The possibility that a LEED-certified project could be “decertified” by USGBC or GBCI in the event that any of the new LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements (“MPRs”) are not satisfied presents a variety of novel legal issues which we presented earlier this year here at GRELJ when the first iteration of MPRs was announced by USGBC. Today, Engineering-News Record (“ENR”) published an article that highlights a number of those issues, but also raises the question of who, exactly, would have standing to bring a decertification proceeding. If strictly limited to USGBC or GBCI, a recent comment here at GRELJ from Brian Anderson (“lawsuits are bad for marketing”) suggests that decertification would be a remote possibility. However, in the ENR piece, which is titled Building Rating System Requirement Raises Concern and authored by Nadine Post, my colleague Ujjval Vyas notes that “[a]ny third party has the right to initiate a non-compliance action by USGBC. This creates a huge risk and provides standing to any entity whatsoever to injure a building owner or tenant.” If third parties can compel decertification proceedings, the risks associated with failing to comply with the MPRs are far more serious than if that discretion rests exclusively with USGBC or GBCI.
Tag Archives | green building legal issues
An Open Letter to USGBC Requesting Data on Certified Wood
An open letter to USGBC requests certain data related to its contentious certified wood credit that has been the focus of much scrutiny within the green building community over the past year.
Green Globes Legislation Grows in Garden State: Will Proposed Tax Credit Act Follow?
New Jersey’s Green Building Tax Credit Act of 2008 could offer up to $200 million in tax credits, but does not provide flexibility for developers to choose which green building rating system to follow in order to qualify.
