Chemical Industry Trade Association Condemns U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

Business leaders applaud USGBC's Ethics and Innovation

Source: American Sustainable Business Council

WASHINGTON, July 2, 2012  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American business leaders are speaking out in dismay over the American Chemistry Council's recent political attacks on the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED v4 (formerly known as LEED 2012) standard for offering a voluntary credit for avoiding chemicals of concern.

LEED is a voluntary standard that enables builders to work toward goals of energy savings, less toxic materials, and other sustainable goals.

Construction Specialties and the 30 participants in the Health Product Declaration project pilot are finding opportunity in addressing chemicals of concern through disclosure and product reformulation.

"USGBC's proposed upgrade of LEED confirms the construction market including chemicals in its view of sustainability. Creating alternatives to fill market demand opens new business opportunity and creates positive press for innovators among ACC's membership," says Howard Williams, LEED AP ID + C, Construction Specialties, Inc. "Will time present better opportunities for the innovators who break rank with ACC?"

"Sustainable economic growth taps the innovation and ingenuity of American businesses, and mobilizes entrepreneurs to use the best science to create safer, healthier chemicals and products," offers David Levine, American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC).  "This is not a time to attack USGBC's first chemicals of concerns credit, but to applaud it and support, cutting-edge business practices based on quality science."

"The ACC's attack on the LEED program is a disservice to those chemical companies who recognize the growth and profit potential of developing innovative materials to satisfy the steadily increasing market demand for energy-efficient buildings employing less hazardous chemicals," said Richard Liroff, Investor Environmental Health Network.

"Green buildings are about more than energy and water conservation; they must also include consideration of human health, biodiversity, and sustainable material resource cycles," emphasizes Robin Guenther, Perkins+Will one of the nation's largest architectural and building firms.  "The fact that the USGBC is willing to signal the market that chemical composition of building materials does matter is long overdue."

"For health care providers, the imperative is to do no harm," says Susan Vickers, of Dignity Health. "Disclosure, and ultimately, the removal of chemicals of concern in products and materials are an important part of healthy buildings.  We call on the ACC to work with government, businesses, and the broader community to support innovative solutions and economic progress."

SOURCE American Sustainable Business Council