Is LEED worthwhile?

Submitted by Michael on Mon, 03/09/2009 - 10:57

I've already pimped several times for Building Energy '09, but I want to mention the public forum that is table-setter for it.

This year, the provocative topic is, "Do LEED buildings really use more energy than regular buildings?" I thought for sure that was a error, that it should say, "...really use less energy ..." but no. Either way, the question of LEED's efficacy is certainly open within energy circles, even if, by practicality, the issue is closed: LEED is the de facto standard for green building. I often think of it in terms of VHS and Beta: Beta was a television industry standard, but lost out in the marketplace for reasons not having to do with value.

I'm not saying that something better than LEED is out there; I don't have enough information on the range of others to know. I'm just saying that I'm aware of LEED flaws, beginning with that its ratings are predictive, rather than based on performance after the fact. Don't we want to know if the green actions worked, rather than awarding those who could certify they took the steps that oughta work?

The forum tomorrow is free, and I'm looking forward to it. Hope to see you there.

Speaking at Commonwealth Club

I will be speaking on the topic of food addiction at the Commonwealth Club of California, the oldest public affairs forum in the country, on Feb. 28. I'll be joining a fabulous panel of researchers and clinicians: Nicole Avena of Princeton and the University of Florida, Eric Stice of the Oregon Research Institute, Vera Tarman of Renascent Center of Toronto, abd Elissa Epel and Andrea Garber, both of the University of California at San Francisco. I am very excited to be part of the roster, not to mention to be appearing at such a great institution. Ticket information here; if you come, please stay afterward to say hello.

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