Building consensus

摘要

Proposed changes to a successful green building standard that will be voted on soon have run into stiff opposition from the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and some other building industry groups over charges that credits for material ingredients effectively contain a “red list” of more than 5,000 chemicals. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (Leed) standard, developed by construction industry campaign group the US Green Building Council (USGBC), was recommended by federal procurement agency the General Services Administration (GSA) in 2006 as the certification system for US federal government buildings. The agency, which is required to identify a certification system every five years, is now evaluating two other standards – Green Globes and the Living Building Standard – in addition to Leed, and will choose its preferred system this summer.