USGBC Tests New Rating System

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is now accepting applications for pilot projects to participate in the LEED for Neighborhood Development program. The new rating systems integrates the principles for smart growth, urbanism and green building into a national standard for neighborhood design.

“The future of green building is to think beyond just buildings, by addressing important issues like density development, community infrastructure, resource availability and encouraging a healthy lifestyle,” says Rick Fedrizzi, president and CEO & founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “LEED for Neighborhood Development is an important and exciting step towards transforming the marketplace to create a healthy and sustainable future.”

Interested projects can apply to join the pilot until April 6, 2007. Application information is available at www.usgbc.org/leed/nd. The pilot test neighborhoods will be the first neighborhood development projects to earn the distinction of LEED certification while also helping to refine the new LEED rating system. The pilot phase of the program will conclude in early 2008.

The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system is a collaboration between the USGBC, the Congress for New Urbanism (CNU) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

The program emphasizes the design and construction elements that knit buildings together into a neighborhood, and provides guidelines for better location, design and construction of new residential, commercial and mixed use development. Specifically, the pilot program for neighborhood development evaluates projects in four areas:

• Smart Location & Linkage
• Neighborhood Pattern & Design
• Green Construction & Technology
• Innovation & Design Process