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AIA headlines this week include:

• New Local Leaders in Sustainability Report Released

• LEED 2012 Public Comment Period Now Open

“In the News” – links to other news sources:

• AIA Los Angeles Hosts Ongoing Mayoral Candidate Forum Series

The latest Local Leaders in Sustainability report was recently released at the National Association of Counties (NACo) Legislative Conference. Green Building Incentive Trends: Strengthening Communities, Building Green Economies is a joint effort with NACo to create a tool for local government officials to incentivize green design and construction in their communities.

State and local government green building incentives can range from options that are virtually cost-free to those that involve direct local government investment. The research demonstrates that the most attractive incentives are tax incentives, density/floor area ratio bonuses, and expedited permitting. The findings also show that communities should select incentives based primarily on the local government’s financial situation and desired impact on the construction industry. And, the simpler the policy is the more likely for it to be implemented successfully.

Green Building Incentive Trends: Strengthening Communities, Building Green Economies focuses on five key areas of green incentives, which include the financial costs, oversight structure, local political and cultural environment, limits to power, and industry engagement. The report includes an in-depth case study section that explores communities across the country.

This Local Leaders report analyzes many green incentive initiatives instituted by localities in recent years in order to provide best practice examples and a focused analysis on the green incentives that work for different communities. The report also highlights innovative green architecture and includes interviews with the architects and local officials that are making it possible. Green building market transformation is happening and these incentives are useful tools to help shift toward this sustainable future.

For more information visit: www.aia.org/localleaders.

The third public comment period for LEED 2012 is open from March 1-20, 2012. This is your opportunity to review the changes to the latest version of the LEED certification process, scheduled to be released by USGBC at its Greenbuild conference in San Francisco in November. According to USGBC, LEED 2012 focuses on providing an easier to use, technically advanced and more robust LEED green building system.

The public is being encouraged to provide feedback on the building performance ratings system during this time period. Visit usgbc.org/leed2012 for information. AIA National will be commenting, as well. It is important for USGBC to hear from architects, the profession most affected by the LEED ratings system. Comments are open to USGBC members and non-members alike.

Along with the updated draft, resources will be posted online including technical refinements, scorecards and responses to comments from the previous public comment periods. Once the comment period process concludes, LEED 2012 will be balloted this June and launch in November.

AIA – USGBC relationship: Made a commitment 2 years ago to strengthen relationship through the areas of:

• Research

• Communications

• Education

• Haiti relief

• Advocacy