USGBC adopts ‘RELi’ resilient building and design standard

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has formally adopted RELi, a resilience rating system, meaning that it will soon become a global rating system under the USGBC’s guidance.

RELi is patterned on LEED, but prescribes methods for designing more resilient buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. The system was developed in 2012 by design firm Perkins+Will, the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability (MTS), and others.

RELi will be managed and operated by USGBC and the Green Business Certification, Inc. (GBCI). The system helps architects, city planners, developers, governments, and businesses design buildings, neighborhoods, and communities to better withstand events such as hurricanes, super storms, drought, heat waves, earthquakes, and social volatility.

RELi will award points for various credits across multiple credit categories, incorporating many LEED prerequisites and credits for sustainability. It will also include new criteria focused on environmental, social, and economic considerations for resilience. These can include:

• Fundamental Access to First Aid Emergency Supplies, Water, Food, and Communications
• Adaptive Design for Extreme Rain, Sea Rise, Storm Surge, and Extreme Weather, Events, and Hazards
• Developing or Expand Local Skills, Capabilities, and Long-Term Employment
• Providing for Social Equity and Edible Landscaping, Urban Agriculture, and Resilient Food Production