April Brown, IBE Projects Manager
Initially introduced in the
LEED 2009 version updates,
USGBC
recognizes projects for addressing regionally specific environmental
issues. In each of the rating systems,
bonus points are awarded for projects that meet the requirements for existing
LEED credits that address regional issues. There are 6 regional priority credit options and teams can be awarded
for up to 4 out of the 6 options. The
environmental issues are identified through a rigorous research process by
volunteer environmental scientists and green building professionals in Colorado.
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LEED v4 Regional Priority Zones for the state of Colorado |
As you may have heard, LEED is undergoing another
version update, now referred to as
LEED v4, which is scheduled to be released
in the fall of 2013. Part of the updates
to the rating systems include updated regional priority credits.
USGBC Colorado Chapter, along with all the
other chapters of the USGBC, created a LEED regionalization task force to
evaluate which credits to prioritize in
LEED v4 for the state of Colorado. The Colorado task force followed a 4-step
process to evaluate the environmental issues and their appropriate zones, which
took one year. Some regional priority
credits will be changing from the regional priority credits in LEED 2009. A few of the task force members will speak in
detail about the process and recommendations for LEED v4 regional priority
credits at the upcoming
Rocky Mountain Green Conference in Denver on Friday, April 26.