USGBC Launches LEED-ND

On April 29, 2010, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) officially launched its LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) rating system. A joint effort between USGBC, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Congress for the New Urbanism, LEED-ND incorporates principles of green building, smart growth, and new urbanism (see EBN Mar. 2009). All three organizations had to approve the final rating system before it was released.

Registration for LEED-ND is now open at LEEDOnline.com. Although not all of the credit forms are ready, one key form—for the Smart Location & Linkages prerequisite—is available because the prerequisite relates to site location, the earliest phase of a project. Submittal forms for the rest of the system will be available later in the year.