All commercial developments in Athens will have to be friendlier to the environment after Athens-Clarke officials begin writing new regulations next month.
  Athens-Clarke commissioners said at a Thursday agenda-setting meeting that they will start forcing developers to obtain LEED certification for all new and renovated shopping centers, office buildings and other commercial developments.
  The proposed code changes will not apply to homes or apartments.
  Green building raises construction costs and rents by a few percentage points, but actually will save businesses money in the long run by cutting down on utility expenses, said Commissioner Ed Robinson, a small-business owner.
"This is actually a business-friendly policy we're attempting to develop," Robinson said.

Click HERE for more info and a link to the story published today in The Athens-Banner Herald.

Posted by Katie Throne

Tags: green | commercial | LEED | Athens

The U.S. Green Building Council just announced it is expanding the benefits of green building to include its surroundings. LEED for Neighborhood Development, one of the USGBC's newest rating systems, will be rolling out later this summer. Many practitioners and developers are waiting eagerly for this LEED rating system, which is the first to look beyond a single building and incorporate the context of a project.

This will be the first national program for green neighborhood design and construction, the rating system aims to transform the market for larger projects in terms of locations, design and performance.

Click HERE for more information on this new LEED designation.

Posted by Katie Throne

Tags: LEED | green building