LEED is the Worst, Part IV: its Authorities Aren’t

“…democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried…” ¹ ~ Winston Churchill

Change a few words and the Prime Minister’s commentary on democracy could easily be applied to LEED. The USGBC’s system is barely ten years old, yet it has been has been remarkably successful in transforming the public’s view of architecture and the market for architectural goods.

But on the way to greatness the good folks at USGBC decided to anoint a massive cadre of eager but largely inexperienced green building enthusiasts as masters of the craft. And they did it in a way that, in my view, fundamentally misleads building owners.

LEED is the Worst, Part III: Design Loses Out

“…democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried…” ¹ ~ Winston Churchill

Change a few words and the Prime Minister’s commentary on democracy could easily be applied to LEED. The USGBC’s system is barely ten years old, yet it has been has been remarkably successful in transforming the public’s view of architecture and the market for architectural goods.

But if you are familiar with the system or have tried to get a building certified you know it has some major problems. Although touted as a design tool, one of its biggest problems is that…

LEED is the Worst, Part II: the Dirty Little Secret

“…democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried…” ¹ ~ Winston Churchill

Change a few words and the Prime Minister’s commentary on democracy could easily be applied to LEED. The USGBC’s system is barely ten years old, yet it has been has been remarkably successful in transforming the public’s view of architecture and the market for architectural goods.

But if you are familiar with the system or have tried to get a building certified you know it has some major problems. Part II of this rant on LEED addresses a particularly insidious dirty little secret of LEED.

LEED is the Worst, Part I: The (now) Obvious

“…democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried…” ¹ ~ Winston Churchill

Change a few words and the Prime Minister’s commentary on democracy could easily be applied to LEED. The USGBC’s system is barely ten years old, yet it has been has been remarkably successful in transforming the public’s view of architecture and the market for architectural goods.

But if you are familiar with the system or have tried to get a building certified you know it has some major problems, some more obvious than others:

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