SAN JOSE, Calif.--Nov. 9, 2005-- Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced it is teaming with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to deliver a series of enhancements to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system documentation and certification process. Harnessing Adobe LiveCycle(TM) server software, Adobe Acrobat desktop software and the Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), USGBC is significantly streamlining critical forms-based processes for its members and LEED users. As a result, USGBC expects to dramatically reduce the overall cost of LEED certification for project teams and accelerate the industry's ability to adopt green building practices. "The benefits for the LEED end user are amazing," said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC president, CEO and founding chair. "The high quality and ease-of-use of Adobe technology has made it a household name, and we're excited about working with Adobe to take the LEED process to the next level. Thanks to Adobe, organizations will be able to submit project documentation electronically, get early feedback that their certification goals are on track, and easily access and update their project information throughout the building process." Fundamental to making the LEED process more user-friendly was moving what had been a cumbersome, paper-intensive process entirely online. Working with Adobe, USGBC is leveraging Adobe LiveCycle server software to provide building project teams the ability to complete and submit LEED-certification forms online in Adobe PDF, helping increase accuracy and save time. Users can then save a copy of forms to a local hard drive for archiving purposes. The entire process can be completed by project teams simply using free Adobe Reader software or Acrobat. Adobe has distributed over half-a-billion copies of Adobe Reader since the product's 1993 introduction. "Also key to the success of these exciting refinements to the LEED process was our business relationship with Adobe and the broad support they afforded us," Fedrizzi said. "Adobe technology integrated seamlessly into USGBC's existing systems, which was crucial to making a rapid transition to the new LEED process without additional infrastructure costs. Beyond that, though, were equally important services they provided, including business model alignment and developer support." "Adobe is excited to be working with USGBC to help simplify and speed a workflow critical to the continuing growth of green building practices," said Eugene Lee, vice president of product marketing, Intelligent Documents Business Unit, Adobe. "The LEED process is a logical fit for Adobe forms technology, echoed by the expanding adoption of our products in the architecture, engineering and construction industry. As importantly, it's also in line with our organization's own principles, evidenced by the fact that we're well into the process of LEED-certifying Adobe's headquarters. Using LiveCycle and Acrobat software for this solution, USGBC is ensuring that its users, including Adobe itself, will have an efficient and easy-to-use documentation process." USGBC's efforts to enhance the LEED process were the direct result of market surveys and extensive dialogue with the organizations and individuals who use LEED. In its new research publication, the 2006 Green Building SmartMarket Report, McGraw-Hill Construction states that its research found more than two-thirds of respondents believe a simplified and easier-to-use LEED process is one of the most important drivers to the growth of green building.