The first public comment period for proposed updates to LEED rating systems closed on January 14, 2011. The second round of public comments will run from July 1 through August 15, 2011. The projected release of the revised LEED requirements is November 2012.
The LEED for Homes program is part of that revision cycle. A significant change proposed would shift credits from relative performance comparisons like HERS rating levels to what are referred to as “absolute metrics” for annual energy consumption. The approach would establish a prerequisite for Maximum Absolute Energy Performance and award credits to Optimize Absolute Energy Performance. Many of the changes to LEED-H under consideration have been influenced by the new Energy Star 3.0 requirements going into effect this month. Energy Star levels are referenced as baselines in a number of LEED credits, so changes to Energy Star would by definition affect the LEED rating system. Some of the Energy Star 2011 provisions include new building-science based requirements, measures to reduce thermal bridging, a variable HERS threshold that will lead to lower HERS ratings and new checklists covering thermal enclosure systems, HVAC, and water management.