The draft rating system addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and more. The completed application guide will be supported by a full suite of supporting tools, including a reference guide, workshop, and LEED Online with credit templates.
The first public comment period will be open until Sept. 10 at midnight Pacific Standard Time.
Any member of the public can comment on the LEED for Schools draft by registering a site user profile on the USGBC Web site. USGBC will respond to all comments, and post the comments and responses anonymously to the USGBC Web site, along with a draft showing all of the changes. USGBC will then conduct a second public comment period on those changes. The resulting draft will then be sent to the USGBC membership for balloting.
The official public release of the application guide is expected by winter 2006; there is no pilot phase planned for this system. If you would like to participate in the comment period, please go to the USGBC Web site and click on myUSGBC.
The USGBC also provides LEED-NC guidelines for retail spaces and multiple building and on-campus building projects. Other market-specific USGBC application guides in development include LEED-NC for Healthcare, which will address chemical sensitivity issues, process loads, and other issues relevant to healthcare buildings, and LEED-NC for Laboratories, which will address ventilation issues, process loads, and other considerations.
