoing management system for buildings and land development.

Scalability – distributed, online delivery through LEED licensed certifiers and assessors, engaging LEED accredited building owners, managers, program and service providers, will support the rapid expansion of certified buildings and communities while maintaining the technical rigour of LEED. Project teams will be able to register multiple buildings and community developments.

The renewed emphasis on reduction in carbon emissions, which is closely tied to energy efficiency, will compel organizations to track and report on their energy use in a much more structured way.

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