What are the Changes in LEED 2009?
Maintenance and engineering managers often spearhead the initiatives to achieve sustainable operations in institutional and commercial facilities. The most recognized standard for certifying sustainable design and operations is the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). In April, USGBC released the latest version of the rating system, LEED version 3 (v3). Managers most likely will be directly involved in overseeing LEED certification projects in existing buildings, so a closer look at LEED v3 and, more specifically, LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EB: O&M) will shed light on the way the newest version of the rating system will affect managers and their organizations. The technical advances of LEED 2009 are based on three enhancements: harmonizing prerequisites and credits for increased consistency; adjusting credit weightings based on their impact on human and environmental health