USGBC websites

Not that I saw, and I’m in LOL pretty much every day. 

We spoke with customer support yesterday - doesn't sound like it was a planned outage. They said they have teams working around the clock and were hoping service would be restored today. 

I overheard something about a poorly timed security update that ended up causing unplanned outage.

It’s pretty frustrating! Margaret Montgomery, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP Principal NBBJ 223 Yale Avenue North SEATTLE WA 98109 Direct: 206.223.5230 Mobile: 206.200.4526 www.nbbj.com / @nbbjdesign / http://meanstheworld.co F

It still isn't working for me :( I wonder when it will be back. Frustrating! 

Is there still an issue w/ USGBC and their website?  I am trying to do a LEED Credit Library search and a search for projects on their Project Directory and their website appears to have reverted to 2002, yet it has the most recent content. I don't see any messaging about their new design or technical difficulties. I have tried on several browsers too, all the same result, a hard to navigate antiquated interface. Feeling disoriented in Boston, Kristen
 

Me too Margaret Montgomery, FAIA, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP Principal NBBJ 223 Yale Avenue North SEATTLE WA 98109 Direct: 206.223.5230 Mobile: 206.200.4526 www.nbbj.com / @nbbjdesign / http://meanstheworld.co

For me, the menus to sort the credit library are not in a discernible order (i.e. alphabetical) and the section overviews are missing. Then when you sort for the correct rating system and version, the credits are in another random order. All-in-all, it takes a lot longer to navigate and not a great way to encourage use of the online (paid) reference guide.  USGBC did (ultimately) post a brief message about the pages being down at the end of last year, but it was more than a week after the outage started.

The directory seems to be working for me with the "new" interface, but I did notice an issue with the credit library - all the content that used to be under the "Further Explanation" section is missing and some credits don't have Step-by-Step Guidance.  There is still the Changes from 2009, Reference Standards. Related Credit Tips, exemplary Performance, but the much of the most useful content is not there.  

I've been in touch with the USGBC several times about my dissatisfaction with this surprise credit library "upgrade" and the only response I get is that they will pass my comments and screen captures on to IT.  Also, I have not been able to register pilot credits all week. 

I have been trying to retrieve an addenda related to an innovative credit from 2017.  It seem to have been lost or removed.  I am not sure if that is due to the website meltdown in December or this current event. I must say I am getting pretty frustrating.  The site is already slow just to navigate the credit templates within project, such a time drain.   Also, it's been extremely challenging to reach out to anyone, LEEDinfo or others I see considerable dysfunctionality (I may have mentioned in another post).  How can all of this be improved ??

I am very frustrated with their changes. Many of the shortcuts I have saved no longer work. Their own articles that give links also don't work in the ones I've tested. For example, after a project is certified, there used to be a 'Project Download' area where you could download the entirety of what was submitted for a certification, including copies of the online templates. That no longer exists at all. They also made the main link for the Credit Library hard to find, yet again.  At the moment, I can't even get the Account sign-in box to show up so I can log in. Hot mess all around.

I tried registering a pilot credit in December and it still hasn't come through despite emailing customer service twice... 

I don't even know where to start.  I discovered this change on Monday, and once I finally located the credit library, I was notified that I didn't have access to the online reference guide, which I'd renewed in November.  So I had to email them with a copy of the receipt to get my access back.  This new site - which it doesn't seem any of us were made aware of - is hard to navigate and not intuitive.  Getting to the credits in the credit library is a ridiculous process now, and you have to back all the way out to get to the next credit now.  Why they constantly need to make changes that create more problems than solutions is extremely frustrating to me, and it seems like for every step forward they take (updates in LEED v4.1), they take 5 steps backwards.  And it sure would have been nice to get a notification that they were working on this update or had made the changes.  They really can't get out of their own way, can they?

But guys, the USGBC is a “tech company” – Mwhahahahahaha! #sarcasm From:

I wrote this note to the USGBC after they had their secret shutdown in early December, and received this response. Thought you all might enjoy it: ORIGINAL INQUIRY: Why didn't USGBC contact its active members to say that LEED online is down, has issues of some sort, and here is our guess at when it will be up again?  Transparency starts at home!  Harry Flamm    Case # 02153966 _____________________________________________ Dear Harry,  Thank you for contacting USGBC regarding suggestions for how to best promote transparency.  We appreciate your concern, suggestions, and patience. Best Regards,  Elizabeth Thompson  Director of Customer Service, LEED AP BD+C, Assoc. AIA, GCP 
U.S. Green Building Council 
2101 L Street NW, Suite 500 
Washington, DC 20037 

I think we should approach USGBC as a full Green Gurus group and ask them for a meeting to discuss these changes.  I would guess that across the multiple networks we represent a significant percentage of the major users of USGBC.org and especially the credit library and other items. Thoughts? On a lighter note, these changes make us appreciate what makes LEED User so valuable...

Yes please, it's been pretty miserable to navigate!  

I have written them a couple of times over the last week, basically anytime I felt my blood boiling, letting them know specifically the issues. I sent a question directly to their communications director as what the purpose was of the change, was there communication about it, and if not why not? I elaborated on the issues and explained how bad it appears, how frustrated people are, and that we are all wondering what is happening, are they being hacked? Is this a transition or temporary issue?  You can see from the response below she did not answer any questions. Happy to collectively give input, but also I would reiterate what Harry said, write your USGBC member contact, or write Sarah and give them the specific issues/frustrations. I couldn't find a contact for their IT people, and since I was really most frustrated that there was no messaging about this, I felt she should be aware.   Hi Kristen,    Thank you for reaching out and I’m very sorry to hear that the changes have negatively impacted your USGBC.org experience. Our priority is of course to provide an efficient and useful digital experience that supports our LEED users and USGBC community. The best way for us to continue to evolve and improve is to hear feedback directly, so I appreciate you reaching out. I have passed your email along to our digital team and as we continue to receive feedback we will be considering appropriate next steps. In the meantime, if you continue to have issues or need assistance with the site, I’m cc’ing Gautam Tarafdar who is Elkus-Manfredi’s USGBC member contact. He can assist with troubleshooting moving forward.   Thank you again for the feedback and your continued support of USGBC. Sarah   Sarah Stanley Director, Communications U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L St. NW Suite 500
Washington, DC  20037 (202) 256-0456 (cell) www.usgbc.org

Gautam is also Jacobs' account rep. He hasn't been of much help in this matter directly, but has forwarded our complaints to LEED Coach. The responses I've received so far have been through LEED Coach and the GBCI contact options.  In addition to a very similar response to what you just posted, here's what they sent us so far, received this morning: "Additionally, thank you for the feedback regarding the new usgbc.org website. We have created tickets for our IT team for the items that are not functioning appropriately, and have passed along your frustrations regarding the Credit Library. I am also copying our Director of Customer Service, Elizabeth Thompson, in case you have any concerns that you would like to discuss further. Thank you again for your feedback - it is sincerely appreciated!" They provided Elizabeth's direct email address. Maybe we can jointly address her and Sarah from the group and request a discussion.  

I think it makes sense to coordinate for a group discussion with USGBC. Gautam is also Perkins Eastman's account rep, and I received the exact same email putting me in touch with Elizabeth (who I've enjoyed working with in the past). I'd be happy to be a part of this discussion.

If it wasn’t already there, add this issue to your list… each “credit library” button in LEED online has broken link when you click on it try to get more information.  Not confidence instilling in the system for others trying to navigate something they are not familiar with... Insert facepalm.  

Hi ... I don't usually weigh in here (I'm the BuildingGreen web designer), but I thought everyone might appreciate this image from an old April Fool's article about the "new, improved" LEED Online: https://www.buildinggreen.com/sites/default/files/articles/leed-online-blink_0.gif

Loved this! If only LEED Online worked half as well as an early-90’s HTML website – can still hear the server “dialing up”! Blake Jackson, AIA, LEED/WELL Faculty, Fitwel Ambassador, CPHC Sustainability Design Leader – US North East, Associate Stantec Architecture 311 Summer Street Boston, MA 02210-1723 O: (617) 234-3194 M: (706) 280-3957 Blake.Jackson@stantec.com [Stantec] The content of this email is the confidential property of Stantec and should not be copied, modified, retransmitted, or used for any purpose except with Stantec's written authorization. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete all copies and notify us immediately. ü Please consider the environment before printing this email. From: Andr

Agree with Blake. Love Love Love Love this one (and remember it from back then!) Jonathan Weiss (he/him)

Piling on…. I have a hard time finding people in my firm willing to do LEED documentation because they hate LEED Online so much. It’s excruciating to work with. We’ve conveyed this to USGBC many, many times over the years. I’d even go as far as to say some in the firm are reluctant to advocate for having projects pursue LEED because LEED Online is archaic. GREG MELLA FAIA, LEED AP BD&C Vice President | Director of Sustainable Design _________________________________ T 202.974.5187 C 202.375.3395 From: J

There was some discussion about this last week at the Winter Summit. We agreed that people should continue complaining to USGBC individually, cc'ing people as high up the chain as possible. To that end, here's the latest direct email address I have for Mahesh (from 2015, when he became CEO): mraman@usgbc.org We also liked the idea of a joint response. If anyone wants to draft a letter on behalf of the group, we can set up a way to collect signatories. Finally, Mahesh is about to embark on a "road-show" visiting cities around the country. So connecting with him directly at those events might be helpful as well. And, in the meantime, if there is more we do on LEEDuser to help out, just let us know. It gives you direct access to credit language and 3rd-party advice, but not, of course, to the Reference Guide content

I’m curious about the “roadshow.” A partner at my firm received the exclusive invitation to Mahesh’s stop in Portland, but not myself (as the firm’s Sustainability Director) or anyone else at my firm who actually engages with LEED and USGBC on a regular basis. I don’t know how the invitation list was made. I am curious if other have experienced the same thing? Heather DeGrella AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, EAC-PS, | sustainable design director, senior associate | she / her / hers | opsis architecture LLP | o:503.525.9511 d:503.943.6228 | www.opsisarch.com From: Nadav

We received an invitation too - it was for a partner (or someone in the C-suite) and also contingent on sponsoring the event. When we declined sponsorship, I never heard anything further.

Mahesh has already come through Boston for his road show. I received an invitation in July for September, but didn't attend, (pre-website shutdown).  The invite came from our firm's USGBC "customer experience contact", and may have only gone to the primary contact (like me) of member firms.  I suggest starting with your USGBC rep.  Here is the email I received: Dear Harry, Our USGBC CEO, Mahesh Ramanujam, and USGBC staff are coming to Boston on September 9 and we want to see you! We are starting the day bright and early at 7:30AM with a complimentary breakfast hosted by Mahesh and sponsored by Steelcase Worklife Center Showroom 100 Seaport Boulevard Suite 600 Boston, MA 02210. Mahesh will share his impressions of the past 25 years and his vision for the future USGBC, and then open the floor for questions and conversation.  Please be our guest by registering here.  (use password: gr33nleader)  This invitation is non-transferable, so we hope you will attend! Then at 10AM until 1PM, we are hosting a technical review workshop: The Next Evolution of LEED: V4.1 at ATLANTIC WHARF 290 CONGRESS ST 2ND FL FORT POINT ROOM BOSTON, MA 02210. We invite you to attend and if you have colleagues or staff interested in a deeper dive into LEEDv4.1, they may register here.  If you have five or more employees who wish to attend, let me know and we will offer a group discount! We look forward to seeing you in Boston on September 9!  Please contact me personally, by phone 919-599-1071 or gtarafdar@usgbc.org with any questions or if you would like to set up a personal appointment with Mahesh. LEED On, Gautam Tarafdar Director, Customer Experience U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC 20037 E: gtarafdar@usgbc.org  D: (202) 595-3990 | Cell: (919) 599-1071 Skype: gautam.tarafdar

The event in Portland is a “townhall and executive breakfast on LEED Zero.” This exclusive invite-only breakfast features an address from USGBC CEO Mahesh Ramanujam. Mahesh will share his vision for the future of USGBC and LEED Zero, an ambitious LEED certification add on. LEED Zero Energy and LEED Zero Carbon certification address a critical need for action on global climate change and carbon emissions. I wrote to the Director of Market Transformation and Development for the Pacific Region and got myself an invitation 😊 The registration page asks for recommendations for other people to be invited; if anyone in the Portland area would like to attend I’d be happy to make the suggestion. Or email Melanie at mcolburn@usgbc.org -Heather D Heather DeGrella AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador, EAC-PS, | sustainable design director, senior associate | she / her / hers | opsis architecture LLP | o:503.525.9511 d:503.943.6228 | www.opsisarch.com From:

I went to the breakfast in NYC. Attendance was not contingent on sponsorship. It was about the future of LEED, where its failed & succeeded, how they plan to keep it relevant, etc. Worth going. Dan Piselli, AIA, LEED AP, CPHD Director of Sustainability, Senior Associate FXCollaborative Architects LLP D +1 646 292 8137 | T +1 212 627 1700

See attached image. Somehow Nadav got the right product placement at LEED credit library?