Dive Brief:

• The new version of the LEED environmental standards, known as LEED v4, is designed to encourage ongoing attention to keeping down resource use in buildings.
• Now, whole-building energy metering is required, and that data has to be sent to the U.S. Green Building Council — an incentive to keep paying attention to how efficiently systems are working and to keep them properly adjusted.
• The new standard also requires measuring water use at the building level and reporting that regularly, as well as reducing outdoor water use, all leading to a 30% reduction.

Dive Insight:

The changes represent a shift from intention to practice if a building developer wants to earn a LEED standard. It is too easy in many aspects of life to have good intentions but to let one's attention drift away from them over time. USGBC is hoping the reporting requirements go in that direction, along with new standards for demand-response energy management and giving more points for renewable energy.