Henry Gifford, an energy-efficient building expert in NYC, challenges the LEED certification standards in an acrimonious lawsuit against the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
The claim made by the National Buildings Institute that "LEED buildings are 25 to 30 percent more energy efficient than non-LEED buildings" is misleading, argues Gifford.
Ben Ikenson reports:
"Using the study's data but not its analysis, Gifford released his own report, claiming that when interpreted accurately, the data show LEED-rated buildings actually use 29 percent more energy."
"The Green Building Council has been addressing some of these criticisms since before Gifford's suit. Since 2009, it has required all certified buildings to provide performance data to track predicted savings against actual savings."
FULL STORY: Is LEED the Gold Standard in Green?
Willis Tower, Largest LEED Platinum Building, to Switch to 100 Percent Renewable Energy
The Willis Tower in Chicago, once the tallest building in the world, is still making history in superlative terms.
The Search for a New Green Building Standard
The need to slash emissions from buildings is increasingly urgent, and critics say LEED won't get us there.
Spotlight on San Francisco's Extremely Green PUC Headquarters
San Francisco's PUC headquarters, "one of the greenest buildings in the nation," cut costs while introducing cutting-edge sustainable technologies to the city.
How Would Project 2025 Affect America’s Transportation System?
Long story short, it would — and not in a good way.
But... Europe
European cities and nations tend to have less violent crime than the United States. Is government social welfare spending the magic bullet that explains this difference?
California Law Ends Road Widening Mandates
Housing developers will no longer be required to dedicate land to roadway widening, which could significantly reduce the cost of construction and support more housing units.
Norwalk to Lose State Funding After Shelter Ban
A California city will lose access to state housing funds after refusing to end a prohibition on new emergency shelters.
Will Voters Fund Transportation Measures in November?
An overview of key transportation-related ballot measures that will be decided in November’s election.
Using Sound to Revive Ecosystems and Enhance Biodiversity
This innovative approach leverages the power of sound to stimulate beneficial soil microbes, offering a novel and eco-friendly tool for ecosystem restoration and biodiversity enhancement.
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.
Placer County
Mayors' Institute on City Design
City of Sunnyvale
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), the Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP)
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission
City of Portland, ME
Baton Rouge Area Foundation