The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released a new strategy, “Healthy People in Healthy Places Equals a Healthy Economy,” to use LEED to support buildings and communities in a post-pandemic world.
The program includes launching emergency guidance and upgrades to LEED to ensure that it reflects the realities that buildings and people inside them will face in the near future. “By helping everyone understand the role a LEED-certified building can have in creating healthy spaces, we can help rebuild public trust, stimulate the economy, and ultimately bring about a healthier standard of living for all,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, USGBC president and CEO.
USGBC will update current LEED strategies in LEED v4.1 that support indoor environmental quality, cleaning, occupant comfort, operations, better materials and risk management. The organization will introduce new LEED strategies including pilot credits to support social distancing, nontoxic surface cleaning, air quality, and infection monitoring.
Other USGBC initiatives include forming Regional CEO Advisory Councils to advise and support USGBC’s CEO on how the organization can prioritize sustainability in a post-pandemic world. It will also accelerate the implementation of its USGBC Equity program to better address the social, health, and economic disparities within communities.
USGBC plans to publish a series of best practice guidance reports to help project teams assist their occupants as they reenter their spaces.
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Jun 7, 2019
Market conditions indicate slower growth in industrial real estate sector
E-commerce, market oversupply, rising interest rates to dampen hot market.
Codes and Standards | Jun 3, 2019
Haskell invests in BLOX, creator of modular-based delivery method
‘Represents important part of Haskell’s future strategy,’ says CEO.
Codes and Standards | Jun 3, 2019
Florida may eliminate certificate of need requirement for new hospitals
Bill could boost specialized facilities.
Codes and Standards | May 31, 2019
RELi 2.0 standard for sustainability, resilience being piloted
Will be open to LEED-registered or -certified projects, with introductory pricing and support.
Codes and Standards | May 31, 2019
Pankow Foundation releases report, tools for embodied carbon impacts
Focus is on MEP and tenant improvements.
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2019
USGBC receives funding for LEED for Cities and Communities Program
Bank of America provides $500,000 grant to certify 15 U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 24, 2019
AIA updates Interiors Contract Documents
Six revised documents available for interior construction projects.
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2019
Northern California casino offers a template for resilient microgrids
Solar power with batteries and backup generators provide weeks of self-reliance.
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2019
Austin creates innovative plan to boost affordable housing
Approach includes loosened zoning, incentives for higher density in lower-cost and mixed-income developments.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Effort launched to develop better process for zero-carbon retrofits in multifamily sector
Rocky Mountain Institute, Dept. of Energy, California Energy Commission join forces.