LEED rating is a tool for buildings to reduce their impact on the land

Across the globe, LEED ratings have become synonymous with green buildings.

Formulated in 2000, leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) rating

system has gained immense credit across the world for promoting sustainable

architectural techniques and the green building movement. The LEED rating was

formulated by the USGBC (United States Green Building Council) and has over

14,000 member organizations from every sector of the building industry.

LEED ratings have gained immense favor in India as well, with a growing

number of LEED rated projects coming up. In fact, the ratings for Indian

buildings have been modified to suit the ecological and environmental needs and

requirements of the region. Tom Hicks, vice president, LEED ND and

International, USGBC, has been at the very forefront of the movement and

oversees the development and implementation of all LEED rating systems. In a

detailed interview with Dataquest, Hicks talks about the evolution of the LEED

ratings and the numerous benefits that come along with green buildings. Excerpts

How is the concept of 'Green Building' relevant to the issue of climate

change? How can green architecture aid in the bigger fight for survival?



In the US, buildings account for 39% of carbon dioxide CO2 emissions per

year, more than any other sector. While buildings are part of the problem, they

are also part of the solution.  The LEED green building rating system is an

immediate and measurable way to make an impact on climate change and is a tool

for buildings to reduce their impact on the land while at the same time combat

global climate change.

Tom Hicks, VP, USGBC

How did the idea of green building evolve and how has the movement grown

over the years? If you could briefly talk about the way it has been aligned with

the CDM of the Kyoto Protocol, namely earning of carbon credits?



The concept of green building has been around for years, but we realized

that there was not a common definition for it. That's where the LEED rating

system came into the picture. USGBC was founded in 1993 to bring together

professionals from every sector in the industry and to create a common

definition for green. USGBC has grown by leaps and bounds since it launched the

first version of LEED for new constructions in 2000. More than 11,000 buildings

nationwide have registered with LEED, and nearly 1,400 have been certified as

green. That number translates to about 7% of the commercial construction market,

and with the growth we have been seeing; we expect the number to grow closer to

10% by mid 2008.

In addition to that, 500 homes were certified during the two-year LEED for

homes pilot, which ended in January 2008 when the LEED for homes rating system

officially launched. There are more than 11,400 homes that have registered for

LEED for homes.

Carbon reduction has always been a priority of the rating system, and in

November 2006, USGBC unveiled its own climate commitment, requiring that all

LEED projects reduce CO2 emissions by 50%. USGBC also offers certification

rebates for all building that achieve a platinum LEED rating.

Talking about USGBC, can you briefly talk about the evolution of the LEED

certification process and how it came into play?



USGBC has actively solicited feedback from architects, designers, and
contractors who use LEED, and increasingly developers, financial institutions,

and corporations have also allowed us to evolve the LEED system, making it as

flexible and adaptive as possible but still retaining its technical rigor and

its practicality.

The rating system undergoes a process of continuous improvement parallel with

USGBC's efforts of continuing to incorporate recent advances in science and

technology. In 2009, we shall launch our LEED v3 that includes a continuous

improvement process of LEED to create a more flexible and adaptive program, and

will allow USGBC to respond seamlessly to the market's evolving needs.

Particular focus areas will include technical and scientific innovations that

will improve building performance; the applicability of LEED to the marketplace,

in order to speed market transformation. And the customer experience, to ensure

that LEED is an effective tool for the people and the organizations using it.

There is a special certification in India known as LEED India; in what

ways is it different from the global LEED certification? What are the local

factors that have been incorporated in LEED India?



The Indian GBC has licensed LEED from the USGBC and has adapted the LEED for

new construction rating system and the LEED for core and shell rating system for

India. Some specific changes have been to site local and national standards when

available such as the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun (for endangered

species) standard reference in sustainable sites credit 1, and to add credits

such as the credit for water efficient in air-conditioning systems for water

efficiency credit 2.

USGBC has partnered with Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) for the

formation of IGBC (Indian Green Building Council), are you looking at partnering

with other organizations in India?



We actually didn't partner with CII to start the Indian GBC. This movement

began within India and once the founding group was formed they worked with the

World GBC. The World GBC works to help groups in other countries form green

building councils. We work closely with the Indian GBC and other GBCs to share

best practices and to learn from each other.

Finally, since you are one of the leading and most recognized voices in

the green building movement, how do you see the movement turning out in the next

few years? What according to you would be the challenges and do you think we are

equipped to face them?



At Greenbuild 2006, our annual conference and showcase for the latest green

building products and technologies, I announced our ambitious goals for the

industry: By 2010, there will be 100,000 LEED certified commercial buildings and

1 mn certified homes. By 2020, there will be 1 mn LEED certified commercial

buildings and 10 mn certified homes.

I think the biggest obstacle that has come our way is education; in addition

to pushing market leaders forward, we also have to raise the rest of the market

up. There are still misconceptions about green building, which according to me

is understandable.  It's a new way of thinking and a new way of doing things,

and change is scary to many people. But the alternativesitting back and doing

everything the way we've always done it, for the sake of feeling safe is not an

option.  USGBC's primary role is to educate and inform the public about the

social, economic, and environmental benefits of green building, and to provide

the industry with the knowledge and tools it needs to realize these benefits.

 In addition to LEED, we offer dozens of workshops, online courses, and

reference guides.

Shashwat DC



shashwatc@cybermedia.co.in