On March 1, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will open the third public comment period for the proposed 2012 update to its LEED program, and specifiers should have a clearer picture of where the green building group stands on requiring the use of products bearing the FSC-100% label to garner credits for using wood products. (In 2010, the Forest Stewardship Council updated the "FSC-Pure" label to read "FSC-100%.")
On March 1, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) will open the third public comment period for the proposed 2012 update to its LEED program, and specifiers should have a clearer picture of where the green building group stands on requiring the use of products bearing the FSC-100% label to garner credits for using wood products. (In 2010, the Forest Stewardship Council updated the "FSC-Pure" label to read "FSC-100%.")
In September 2011, USGBC created Pilot Credit 53: Responsible Sourcing of Raw Materials, which, if approved during the ongoing LEED 2012 drafting phase, will replace MR Credit 7: Certified Wood; currently, MR Credit 7 can be satisfied with any FSC-certified product, including FSC-Mixed material.
Specifiers should also have a better understanding of whether USGBC will be moving forward with its Pilot Credit 43: Certified Products, which was introduced in June 2011. That pilot credit is controversial because it would award LEED credits for certified wood products other than FSC.
The comment period will close March 20, and in a statement the USGBC said the latest LEED draft has been refined to address "technical stringency and rigor, measurement and performance tools, and an enhanced user experience."
"LEED's strength comes from its continuous evolution. This continuous improvement is the outcome of thousands of technical volunteers working to develop the program and the adaptability of the program to technological and market changes," said Scot Horst, USGBC's senior vice president of LEED.
Right now, USGBC's LEED Steering Committee is reviewing all proposed drafts of the next standard. In June, LEED 2012 will be put to a ballot of USGBC members in good standing. In November it should formally launch. More information on LEED 2012 should be posted at this website, the USGBC said.
