U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Two New Green Building Offerings from USGBC

November 18, 2010 - Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of LEED for Retail, its newest green building rating system, and the LEED Volume Program, a program designed to meet the certification needs of high-volume property developers. The programs were unveiled at the USGBC's Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Chicago, Ill.

The LEED for Retail rating system recognizes the unique design and construction needs of this market sector, enabling forward-thinking retailers to integrate green building design, construction, and operation into ground-up construction, retail interior and build-out projects. Nearly 100 national and independent retailers and franchisees, including Bank of America, Best Buy, Chipotle, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Kohl's, LL Bean, McDonald's, Pizza Fusion, Starbucks and Target, have participated in the pilot program since its launch in 2007, providing valuable feedback to inform the rating system's development.

In today's market, savvy retailers see the value in building designing and constructing environments that enhance the customer experience, nurture a more productive employee base, while saving precious resources,: said Scot Horst, Senior Vice President of LEED, USGBC. "LEED for Retail builds on the strengths of other commercial LEED rating systems while taking special care to address the distinct needs of retail spaces, from occupancy demands to waste streams, energy and water use." {read rest}