The importance of green buildings lies not just in mitigating facilities' effect on the environment, but also in their ability to improve the health of the people who occupy them every day. To that end, U.S. Green Building Council is actively working in a number of areas to advance human health in the context of the built environment — most notably the LEED for Healthcare (LEED-HC) rating system.
Prior to LEED-HC, healthcare projects often had difficulty pursuing LEED for New Construction (LEED-NC). That's because such buildings often have strict regulatory requirements, 24/7 operations, intensive energy- and water-use demands, infection control requirements, and a heightened need for patient privacy. The LEED-HC rating system is also notable in that it is the first of the LEED rating systems to include a prerequisite for integrated project planning and design.
In the July issue of Building Operating Management, a representative from the USGBC highlights some of the milestones reached since the 2011 launch of LEED-HC and gives a sneak peek at some new initiatives to come.
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