Thank you for publishing the article “Eco-Friendly Apartments get the Green Light” (January 2004) about the growing interest in green building in the residential real estate market. It is very exciting to see this trend featured in important industry publications like NREI. While the article was interesting and well-written, I would like to correct a factual error. The author identifies the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Ratings System as a program of the U.S. Department of Energy. In fact, LEED was developed and continues to be administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a nonprofit association of members from all sectors of the building industry working to promote environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy buildings.

In addition, the author does not recognize the USGBC as the organizer of Greenbuild, the National Green Building Conference mentioned at the end of the article. Founded in 1993, the U.S. Green Building Council has played a crucial role in increasing awareness of green building and in the transformation of the building industry.

Currently more than 4,000 members strong, the Council also has USGBC chapters and interest groups in 45 states. Nearly 100 projects in 49 states and nine countries have achieved LEED certification, and more than 1,000 projects have registered their intent to seek LEED certification. Each year the Greenbuild Conference and Expo brings together thousands of green building industry professionals to learn about the latest advancements in green building design, construction, project financing and building management.

Christine Ervin
President and CEO
U.S. Green Building Council