The third public-comment period for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Healthcare Green Building Rating System is open.

LEED for Healthcare was developed to meet the unique needs of the health-care market, including inpatient- and outpatient-care facilities and licensed long-term-care facilities. LEED for Healthcare also may be used for medical offices, assisted-living facilities, and medical education and research centers. LEED for Healthcare addresses issues such as increased sensitivity to chemicals and pollutants, traveling distances from parking facilities, and access to natural spaces.

As outlined in the balloting policy, “a period of no less than twenty days will be allowed to collate comments and draft revisions in response to comments. Similar comments may be aggregated, along with explanations of how any differences were resolved. The LEED Steering Committee will approve revisions to the product or item.”

The changes made to the rating system since the last public-comment period can be viewed, and comments on the changes may be submitted until 5 p.m. PT on Sept. 5.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) also is impaneling the consensus body that will vote on the proposed changes once the public-comment process concludes. The consensus body is open to individuals employed by USGBC member organizations. To vote when the ballot launches, individuals must opt in by 5 p.m. PT on Sept. 30.