WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to concerns raised by members, core LEED users and stakeholders, and in an effort to provide the marketplace a view of the full LEED program experience prior to ballot, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that it will delay ballot on LEED 2012 until June 1, 2013 (or potentially earlier in 2013 if USGBC members and the market indicate readiness for ballot). Because of this date change, LEED 2012 is being renamed LEED v4.

In addition to the ballot date change, other actions include: keeping LEED 2009 open for registration for three years; continuing to ask for the market’s assistance in “test driving” LEED v4 to gain important insight during a time when improvements in usability infrastructure can be made; and committing to a fifth public comment that will open on October 2, 2012, and run through December 10, 2012, to take advantage of Greenbuild, where USGBC will hold public forums and educational sessions on site in San Francisco.

A number of industry organizations had expressed concern over the proposed LEED 2012 building rating system, which included a new material resource credit that would measure U.S. products sold in North America by their ability to meet the qualifications set up by the European Chemicals Agency under its REACH program.

For more information about the new process, visit usgbc.org/LEEDv4.