The Future of CIRs in LEED
In an interesting new twist, we've learned that the LEED 2009 policy of eliminating precedence in past CIRs is being reconsidered, or at least acknowledged as needing adjustment. We received this email recently in response to a query of mine as to non-project-specific CIRs, CIRs that will be asked repeatedly and whose issues are not already embedded and addressed in LEED 2009:
"....we understand your concerns about the new CIR process. USGBC is currently developing a new process by which any LEED stakeholder (whether part of a registered project team or not) may submit a request or highly technical inquiry directly to USGBC. Unlike Project CIRs that are only applicable to a specific project, these inquiries will be processed and issued by USGBC and will set precedent across all applicable LEED programs. Fees and turn-around times associated with submitting these inquiries is to be determined. More information on this process will be made available in the coming weeks."
I'd be interested in knowing if others have anything heard similar. Thanks, Marian
5 Comments
LEED Interpretations
I'm wondering if this is the same thing I've been hearing about, or something different.
What I've being hearing is that USGBC would be collecting up CIRs that they consider precedent-setting, and boiling them down to the key points that are applicable to other projects, and publishing these on a monthly basis, or thereabouts, as "LEED Interpretations." This has not yet happened for LEED 2009, but I've heard that we could expect the first bath pretty soon.
This has some similarities with what you've heard, but also some key differences. Interesting....
Fees?
"Fees and turn-around times associated with submitting these inquiries is to be determined." ... Hopefully they don't get too hog-wild with the fees on this. We've already all shelled out 150 bucks a pop for the reference guides; it seems to me that they should be fairly generous in making clarifications to that same guide based on user feedback & inquiries. They are, after all, supposed to be a non-profit.
LEED Interpretations
Tristan-I'd love to hear more information on this when you receive it. Thanks, Marian
LEED Interpretations
This is welcome news that they are considering it - judging by anecdotal evidence, the biggest concern I have about eliminating precedence of previous CIRs is the inconsistency between different project reviewers - we all lose credibility with our clients, and more importantly GBCI and USGBC loses credibility if they don't apply rulings consistently between projects. We can only advocate for LEED if we have confidence in their rulings.
I would love to be a fly on
I would love to be a fly on the wall at some of these USGBC meetings. Just to know what the heck they're doing.
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