[Community_garden] LEED Trophy Homes, U.S. Green Building Council, and 4 Season Kitchen Gardens?

[Cynthia Price]

As some of us know, LEED Neighborhood Development does just that. I
actually got involved with our West Michigan LEED-ND circle to
advocate for strengthening that locally -- food production currently
gains developers one point only working toward certification.
(Location is by far the biggest point-gainer.) But LEED-ND is in the
pilot stages right now and subject to revision. I just spoke with
someone the other day on the national LEED-ND leadership circle and
she said there are a couple of people on it who would like to see the
weighting of food production increased.

However, even if all that happens after the dust settles is the simple
inclusion of food gardening, that would have far-reaching
consequences.

Cynthia Price
Greater Grand Rapids Food Systems Council


On Mon, Jun 23, 2008 at 7:33 AM, James Godsil <godsil.james at gmail.com> wrote:
> How long might it take to inspire the U.S. Green Building Council to
> incorporate kitchen gardens into LEED certification?
>
> In a NYT article by Felicity Barringer on "The New Trophy Home, Small and
> Ecological," I saw no mention of food gardens.
>
> LEED — an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
>
> "There's kind of a green pride, like driving a Prius,"
>
> LEED brand stands apart because of its four-level rankings — certified,
> silver, gold and platinum — and third-party verification. So far this year,
> 10,250 new home projects have registered for the council's consideration,
> compared with 3,100 in 2006, the first year of the pilot home-rating system.
>
> "LEED-accredited professional" is a new occupational status.
>
> To cope with the growing appetite for accreditation, the U.S. Green Building
> Council' this spring asked other agencies to help make LEED certifications.
> A new code, which addresses some of the criticisms, is at
> www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1849.
>
> Entire article posted at...
>
> http://www.milwaukeerenaissance.com/Main/GreenWeeklyUpdates
>
> Perfect Summer Morning
> Milwaukee 2008
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