BOMA Calls on GSA to Consider New Standards

WASHINGTON, DC-The US General Services Administration is currently evaluating several building rating systems as required by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and BOMA International, along with the Real Estate Roundtable and several other industry associations and groups, is weighing in. It is asking the agency to allow a choice of rating systems to be used by federal buildings. Currently, the de facto choice of the government has been USGBC’s LEED rating system.

There are a number of reasons why GSA should expand its outlook in this area, BOMA Chair Joseph W. Markling, who is also managing director of Strategic Accounts at CBRE, tells GlobeSt.com, starting with the obvious “one size just can’t fit all.” Other standards might be more appropriate depending on the building’s age, finances, size, market or submarket location, property type and tenant mix of the building, he says. Also, Markling continues, by opting for just one standard the federal government is acting like a market-maker. “That is not appropriate for the government to do, especially considering that real estate is certainly not homogenous.” Let the market decide by giving GSA flexibility, is the message Markling and BOMA want to impart.

BOMA notes in its letter that a range of non-regulatory, voluntary systems have entered the marketplace in recent years, including ASHRAE Standard 189.1 for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings, Green Globes, International Green Construction Code, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Living Building Challenge and the ICC 700 National Green Building Standard. Even if the federal government does opt to give government agencies more choice in their systems, these other standards are facing a steep uphill climb. UGSBC’s LEED standard is the dominant standard by most opinions; certainly it has the name recognition of being associated with green building.

USGBC recently reported that there are two billion square feet of buildings certified under its program in the US and seven million square feet in foreign markets. USGBC supports federal agencies as they evaluate the green building tools they have at their disposal, Lane Burt, policy director at USGBC tells GlobeSt.com, adding that, “we are confident that LEED will continue to play a role in slashing energy and water bills across the federal portfolio.” He notes that the green building market is rife with competition. “When federal agencies follow the private sector in choosing to use LEED, they do so because it results in better buildings that save taxpayer dollars.”