Which step in the LEED development process involves a consensus approval vote by members?

• A. Step 4: Public comment
• B. Step 6: Consensus approval vote by members (2/3 approve, 50%+ vote)
• C. Step 3: Preview and approval by Steering Committee
• D. Step 7: New rating system

Answer: (B)

In LEED development, the step that brings broad legitimacy is when voting members cast a formal approval ballot to reach consensus. This stage requires a substantial majority—typically a two-thirds vote in favor, with at least half of all eligible members participating. That high threshold ensures the proposed changes have wide support across the diverse stakeholder community, not just a narrow group, before they move forward.

Public comment is about gathering input from the wider public and stakeholders, but it doesn’t finalize adoption. The Steering Committee’s preview and approval is an internal gatekeeper step to ensure the draft meets governance and technical standards before broad review. Starting a new rating system is about initiating something fresh, not about obtaining consensus from the existing member base.

So, the consensus approval vote by members is the step where the actual broad member vote determines adoption, reflecting broad agreement across the community.