The U.S. Green Building Council recently announced that all new projects registering for LEED 2009 beginning on April 8, 2016 will need to satisfy increased minimum energy performance thresholds.
Projects must now earn a minimum of four points in the Energy Performance credits. The referenced energy standard and modeling requirements in LEED 2009 will not change. Buildings falling under the proposed change can use the same methodologies and referenced standards, but will need to earn additional points in order to achieve certification.
“This change is significant both in that it will no doubt increase first costs of most LEED projects when those projects will have to satisfy increased minimum energy performance thresholds,” according to a report in Green Building Law Update. Under the new requirements, buildings must demonstrate an 18% improvement in the proposed building performance rating for new buildings, or a 14% improvement in the proposed building performance rating for major renovations to existing buildings. The previous requirements were 10% for new construction and 5% for major renovations.
The change will apply to LEED 2009 projects registering between April 8, 2016 and October 31, 2016—the last day to register a project under LEED 2009.
Related Stories
| Mar 4, 2014
Massachusetts Congressional delegation asks FEMA to slow flood zone map requirements
After a recent successful challenge of the scientific methodology used to redraw the coastal high-hazard zones, the Massachusetts congressional delegation is asking federal officials to put the brakes on new flood zone maps for the Bay State.
| Mar 3, 2014
Injury-liability law responsible for higher construction insurance cost in New York
Construction contractors and developers in New York state face $3 billion more in costs and 667 more accidents per year because of a state law that holds builders solely liable for such accidents, according to a study commissioned by the New York Civil Justice Institute.
| Feb 28, 2014
GBI issues guide to help federal agencies meet sustainability mandates
The Green Building Initiative has released “The Guiding Principles Compliance for New Construction,” for federal buildings to help federal agencies meet sustainability mandates in the construction of new buildings.
| Feb 28, 2014
Steel Joist Institute standards open for review
The 2015 draft of the Steel Joist Institute’s “Single Joist Standard Specification for K-, LH-, and DLH-Series and Joist Girders” will be available for public review until May 31, 2014.
| Feb 28, 2014
Metcalf Construction wins key reversal from federal appeals court in Hawaii on military contract
Metcalf spent more than $76 million on a military construction project and sued to recoup costs.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama Administration moves to boost fuel efficiency standards on heavy-duty vehicles
The Obama Administration wants to boost fuel efficiency of medium- and heavy-duty trucks for models made in 2019 and later.
| Feb 19, 2014
Net Positive Energy + Water is latest green certification standard
The advancement of sustainable construction has reached a new milestone with the development of Net Positive Energy+Water, a new green building certification standard that aims to improve net zero approaches to energy and water conservation.
| Feb 19, 2014
Obama’s climate resilience panel says PVs, cool roofs should be part of solution
Among the suggestions were rooftop solar energy systems and cool roofs, which could be encouraged by policies from local governments.
| Feb 19, 2014
OSHA proposes three-year postponement of crane operator certification requirement
OSHA’s proposal to postpone the compliance date for crane operator certification by three years was made official on Feb. 7 when it was published in the Federal Register.
| Feb 19, 2014
USGBC introduces new online educational platform
The U.S. Green Building Council has introduced “Education @USGBC” a new educational platform.