New SITES and TRUE Sustainability Credits a Reaction to COVID-19
In a response to COVID-19, Green Business Certification Inc., a global certifying body for LEED and other green business certification and credentialing programs, has released pilot credits for the SITES and TRUE sustainability rating systems. The credits are based on current, known information about the pandemic. Updates will be made as more information about the virus becomes available, says GBCI.
In addition, GBCI has approved use of the U.S. Green Building Council’s new LEED Safety First pilot credits for RELi projects. RELi takes a holistic approach to resilient design and is used to assess and plan for acute hazards that buildings and communities may face during unplanned events.
[For ENR’s latest coverage of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, click here]
The pilot credits are intended to help projects maintain a commitment to sustainability goals while adjusting to the current public health crisis, says GBCI.
SITES
SITES promotes best practices and establishes performance measures for sustainable landscape development. The SITES Safety First Pilot Credit uses the National Recreation and Park Association risk assessment tool, as well as a new operations and management plan that addresses factors such as social distancing, cleaning, impact on equity and inclusion, worker and visitor safety and more.
TRUE verifies a facility's efforts to achieve zero waste and divert solid waste from the landfill, incineration and the environment. The TRUE Safety First Pilot Credit rewards the adoption of more stringent health and safety measures, as well as training, to help eliminate adverse health impacts on personnel working with solid waste.
There are currently 70 SITES-certified projects and nearly 180 TRUE-certified facilities around the world, according to GBCI.
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