The US Green Building Council sets standards to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification at one of four levels (certified, silver, gold and platinum). The program is less than a decade old, but already several jurisdictions - including Montgomery County and DC - requires certain builders to get a high enough score in the program. A previous post on it is here.
This brings benefits to cyclists because builders can earn 1 point (26 are needed to reach certified) if they
Provide secure bicycle storage capable of serving 5% of all building users (measured at peak periods) and provide convenient changing/shower facilities (within 200 yards of the building) for 5% or more of the maximum full time equivalent shift occupants.
While the program has been succesful in changing the way we build structures
Even structures that don't pursue LEED certification are increasingly incorporating sustainable practices. Such steps include increased energy efficiency, daylighting, recycling materials, non-polluting carpet and paint, and low-flow water fixtures and toilets.
It is not without its criticisms
LEED doesn't guarantee energy efficiency, as certification can be gained without earning many or even any LEED points in the area. Some green-building advocates would like to see mandatory points for energy efficiency. A point system that weights a renewable-energy system about equal with a bike-storage room needs some refining, they argue.
The certification process has been criticized for being too rigid, cumbersome and demanding, for being too costly, and for awarding points illogically. A common example is that installing a bike rack gets one point, as does installing a costly HVAC system.
That last line is an overstatement - you have to add more than a bike rack - but you get the point. Others have criticized it because it doesn't sufficiently penalize builders who tear down a building that could be remodeled.
Realizing the standards are a work in progress, they're trying to update them with what they call LEED 2009.
Points will be allocated differently and reweighed, and the entire process will be flexible to adapt to changing technology, account for regional differences and encourage innovation.
So far it doesn't seem that there has been any change in the way bike storage and changing facilities are counted. While I can appreciate the bounty cyclists would reap if they were "overvalued" and seen as a cheap way to earn a point, I support the larger goals of the program and would be open to be right-sized within the program as a whole.
Photo by La Citta Vita
This post reminded me of the debacle with the LEED NYT building not having bike parking.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2007/12/06/new-york-times-employees-say-renzo-forgot-the-bike-parking/
Posted by: Ren | August 13, 2008 at 01:24 PM