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The U.S. General Services Administration now requires Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design gold certification for all new federal building construction and renovation projects, according to Ross Buffington, spokesman for the GSA.

The GSA previously required all of its building projects achieve LEED silver as part of the administration’s goal to create more sustainable buildings, but the department that manages the federal government’s 9,600 building facilities has decided to go one step further, Buffington said.

“For some time we have been emphasizing sustainability as part of our projects,” Buffington said. “This is a step forward for us in becoming more environmental.”

GSA projects funded prior to fiscal year 2010 that are currently in design will be required to incorporate LEED gold wherever possible after considering budget and time constraints, Buffington said. For the GSA’s leased properties, the LEED requirement remains at silver for new construction lease projects of 10,000 square feet or more.