Federal Government May Abandon LEED Endorsement

By Paula Melton

Want to have a say in whether the U.S. government continues to use LEED? The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) is seeking public comments on a long-awaited recommendation regarding green building rating systems. GSA may abandon its prior endorsement of a single rating system, the findings of a special ad hoc committee suggest, instead encouraging each federal agency to make its own decisions about whether to use LEED, Green Globes, or the Living Building Challenge.

Other findings: agencies should specify which optional credits or points must be achieved in a rating system, should try to use one rating system across their entire building portfolio, and should work with rating system developers to improve alignment between certifications and federal green building needs.

The comment period will be open through April 6, 2013. For more information, visit www.gsa.gov/gbcertificationreview.

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