The US Green Building Council (USGBC) has upgraded LEED requirements, which are open for public comment through June 22, 2008. LEED’s strategy has always been to gradually ratchet up standards for builders, encouraging better and better building policy. The new rules don’t disappoint. The main (and most interesting) points are:

- New point system structure.

-Regional credits: Recognizing the differences in ecosystem, the USGBC has instituted a system that grants benefits by region. For example, if you’re in Arizona, the benefit for water reduction should be much greater than in Minnesota or New York, where water is ore plentiful.

- Water reductions: A previous water reduction credit has been turned into a requirement, with additional credit for water savings to be meted out by region, as previously explained.

-Points will be awarded for innovation.

LEED is a good system because it adapts, forcing everyone else to do so as well. As LEED standards have become more commonly mandated, they have created a market for green building materials and technology that were previously expensive and hard to find. Green building and renovation also does some of the most work for controlling emissions; over half the emissions in the US are building based. Go here to learn more and then comment on LEED standards by June 22!