Dec. 4. 2006: U.S. Green Building Council to Tighten Standards, Add Incentives
To encourage building designers and developers to go for its highest rating, USGBC will fully rebate its certification fees for any building that earns LEED Platinum certification. In addition, all LEED-certified new and remodeled commercial buildings will be automatically registered for the "LEED for Existing Buildings" certification, which relates to building operations. By doing so, the USGBC intends to encourage not only green design and building, but also green operations once the building is complete. And to show that it practices what it preaches, the USGBC announced a move into a new building, a LEED Platinum commercial interior in a building with a LEED Gold core and shell. The USGBC also intends to be carbon neutral by the end of 2007.