DOD and LEED Certified Buildings

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The Defense Department will not be allowed to use any money to certify its buildings LEED Gold or Platinum, under a law President Obama signed Dec. 31 2012

The National Defense Authorization Act also requires DoD to submit a report to Congress analyzing the cost-effectiveness of LEED certifications and the standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

The law allows the Defense secretary to proceed with LEED certification if a project is cost effective and DoD proves it can make back the project cost in energy savings.

The federal government has 641 LEED-certified buildings and 3,954 in the certification process, according to the Green Building Council. Government buildings make up 27 percent of all LEED projects.

Federal agencies are working to meet a 2009 executive order to make 15 percent of their buildings “green” by the end of fiscal 2015. To be considered green, a newly constructed building must use 30 percent less energy than a typical building of the same size. Renovated buildings must use 20 percent less energy. Also, they must meet specific standards for water efficiency, recycling, indoor air quality and low-emission paints and sealants, among other things.

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