ROCK OUR WORLD
    LEED BUILDINGS USE 29%
         MORE ENERGY
  THAN REGULAR BUILDINGS
USGBC is under attack as academic researchers debunk their claims that LEED buildings are more energy efficient that non-LEEDS certified buildings. In a scathing editorial the NY Post...
USGBC has helped foster in an era of consultants and LEEDS specialists now reported to be in excess of 100,000 people employed in the field. In a scathing editorial, the New York Post's Jacob Gershman anlyzes the USGBC claims in the light of new data and scientific research. His finding is that the claims of 25% greater energy efficiency as gauged by the USGBC cannot be supported by facts. He quotes John Scofield a leading researcher in the field who looked for the supporting data to verify the claims made of green house gas reductions in LEED's structures. Scofield couldn't verify the claims finding instead that they use significantly more electricity than regular buildings. The causes for the discrepancies are alledged to have their root in the structure of the USGBC and the emergent class of 100,000 experts in the field of greening buildings using the LEEDS guidelines. Seminars, conferences, consultant fees and other economic factors may be contributing to the data fudging that the New York Post says may be the driving force behind its industry wide acceptance. Fees for the USGBC have accounted for 300% revenue growth. Developers, architects, builders and others are waiitng for actual scientific data to back up LEEDS claims. The costs of going green with new structures both public and privately funded has climbed into the billions of dollars in what may prove to be unnecessary costs.
LINK TO: THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORT
LINK TO: FINE HOMEBUILDING. LEEDS A FRAUD?
LINK TO: BUILDING GREEN'S STORY COPY OF REPORT AVAILABLE