The increasingly global nature of the green building movement will be the focus of the Greenbuild 2010 International Forum, being held in Chicago Nov. 16 in conjunction with the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo. There, the U.S. Green Building Council will also answer questions about the new LEED International Program.

Under the LEED International Program, a globally consistent set of LEED rating systems will ensure that LEED certification represents the same level of rigor no matter where a LEED-certified building is located, according to USGBC.

“The LEED International Program allows us to work collaboratively to bolster the power of LEED to transform the marketplace in communities worldwide,” said Scot Horst, svp of LEED at USGBC.

Horst noted that under the LEED International Program, alternative compliance paths will offer country-neutral ways to reach a credit’s intended outcome, allowing teams a non-country-specific option by which to earn the credit.

The regional approach of the LEED International Program will also incorporate global perspectives through the LEED International Roundtable, with representatives from green building councils and leadership organizations around the world. The roundtable will provide regular feedback on the non-country-specific options and the LEED International Program in general.

“The LEED International Roundtable enables us to collaboratively identify common solutions to regional issues,” said S. Raghupathy of the India Green Building Council, a LEED International Roundtable member.

The LEED International Program will also provide resources, tools, education and other outreach to help advocates and project teams find on-the-ground success with LEED. This will include some translation of LEED materials into difference languages.

For more information on the LEED International Program, including current members of the LEED International Roundtable and access to local outreach and support, visitusgbc.org/international. For more information on the Greenbuild International Forum, visitwww.greenbuildexpo.org/international.