GO GREEN

LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings is the latest version the USGBC and GBCI have developed for existing buildings and is called Green Buildings Operations and Maintenance (GBOM).  The content within the reference guide is slightly different than the previous version – Existing Buildings Operation and Maintenance (EBOM), however, the credit points have changed significantly while the pre-requisites have stayed the same.

The credit points now have the following scale:  Certified – 40 – 49, Silver – 50 – 59, Gold – 60 – 79, Platinum – 80 – 110.  Although there are more points to be had, to achieve certification requires achieving more points than the EBOM version (32).

There is also a new version of LEED Online.  I used it today for the first time registering a project in Coral Gables.  Although different, it seems to be more user friendly once used to the formatting.  The submittal templates are also modified from the previous version making it more cumbersome.

In conclusion I believe the USGBC and GBCI need to stick with the same version of LEEDOnline and the Submittal Templates in order for people to be efficient and effective.  Changing these every year or two makes it much more difficult for LEED AP’s to master.

LEED as we know it has been ever-changing.  In Dec. 2008 I passed the LEED EBv2, the LEED EBOM version came out in Aug. 2008, and now the latest version of Existing Buildings – Green Buildings:  Operations & Maintenance, is out to be used.  I would bet that an updated version comes out by Dec 2010.  Although this can be frustrating, the GBCI and USGBC are making the LEED process easier and improve the program(s).

To find out more about LEED 2009, please visit the GBCI website at www.gbci.org