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DEPARTMENT
the green angle Paul Nutcher, CSI CDT, USGBC, AIA Allied
Chemicals Of Concern Causes Consternation LEED v4’s chemicalsof-concern credits have raised concerns on several fronts, resulting in some forthcoming tweaking.
T
o stay competitive, it might be a good idea to learn some-
said they will work together. The timing of the joint news release
thing about LEED v4. But don’t be surprised if during
came after further and significant threats to participation in the
your research you discover a growing number of critics
LEED program at federal and state levels. While presidential ex-
who question the common sense behind the new LEED v4 chem-
ecutive orders require LEED Gold certification on GSA projects,
icals-of-concern credit. One such critic is Chicago attorney Ujjval Vyas. He claims the
legislation in Congress has sought to limit military spending on
new LEED v4 chemicals-of-concern credits (MR Credit 4, Build-
ing certifications. States from Maine to North Carolina have
ing Product Disclosure & Optimization: Material Ingredients) are
passed laws striking down certain requirements in the new LEED
focused too narrowly on the hazards of chemicals in building ma-
program. Groups, including the ACC, are among those who
terials and products and not the potential risk.
fought for these changes.
“It’s like saying to someone, ‘if you try to cross that street, you
A charter is forthcoming for the joint working group, and the
may experience an injury that could cause serious bodily harm
USGBC steering committee will soon be finalizing the members
and potentially life threatening injuries, so don’t cross the street.’
of the working group, according to Taryn Holowka Hristova, vice
It is the precautionary principle that motivates these material
president, marketing and communications at USGBC.
chemistry sections in LEED,” he said.
Meanwhile, architectural firms such as SmithGroupJJR, Detroit,
His voice and others, including chemical-industry groups, may
are plowing ahead with the material-selection requirements in LEED
be wearing down the resolve at the USGBC. According to USGBC
v4, using the tools the USGBC has approved. According to specifier
president and CEO, Rick Fedrizzi, the USGBC and the American
Wade Bevier, FCSI, CCS, LEED AP BD+C, GCP, his firm had com-
Chemistry Council (ACC, Washington) will form a cooperative
pleted more than 100 LEED projects by early 2014. It does try to
Supply Chain Optimization Working Group to address building
avoid using red-list chemicals, such as those already mandated by
materials in LEED. A news release said the USGBC and ACC
authorities having jurisdiction, as well as honor requests by building
would form, “a new initiative designed to ensure the use of sus-
owners. This means working closely with manufacturers and assist-
tainable and environmentally protective products in buildings by
ing them in understanding the requirements to achieve an HPD or
applying technical and science-based approaches to the LEED
C2C certification for their products.
green building program.”
Requirements in the third option in MR Credit 4 of LEED v4 have caused considerable consternation and resulted in a joint ACC/USGBC effort to make adjustments.
sustainable buildings as well as the GSA’s spending on green-build-
“The efforts are to continue researching products to determine
The ballot-approved MR Credit 4 has three options for gaining
their chemical components and then determine whether there are
LEED points: material ingredient disclosure, optimization, and
concerns that need to be addressed or if a search for substitute op-
supply-chain optimization. The credit requires project teams to
tions should be implemented,” Bevier said. He added, “In some
source a certain percentage of products on a LEED v4 registered
cases there may not be a substitute in today’s market and in other
project that are listed in third-party verified green-product data-
cases different manufacturers for product types are using different
bases, such as Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Standard,
chemicals.” Bevier said selection criteria development is in the very
GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals, and HPD Collaborative—
early stages, and the decision-making protocols continue to evolve.
Health Product Declaration (HPD), or other USGBC-approved
The certainty is that the LEED v4 chemicals-of-concern credit
programs. Most critics have few complaints with the first two op-
appears to be due for another change or tweaking. Meanwhile,
tions. However, the third option in MR Credit 4 requires proj-
product manufacturers who can afford to keep up with this mov-
ect-team members to source products that do not contain certain
ing target will benefit, and those who cannot may be paying for
chemicals. It’s that requirement that has chemical manufacturers
additional product tests and certifications. CBP
and many in the architectural community upset. Mark Rossi of Clean Production Action, Somerville, MA, which administers the GreenScreen program, is among the leaders
For an extended version of this article, click on this link in the digital version of this issue at cbpmagazine.com/digital/oct2014.
within the green-product database market. He rejects critics comparing hazard-based assessments of chemicals to telling people
Paul Nutcher, CSI CDT, USGBC, AIA Allied, is president of the Green Apple Group
not to cross the street, adding rhetorically, “Aren’t you going to
LLC, Maitland, FL, a marketing, technical, and sustainability consulting firm.
cross the street where there is a crosswalk?” He says it makes sense
He has more than 11 years of building-industry experience and has served in
to use chemistry that does not contain known carcinogens.
leadership roles with CSI, USGBC, and AIA. He can be reached at pnutcher@
Still, as LEED v4 remains in effect, the ACC and USGBC have
8
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