LEED certification, while one of the best things to happen to the world of green building, is not perfect. It often means a much, much greener residence or retail space, for example, but has been criticized for enabling builders to focus only on the green building steps that net the most LEED points (instead of those that would specifically benefit the building the most) and can’t help with what happens after the owners move in and their energy habits take over. Or such was the case until recently. The latest version of LEED certification (LEED v3) requires LEED-certified buildings to submit operational performance data on a recurring basis, in simpler terms; you’ll be required to report on your energy use.

So far the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) hasn’t said that the information they receive from the performance data will result in anyone losing LEED certification or being asked to change their energy use, but rather has specified that they’re collecting the information to help aid them when they set up further versions of LEED. Having to turn in energy use reports may be enough, however, to keep green building owners thinking about their energy use and minimizing wherever possible—sort of like homework that aids the environment.

There will be three ways to turn over performance data. The first will be to recertify your building every two years using LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, the second will be to provide energy and water use data to the USGBC annually and on an ongoing basis, and the third will be to sign a release for the USGBC to obtain your data directly from your utility provider. Ultimately, however, the USGBC hopes to set up a system for installing meters on every LEED-certified building.

Even if your home isn’t LEED-certified, collecting your “performance data” is still a good idea and will help you figure out where you’re using the most energy (and, accordingly, what’s costing you the most) so that you can reduce your use.

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