The letter was drafted to gain support AB 2681 on seismic safety for potentially vulnerable buildings from U.S. Green building in California. An example of how building standards could influence public policy/by-law/codes.  

Stated in the letter, the bill would go far to more comprehensively identify the set of California buildings with the most potential vulnerability to seismic events, establish processes to address these buildings’ safety risks with the help of licensed professional engineers and, ultimately, fund both the building retrofits and the associated costs to local governments to enforce the law. AB 2681 was already approved by the Assembly in May. Beyond-code green building rating systems like LEED are designed to work as a complement to building codes and standards that establish fundamental protections for public health, safety and general welfare.

Attachments include:

• USGBC in California
• Profiles of Resilience: LEED in Practice
• Resilient by Design: USGBC Offers Sustainability Tools for Enhanced Resilience