Foundations of LEED 1_2023 - Page 012

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IV. LEED COMMITTEES

1. Overview

As a member-driven organization, USGBC committees are the primary means by which the organization develops consensusbased programs to serve the green building industry. USGBC’s members are an essential part of LEED rating system development, which relies on volunteers to provide the technical and market expertise necessary to create a robust leadership tool for green design, construction, operations and maintenance of buildings and communities. The LEED committee structure is developed to maximize the opportunities for USGBC member involvement and utilize their relevant expertise.

In addition to recommending policies to the USGBC Board, LEED committees and subcommittees have primary responsibility for the development, implementation, and revisions of LEED.

2. USGBC Policies and Procedures for Committees

LEED committees and subcommittees must adhere to the policies and procedures set forth by the Board of Directors in the USGBC Policies and Procedures for Committees and Workgroups document. This document outlines requirements for committees and subcommittees, such as formation approval, balance, transparency, and conflict of interest, and can be found on usgbc.org.

3. Committee Structure

The LEED Steering Committee (LSC) is a standing committee of USGBC established by the USGBC Board of Directors. In addition, there shall be the following groups involved in the creation, maintenance, and updating of LEED:

• Consensus Committees: The USGBC Board of Directors shall establish a consensus committee for markets representing particular product types and shall appoint the members of each such consensus committee. Each consensus committee shall support the creation and updating of a particular LEED rating system and shall outline specific credits, prerequisites, or issues within that LEED rating system to ensure continuous improvement.

After a rating system has been released by the committee, affirmed by LSC for framework alignment, and approved by the USGBC Board of Directors to go to public comment, the consensus committee will undertake approval of the rating system.

Each consensus committee may constitute and direct LEED working groups to ensure proper execution of their responsibilities.

Consensus committees shall record and regularly post minutes of their meetings and provide periodic strategic communications regarding LEED, provided, however, that all public statements are approved by, and released through, USGBC’s communication team.

The Chair of LSC or their designee (so long as such designee is a member of LSC) shall be invited to all meetings of each consensus committee; neither the LSC Chair nor their designee shall have the right to vote.

• Technical Advisory Groups (“TAGs”): TAGs are committees which advise LSC and the consensus committees on particular technical aspects of LEED, e.g. materials or indoor air quality.

Working Groups: Working groups are groups that come together for the completion of a specific task with a clearly defined scope to be accomplished in a set period of time. Working groups are established by the LSC or a consensus committee.

• Advisory Task Forces: Staff may designate advisory task forces to meet for a short duration to informally advise staff on issues limited in scope during the development process.

4. LEED Steering Committee Charter

Constitution The Board of Directors establishes the LEED Steering Committee (LSC) as a standing committee of USGBC, consistent with Article IX of the USGBC Bylaws. The work of the committee is governed by this Charter, as approved by the USGBC Board.

Foundations of LEED |

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