WASHINGTON, D.C. — Last month, LEED celebrated its 10th anniversary. For a decade, the LEED rating systems have driven the marketplace toward recognizing the central tenet of green building — that our economic, environmental and personal health is dramatically impacted by the places where we live, work, learn, shop, heal, dine and play, said the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

The USGBC said market transformation will depend on our ability to create sustainable communities, said USGBC. The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system has officially been launched after a two-and-a-half year pilot program, invaluable market and user feedback, and the crucial involvement of USGBC members’ committee participation and balloting. LEED for Neighborhood Development was developed by USGBC in partnership with the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).

LEED for Neighborhood Development certifies projects of all sizes — whether a third of an acre or 300,000 acres — in four credit categories unique to this rating system: Smart Location & Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern & Design, Green Infrastructure & Buildings, and Innovation & Design Process. These credit categories integrate the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building into the first national rating system for neighborhood design. LEED for Neighborhood Development enables us to bring the integrated, holistic approach that defines LEED from the building level to the whole-development level.

Upcoming LEED for Neighborhood Development workshops include:
• ND 201: LEED for Neighborhood Development: Sustainability Beyond Buildings
Online training series, available now
• ND 251: Understanding the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System
June 13, Miami — following the American Institute of Architects conference
• ND 301: Implementing the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System
May 19, Atlanta — in conjunction with Congress for the New Urbanism Congress 18

Visit  www.usgbc.org/LEEDcurriculum for more information.