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GSA has not made their decision yet, and neither has congress. There are no "rules" taking effect on July 1. The proposed credit that would have rewarded projects for avoiding "chemicals of concern" has already been revised in the fourth comment period. Anyone who is interested in the new language should take a look at it on USGBC's website and should share their comments.
Of course, there is a revised version of the credit that does not identify specific chemicals or materials; the proposal for the new version of the credit is based on the EU REACH program (http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm). It isn't likely to make the chemical lobbyists or manufacturers any happier. They are still going to attack LEED for it's promotion of healthier materials, transparency, and the move toward LCA. If manufacturers are being "hurt" by the proposed credit, which is not even a requirement in LEED, then they are free to change their product to make it less toxic. Where's the harm in that? There are tens of thousands of unregulated chemicals in the US marketplace. Isn't it time to hold the producers and users of those chemicals responsible for their effects on public and environmental health?
Incidentally, GSA has already been leading on this issue for a while. Recommendations to avoid "chemicals of concern" were in their 2010 PS 100 guidelines, long before the credit was proposed in the LEED 2012 public comment drafts (including PVC!).
------------------------------------------- Gina Bocra AIA, LEED AP BD+C/ID+C Director of Sustainability Ennead Architects LLP New York, NY -------------------------------------------
Show Original Message
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-23-2012 16:07
From: Ann Harris
Subject: Article: "Lawmakers press GSA to abandon LEED"
This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Public Architects Committee and Committee on the Environment .
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A recent article from the Federal Times for your information:
Lawmakers press GSA to abandon LEED standard
by Andy Medici
"The General Services Administration should stop using the LEED rating system to grade how green its buildings are, 56 House lawmakers from both parties said in a May 18 letter to GSA's acting administrator Dan Tangherlini.
The lawmakers said the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, run by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is adopting standards that unfairly hurt certain manufacturers of building materials.
GSA primarily uses the LEED system, which scores how green a building is based on everything from construction materials to its proximity to mass transit, as a benchmark for all of its construction projects.
Buildings can be LEED certified or achieve even higher degrees of "greenness" at the LEED Silver, Gold or Platinum levels. GSA has made it a goal to make all of its new construction LEED Gold certified.
At issue are rules slated to take effect July 1 that offers building owners LEED credit for avoiding a list of "chemicals of concern." The lawmakers said in the letter that the restrictions are arbitrary and would require agencies to use more costly materials in construction projects."
Read more: http://www.federaltimes.com/article/20120522/FACILITIES02/205220301/1001
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Ann Harris
The American Institute of Architects
Washington DC
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