New Leed rating system by November

The original Leed – or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design – programme was drawn up by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) to provide a set of standards for sustainable construction.



The updated version, called Leed 2009, is being developed following a 30-day public consultation period that ended on June 22.



"The process is still in the balloting period and it might be premature to pre-empt the outcome before November 2008," said Mario Seneviratne, founder and secretary to the board of the Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC).



"We are working very closely with the USGBC to assist in producing the most appropriate version for this region. There are lots of permutations and combinations possible when it comes to creating a system that can work for all and certain sections will be country specific."



The new version, which is expected to come into operation in January 2009, will reorganise commercial rating schemes by consolidating, aligning and updating them into one system, according to the USGBC.



Seneviratne, Director of Dubai-based Green Technologies and a member of the board of the World Green Building Council, added: "It is a very futuristic idea to have a single rating system but it will be made more adaptable to specific regions.



"The current system is not weighted and this new code will try to achieve a balance in the rating system.



"What is really commendable is that everyone in the UAE is trying to participate in sustainable building practices and going green. Abu Dhabi has its own initiative and so does Dubai and the Dubai Municipality.



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