Comments on: LEED Takes Hit For Underdelivering on Federal Building http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/ Environmental Leader Fri, 25 May 2012 22:05:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Matt Courtland of A Sustainable Life http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/comment-page-1/#comment-146117 Matt Courtland of A Sustainable Life Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:43:37 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20671#comment-146117 The USGBC appears to agree with many of its critics. I am happy they plan to require that new projects track their energy use for five years as part of the LEED certification program. I just came back from a client who is pursing the standard and was surprised by what I saw. It made my wonder, is LEED really leading? The USGBC appears to agree with many of its critics. I am happy they plan to require that new projects track their energy use for five years as part of the LEED certification program. I just came back from a client who is pursing the standard and was surprised by what I saw. It made my wonder, is LEED really leading?

]]> By: newphase75 http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/comment-page-1/#comment-145920 newphase75 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:29:33 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20671#comment-145920 Agreed. Early LEED versions were simply a series of checkboxes. People chose what they wanted and left the rest. If they didn't choose the energy efficient options there wasn't much stopping them. Agreed. Early LEED versions were simply a series of checkboxes. People chose what they wanted and left the rest. If they didn’t choose the energy efficient options there wasn’t much stopping them.

]]> By: Jdal http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/comment-page-1/#comment-145875 Jdal Fri, 04 Sep 2009 14:13:31 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20671#comment-145875 Having been involved in over 100 LEED projects I share some of Mr. Watson's frustrations. According to the standard in place at the time LEED measured energy equally with other environmental attributes and this project clearly met enough of the attributes to achieve certification without the energy component. Now, if the owner’s requirements at the time were to achieve a high level of energy efficiency, that is not a failure of LEED but rather of the design and construction team to deliver a project that met those goals. LEED has since rebalanced to add more weight to energy issues making it much more difficult for future projects to achieve Certification without a significant energy reduction strategy. Personally I have mixed feelings about this, but to Mr. Watson’s point, to continue to harangue on an issue that USGBC struggled with from the beginning about creating balance for all attributes, NOT just energy, and has radically readjusted recently is frankly tiring and needlessly damaging to the best, albeit imperfect tool, we currently have. Having been involved in over 100 LEED projects I share some of Mr. Watson’s frustrations. According to the standard in place at the time LEED measured energy equally with other environmental attributes and this project clearly met enough of the attributes to achieve certification without the energy component. Now, if the owner’s requirements at the time were to achieve a high level of energy efficiency, that is not a failure of LEED but rather of the design and construction team to deliver a project that met those goals. LEED has since rebalanced to add more weight to energy issues making it much more difficult for future projects to achieve Certification without a significant energy reduction strategy. Personally I have mixed feelings about this, but to Mr. Watson’s point, to continue to harangue on an issue that USGBC struggled with from the beginning about creating balance for all attributes, NOT just energy, and has radically readjusted recently is frankly tiring and needlessly damaging to the best, albeit imperfect tool, we currently have.

]]> By: Chris Prelitz http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/comment-page-1/#comment-145761 Chris Prelitz Thu, 03 Sep 2009 21:24:09 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20671#comment-145761 First, I've done LEED ( Mercedes Benz, Phoenix, Az) and many more non-LEED buildings. The challenge with LEED is that it is a measurement tool - not a design tool. It needs to be brought in LAST - after a site appropriate high performance design is roughed out. Architects and designers not well versed in the basics of passive solar design, net-zero buildings, etc . . .cherry pick points to get the plaque. Everyone in the field knows that. The other challenge is building management and behavior change. A 'dumb' passive solar building . .(even a 1,000 year old one like the Taos Pueblo) will outperform a 'smart building" with dumb occupants anytime. IMHO the answer is local green building programs that are climate specific. If LEED wants to truly lead..join the 2030 challenge and require all new LEED bldgs. to be carbon neutral now. First, I’ve done LEED ( Mercedes Benz, Phoenix, Az) and many more non-LEED buildings.
The challenge with LEED is that it is a measurement tool – not a design tool.
It needs to be brought in LAST – after a site appropriate high performance design is roughed out.
Architects and designers not well versed in the basics of passive solar design, net-zero buildings, etc . . .cherry pick points to get the plaque. Everyone in the field knows that.

The other challenge is building management and behavior change.
A ‘dumb’ passive solar building . .(even a 1,000 year old one like the Taos Pueblo) will outperform a ‘smart building” with dumb occupants anytime.

IMHO the answer is local green building programs that are climate specific.
If LEED wants to truly lead..join the 2030 challenge and require all new LEED bldgs. to be carbon neutral now.

]]> By: BigRay http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/09/03/leed-takes-hit-for-underdelivering-on-federal-building/comment-page-1/#comment-145725 BigRay Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:08:38 +0000 http://www.environmentalleader.com/?p=20671#comment-145725 Very constructive of Mr. Watson to resort to name calling, i.e. dope sniffers and misrepresenting valid criticisms. Very constructive of Mr. Watson to resort to name calling, i.e. dope sniffers and misrepresenting valid criticisms.

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