A new regulation by the U.S. Department of Energy mandates which private-sector green building certifications can be used in federal buildings to meet energy-efficiency standards. The rule, which goes into effect Nov. 13, says that when agencies use green building certification systems to meet federal sustainability standards, they must choose a system that verifies enhanced energy and water efficiency.
LEED Silver may be used, and in some instances, the Green Globes program may be substituted.
The private-sector certifications do not replace the government’s green building standards, but as required under 2007’s major energy law, the regulation provides federal agencies and private real estate companies an alternative way of certifying compliance. The department is allowing LEED Silver under the rule because Congress dictated it in the law.
A requirement provides for building re-assessments at least every four years to ensure energy and water savings continue well beyond the initial building opening or retrofit, the agency says. DOE will provide a webinar discussing the rule’s requirements in November.
Related Stories
| Apr 19, 2012
LEED 2012 to include new credit category for transit-oriented development
The updated LEED 2012 system will introduce a new credit category, “Location and Transportation,” to encourage development oriented around public transit and more walkable communities.
| Apr 17, 2012
FMI report examines federal construction trends
Given the rapid transformations occurring in the federal construction sector, FMI examines the key forces accelerating these changes, as well as their effect on the industry.
| Apr 16, 2012
University of Michigan study seeks to create efficient building design
The result, the researchers say, could be technologies capable of cutting the carbon footprint created by the huge power demands buildings place on the nation’s electrical grid.
| Apr 13, 2012
Congress’s action doesn’t mean Pentagon can’t build LEED gold structures
Though Congress passed a defense budget preventing the Department of Defense from spending money to achieve LEED gold or platinum certification, the Pentagon may still end up constructing buildings to those standards.
| Apr 13, 2012
International Living Building Institute certifies first two Net Zero Energy buildings
A community building in Oregon and an office building in California are the first two projects to earn net-zero status under the International Living Building Institute’s Net Zero Energy Certification program.
| Apr 13, 2012
New York City’s building department investigating structural collapse that killed worker
Following a worker’s death, the collapse of a century-old, two-story warehouse under demolition as part of Columbia University’s expansion is under investigation by the city’s Building Department.
| Apr 13, 2012
Federal court reduces statute of limitations for OSHA action on record-keeping violations
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit sharply curtailed the period of time that companies can be cited for Occupational Safety and Health reporting violations, reversing the decision of an administrative panel and longstanding agency precedent.
| Apr 13, 2012
CSI webinar: Green Construction Codes Are Here -- Now What?
This seminar will trace the origins of green codes, how they compare and differ from the rating systems that have been used, and examine some of their main features.
