In a complaint on behalf of 'consumers, taxpayers, building design and construction professionals,' Henry Gifford alleges the USGBC has falsely claimed its ratings system leads to energy savings.
The class action suit asserts that the United States Green Building Council's intentional, fraudulent actions have harmed both building owners, who pay to have their buildings certified, and building and design professionals, who pay to receive LEED credentials. Environmental Leader says Gifford, the owner of Gifford Fuel Saving, is a longtime vocal critic of the LEED system.
However, attorney and LEED Accredited Professional Shari Shapiro questions whether Gifford has legal grounds to bring suit, according to Environmental Leader:
"[Shapiro] says as 'a general proposition, taxpayers do not have standing to sue,' and 'there is a commonality problem and a causation problem for the class–did the USGBC's false statements cause the same type of harm to the same type of plaintiff. Indeed, did the false statements cause any harm at all to these plaintiffs.'"
FULL STORY: USGBC Sued Over False Advertising, Fraud
Ohio State Senators Want to Ban LEED
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Building Material Industries Lead LEED Backlash
The USGBC's LEED rating system certainly has its share of warts. But in states across the U.S., the timber, plastics and chemical industries are challenging LEED requirements for insidious reasons: to protect the market for their products.
LEED Certification: Path to Better Buildings or Bigger Bottom Lines?
With supporting evidence from a USA TODAY analysis, Thomas Frank examines the LEED points system and finds that certification, and the tax breaks and other rewards that go with it, can be easily obtained without proven environmental impact.
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‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
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The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
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Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
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San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
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Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research