A new collation in the building industry is trying to stop federal adoption of the next version of LEED, but the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), purveyor of the popular green building standard, is not taking it lying down.
USGBC has launched its own lobbying effort asking the independent General Services Administration (GSA) to continue using LEED. Today, the group sent a letter to GSA with 1,200 signatories, including independent small businesses, organizations and associations from across the country.
In the letter, USGBC lauded GSA for efforts in "reducing costs, improving efficiency and eliminating waste" in the federal government. Then it urged GSA to continue using the LEED standard. "If GSA, as the 'landlord of the federal government,' were to require or use something else, it would add cost to the building and leasing process across the building industry," USGBC wrote. The full letter can be viewed here.
In a press release announcing the letter had been sent, USGBC said the LEED standard saves taxpayer dollars by reducing operating costs of federal buildings, and that it increases corporate profits by the same method.
USGBC said GSA should "continue to use the LEED building rating system and to focus on the usability, market acceptance and effectiveness of rating tools rather than distractions focused on a single issue."
