As part of the release of LEED 2009 earlier this year, the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is requiring building owners to provide energy- and water-consumption data for five years starting when a building certified under LEED 2009 is occupied. There are three options for submitting data: recertify under LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance on a two-year cycle; annually collect and submit consumption data; or sign a release so USGBC may collect the data directly from utilities. Individual buildings that are not metered because of a central plant will not be required to report data. This may apply to buildings on military bases or university campuses. “There is all too often a disconnect, or performance gap, between the energy modeling done during the design phase and what actually happens during daily operation after the building is constructed,” says Scot Horst, senior vice president of LEED. “We’re convinced that ongoing monitoring and reporting of data is the single best way to drive higher building performance because it will bring to light external issues, such as occupant behavior or unanticipated building-usage patternsall key factors that influence performance.” USGBC reserves the right to revoke certifications of buildings that do not submit the data. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.