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LEED, GBCI rating systems spur resilience-enhancing strategies

Codes and Standards

LEED, GBCI rating systems spur resilience-enhancing strategies

Expanded programs, resources address impact of climate change.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | October 6, 2020

Courtesy Pixabay

U.S. Green Building Council and Green Business Certification Inc. have bolstered their programs and resources to drive resilience-enhancing strategies to help businesses and governments mitigate climate risks.

“Resilient design, construction, and operations verified through green building and infrastructure certifications can help reduce risk and vulnerability,” said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of USGBC and GBCI. “USGBC and GBCI’s resources serve as a roadmap for resilience that has the ability to save companies money and improve the standard of living for all.”

USGBC is working with Coastal Risk Consulting to deliver a RiskFootprint for buildings, communities, and cities that provides a climate risk analysis. The service will integrate with LEED, Arc, and GBCI rating systems to help assess a project’s vulnerability.

USGBC offers courses from experts working on resilience. GBCI is developing a new RELi professional credential expected to be ready in 2021.

Over the last two years, reportedly more than 16 million people globally, including an estimated 1.2 million Americans, were displaced because of climate events.

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