USGBC to Adopt RELi Building Standard

Words: Anonymous Anonymous

4 December 2017 — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced at Greenbuild 2017 that it will formally adopt RELi, a resilient construction standard developed in 2012 by the Institute for Market Transformation to Sustainability, Perkins + Will and others.

Like the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, RELi uses a point system across various credit categories. It includes LEED prerequisites for sustainable practices but introduces new criteria for resilient design, including fundamental access to first aid, emergency supplies, water, food, and communications; adaptive design for extreme rain, sea rise, storm surge, and extreme weather, events, and hazards; development or expansion of local skills, capabilities, and long-term employment; provision for social equity and edible landscaping, urban agriculture, and resilient food production.

While it is unclear whether RELi will be incorporated into LEED or continue as its own set of standards, GCBI is “leading the further refinement of RELi to synthesize the LEED Resilient Design pilot credits with RELi’s Hazard Mitigation and Adaptation credits,” according to the GCBI press release. GCBI is creating a steering committee — chaired by Perkins+Will senior associate and RELi 1.0 principal investigator Doug Pierce — to “bring resilience into actionable, mainstream thinking for the design, construction and operation of buildings.”

Source: https://www.proudgreenbuilding.com/news/usgbc-to-adopt-reli-building-standard/

High-Performance Masonry Units: Elevating Structural Integrity and Aesthetics
September 2025

Manufactured concrete masonry units have been present in the construction marketplace for over 120 years. They are ubiquitous and are made in virtually every country on earth. The development of high-performance masonry units currently available across th

Building Tomorrow, Digitally: How Tech is Revolutionizing Masonry
September 2025

The rhythmic tap of the trowel, the satisfying click of brick on mortar – masonry, in its essence, is a craft steeped in tradition. For centuries, it has shaped our skylines, built our homes, and stood as a testament to human ingenuity and skill. But just

MASONRY STRONG Podcast, Episode 28 Recap: Kendall Anderegg, President and CEO at Mutual Materials Company
September 2025

Kendall Anderg's journey in the masonry industry is a remarkable tale of legacy, innovation, and community impact. Hailing from the Pacific Northwest, Kendall's family business has been a staple in the industry since its founding in 1900. Now celebrating

Ensuring Safety in Scaffold Access and Transference
September 2025

One of the most relevant issues currently affecting the industry is scaffold plans and safety. You are probably aware of new scaffold regulations required by general contractors and owners. IT IS VITAL THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THESE REQUIREMENTS WHEN BIDDING