Posted on July 10, 2008 - by Elliott

There is No Such Thing as a LEED Certified Product

I have been researching sustainable products for a project I am working on.  I have noticed a number of products that make misleading or false statements.  Here are some of the ones I have found.

Misleading statement #1: Automatic ID Credit

Nothing will give you an automatic ID (Innovation in Design) credit.

The following statement was taken from the U.S. Green Building Council’s website.  (This document specifically):

LEED ID Credits are evaluated for each project. It is important to note that the award of an ID Credit for one project at a specific point in time does not constitute automatic approval for a similar strategy in a future project. Innovation credits are not awarded for the use of a particular product or design strategy if the technology aids in the achievement of an existing LEED credit.

USGBC does produce a catalog of ID credits awarded on past projects.  But this document is meant as a “brainstorming tool only to assist project teams in the development of new ID credits. It does not set any precedent to be upheld during a LEED Certification Review.”

Misleading statement #2: LEED Certified Product

From the USGBC website:

The USGBC does not certify, endorse or promote products, services or companies, nor do we track, list or report data related to products and their environmental qualities.
However, using green products and materials may contribute to a building’s LEED Certification. See our Green Building Links for information from other green building organizations.

Misleading Statement #3: LEED Qualified Product

The image below was taken from a carpet manufacturer’s website.  The USGBC strictly prohibits using LEED in reference to a product. Refer to the Member Logos and Guidelines on the USGBC website.

The logo may not be placed on product packaging, ads, or be used as a visual reference to LEED claims in product literature.  For example, the logo cannot be placed next to text that says, “Product A can help fulfill Credit X under the LEED Rating System”

Although the logo below does not use the actual LEED logo, the name still implies endorsement.  This is wrong and misleading.

Further more, the language included in the image above is not clear.  It is fantastic that their carpet contains 10% recycled content.  However, is it post-consumer or pre-consumer?  There is a difference when calculating your total project recycled content.  LEED instructs us to only to take 1/2 of the pre-consumer content and all of the post-consumer content.

In addition, claims that because a product is 100% recycled, your project will earn points is incomplete.  Your overall project needs to meet certain goals, not just a single product.  If the only recycled content in your project was the carpet above, you would most likely get no recycled content credits.

Conclusion

LEED is a complicated guide to green building.  It is complicated because it needs to be thorough.  Here are some things you can do as an owner, developer, home owner or concerned tenant to help you through the green building process.

• Ask a LEED Accredited Professional.  All LEED APs are listed at the Green Building Certification Institutue’s website.  (The GBCI is the testing and certification arm of the USGBC, although it is completely independent from the standards writing USGBC.)
• BJG has 7 LEED APs and we would be happy to help you with your next proejct.  Feel free to contact us:  Reno (775.827.1010), Las Vegas (702.990.3532) or Pleasanton (925.251.9800).
• Ask questions.  Many manufacturers will tell you that their product will give you 6 LEED points.  (This happened to a coworker of mine today, in fact).  As discussed above, this statement is not true.  Ask them what points their product will contribute to.  Ask them for literature and backup.  Really press them on how their product is green.
• There are some directories out there for reference.  Many cities, like Portland and Santa Monica, are starting to compile directories of products not only green, but also regionally manufactured. Buildinggreen.com and Builditgreen.com are reputable sources for green information.

Everyone wants a piece of the green building pie.  Make sure to not get caught up in the marketing hype.

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