USGBC

Prioritizing Resilience: Fraught with Challenges, But Worthwhile

In the face of climate change, making cities "resilient" before crises strike has become a pressing concern.

September 7, 2014 - The Planning Report

A photo of protesters on the front lawn of the Ohio Statehouse during the State of the Union speech by Governer Kasich.

Ohio State Senators Want to Ban LEED

If two Ohio state senators get their way, the Buckeye State will be the latest on the anti-LEED bandwagon.

November 11, 2013 - Ecobuilding Pulse

Building Material Industries Lead LEED Backlash

The USGBC's LEED rating system certainly has its share of warts. But in states across the U.S., the timber, plastics and chemical industries are challenging LEED requirements for insidious reasons: to protect the market for their products.

August 29, 2013 - The Atlantic Cities

Could New York be Carbon-Free by 2050?

A new report shows that New York City could be 90 percent carbon-free by 2050, "without breaking the bank," if it upgrades heating systems and transportation to renewable electricity, reports Taz Loomans.

February 21, 2013 - Inhabitat

LEED Certification: Path to Better Buildings or Bigger Bottom Lines?

With supporting evidence from a USA TODAY analysis, Thomas Frank examines the LEED points system and finds that certification, and the tax breaks and other rewards that go with it, can be easily obtained without proven environmental impact.

October 30, 2012 - USA Today

America's Greenest Colleges

The sustainability of an institution is becoming an increasingly important factor in decisions of where to attend college. As a result, Princeton Review has teamed up with the USGBC to produce a green guide to 320 U.S. colleges, writes Ben Schiller.

May 10, 2012 - Fast Company Co.Exist

How LEED Gives the Cold Shoulder to Historic Preservation

In a guest editorial for Rust Wire, Nick Gurich examines the ways in which LEED discounts the environmental benefits of historic preservation and adaptive reuse

February 26, 2012 - Rust Wire

Affordable Housing Industry Embraces Green Building Techniques

Affordable housing advocates find that green building techniques result in higher-quality construction -- and often with costs comparable to traditional building techniques.

January 7, 2012 - Shelterforce

LEED Critic Files $100M Lawsuit Against USGBC

In a complaint on behalf of 'consumers, taxpayers, building design and construction professionals,' Henry Gifford alleges the USGBC has falsely claimed its ratings system leads to energy savings.

October 21, 2010 - Environmental Leader

LEED Certification For Parking: Reserve Space For Low Emitters

A Marin County shopping mall hopes to be the first LEED-certified mall, partly by reserving parking space for low emitting vehicles. All spaces, for guzzlers and green vehicles alike, are unpriced, perhaps pointing to shortfalls of green building.

April 1, 2010 - Marin Independent Journal

'No Credits, Just Prerequisites'

The Living Building Challenge is a new environmental rating system that focuses on required environmental design elements, diverging dramatically from the credit-based approach of the built environment's dominant rating system, LEED.

November 6, 2009 - Metropolis Magazine

LEED-ND Is Go

LEED for Neighborhood Design (LEED-ND) is approved to become a permanent certification program.

October 18, 2009 - New Urban News

Buildings That Are Green But Not Energy-Efficient

LEED-certified buildings may be constructed with little energy, but some are just as energy-intensive as non "green" buildings once they're in use. This disconnect is prompting the U.S. Green Building Council to change its rules.

September 1, 2009 - The New York Times

LEED-ND: Yay or Nay?

After five years of preparation and testing, members of the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Congress for the New Urbanism will begin balloting in late July on whether to authorize a full-fledged LEED-Neighborhood Development program.

July 22, 2009 - New Urban News

Clinton Promoting 'Climate-Positive' Communities

Last week in Seoul, Bill Clinton announced a new collaboration between the Clinton Climate Initiative and the U.S. Green Building Council to go beyond the single LEED building and create new green development models for whole communities.

May 27, 2009 - The New York Times

Is This McMansion Green?

A New York developer is unveiling plans for a fleet of luxury homes that aim to comply with LEED environmental standards. But this article from The New York Times wonders whether that really makes the homes green.

April 12, 2008 - The New York Times

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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.