LEED-Healthcare, Integrative Design

Specification & Product Discussions Sustainable Design Topics
1

I’d like to get your thoughts on the following proposed prerequisite for LEED-Healthcare. It is in the draft stage, and if I had to guess, future systems are likely to incorporate similar language if approved here. I’m particularly interested in your thoughts on the requirement to set a definite goal and create accountable parties…

"Requirements

Use cross discipline design and decision making, beginning in the programming and pre-design
phase. At a minimum, ensure the following process:

Preliminary Rating Goals. As early as practicable and preferably before Schematic Design, conduct a Preliminary LEED meeting including participation from the Owner and key members of the project team. As part of the meeting, create an action plan that identifies:

The targeted LEED award level (Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum);

The LEED credits that have been selected to meet the targeted award level; and

The party accountable for meeting the LEED requirements for each selected credit."

2

If you want to get a LEED award, any design team in their right mind is already doing all of these things. To make them a prerequisite is unnecessary. If the team doesn’t have this level of organization, they are in trouble from the start.

The only thing that this prerequisite does is create more paperwork for the firms that know what they are doing.