USGBC Builds LEED App to Accelerate Certification Process
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), developers of the LEED green building program, announced LEED Automation, a new program in collaboration with leading technology companies that is designed to streamline and create capacity for the LEED building certification process. LEED Automation enables LEED Online, the online tool projects use to submit documentation and certify LEED projects, to interact with third-party technology platforms.
“LEED Automation takes the green building process to a new level,” said Chris Smith, chief operating officer of USGBC. “We recognized several years ago that we cannot focus only on the evolution of LEED and its continuous improvement. The technology used to administer the LEED certification process is also evolving to increase customers’ business agility through improved data, information and content integration.’
LEED Automation works similarly to an app. It will perform three key functions for LEED project teams and users of LEED Online by seamlessly integrating third-party applications with LEED Online:
- Provide automation of various LEED documentation processes;
- Deliver customers a unified view of their LEED projects; and
- Standardize LEED content and distribute it consistently across multiple technology platforms.
This marks the first time USGBC has opened LEED Online to the software application market and third-party software developers. It represents the initial step in what USGBC expects will be the addition of many technology partners in the future.
“LEED Automation allows USGBC and the technology companies to create multi-party interactions versus point-to-point communications between various software applications and IT systems,” said Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED, USGBC. “This will make the LEED documentation and certification process much more intuitive, and enable our systems to talk to one another with the push of a button."
The technology agreement also allows communities of independent system, software and service owners to collaborate dynamically to deliver a richer customer experience. "It is built in accordance with Service Oriented Architecture using such Internet standards as HTTP, XML and Simple Object Access Protocol. This makes for a common online language so that in the future, we can further enhance and build upon this work,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, senior vice president of business technology transformation at USGBC.
The USGBC community is transforming the way we build, design and operate our buildings for healthier places that save precious resources for people to live, work, learn and play in. UGSBC is helping create buildings and communities that regenerate and sustain the health and vitality of all life within a generation. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the council is the driving force of the green building industry, which is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials, concerned citizens, teachers and students. The USGBC community comprises 80 local chapters, 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 individuals who have earned LEED Professional Credentials. Visit www.usgbc.org for more information.
The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED green building certification system has transformed commercial and residential building practices by providing the leading tool to create buildings that are environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous. More than 36,000 commercial projects are participating in LEED rating systems for the design, construction and operation of green buildings, comprising more than 7.1 billion square feet of construction space in all 50 states and 114 countries. In addition, some 8,000 homes have been certified under the LEED for Homes rating system, with nearly 30,000 more homes registered. By using less energy, LEED-certified buildings save money for families, businesses and taxpayers; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; and contribute to a healthier environment for residents, workers and the larger community.
USGBC was co-founded by President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi, who spent 25 years as a Fortune 500 executive. Under his 16-year leadership, the organization has become the preeminent green building, membership, policy, standards, education and research organization in the nation.