2014 National Defense Authorization Act is huge win for LEED green building system

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President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2014 in Honolulu last Thursday and while most observers noted that the bill cracks down on sexual assaults in the military and eases restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay, the bill also is a huge win for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building rating system. By way of background, the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and other instruments of the Department of Defense own and operate 299,000 buildings and 211,000 additional structures, making it the largest owner of buildings in North America, but it is also the owner of more green buildings and more LEED certified buildings than anyone else.

President Obama signed the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2014 in Honolulu last Thursday and while most observers noted that the bill cracks down on sexual assaults in the military and eases restrictions on transferring detainees from Guantanamo Bay, the bill also is a huge win for the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building rating system.

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By way of background, the Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy and other instruments of the Department of Defense own and operate 299,000 buildings and 211,000 additional structures, making it the largest owner of buildings in North America, but it is also the owner of more green buildings and more LEED certified buildings than anyone else.

In the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal 2012, section 2830(b)(1) provided, "No funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act or otherwise made available for the Department of Defense for fiscal year 2012 may be obligated or expended for achieving any LEED gold or platinum certification."

And when the National Defense Authorization Act for the fiscal 2013 was enacted it continued and expanded the limitation of use of funds for LEED Gold or Platinum not just for fiscal 2012 funds and fiscal 2013 funds but all funds whether prior appropriated or not.

So, it is very good news for the U.S. Green Building Council that the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2014, in "compliance with rules of the House of Representatives and Senate regarding earmarks and congressionally directed spending items" provides, in the compilation of "Legislative Provisions Not Adopted .. Continuation of limitation on use of funds for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) gold or platinum certification."

That is, there are no longer limitations of the Department of Defense pursuing LEED Gold and Platinum certifications. And this is a big deal because the Act includes $ 527 Billion in base defense spending for the current fiscal year.

Continue reading at ENN affiliate, Clean Techies.

Green building image via Shutterstock.