WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council began seeking public comment this week on LEED 2009, the latest incarnation of the current certification systems for commercial buildings.

The group plans to combine the updated rating guidelines with an enhanced third-party rating system and improved LEED Online in what the USGBC calls LEED Version 3.0. The comment period will run through June 22.

"Continuing to seek the right balance between technical advancement and market transformation was a driving force behind the LEED 2009 work," said Scot Horst, chairman of the volunteer LEED Steering Committee. "The 'big ideas' we've proposed include transparent weightings of LEED credits so the highest-priority credits achieve the most points, a new mechanism for incorporating bioregional credits, and a more nimble framework that supports rapid response to emerging environmental and human health issues."

Begun in 2000, LEED has expanded to include certification systems for a variety of buildings, such as for retail and residential structures.

Since LEED is developed through consensus, the USGBC will review and respond to all public comments.  A second comment period will follow if changes are made that lead to an additional draft.

The final, updated versions of the New Construction, Existing Buildings, Operations and Maintenance, Commercial Interiors, Core and Shell and Schools could be released in late 2008.