The first proposed change calls for Materials and Resources Credit 6 (MRc6) be changed from a rapidly renewable credit into a biobased credit, under which wood that is not derived from illegal logging would be recognized. With this change, wood certified through the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), and possibly other certification systems could obtain this credit along with all of the rapidly renewable materials that are currently covered under MRc6.
The second change calls for Materials and Resources Credit 7 (MRc7) to be shifted from a wood-only credit to a credit that recognizes certified biobased materials that satisfy as-yet-to-be-developed, robust certification criteria, along with waste agricultural products such as straw-based particleboard, by definition (i.e., without certification required).
Initially, for wood products, USGBC anticipates that only FSC would satisfy the top-tier certification requirements for this credit at this stage. However; as other certification systems for wood advance and as certification systems for bamboo, cork, or agricultural products emerge that would meet the USGBC criteria; they, too, could gain recognition under MRc7.
The changes were prompted because wood and wood-related issues were becoming a distraction from the broader goal of building a sustainable building that takes into account a variety of factors, such as energy and water usage, indoor environmental quality, site selection and material selection, USGBC officials said.
“As leaders of the green building movement, it's incumbent upon us to face issues head-on and, grounded in our core values, seek consensus and move forward,” says Kevin Hydes, Chairman of USGBC's Board of Directors.
The changes are based on reccoemendations included in a white paper entitled “"Dealing with Wood and Bio-Based Materials in the LEED Rating System," which was researched by Alex Wilson of BuildingGreen at USGBC's request.
Final proposed changes to MR Credits 6 and 7 as refined by USGBC's LEED Committees will be available for public comment, and will be balloted before USGBC's full membership - consistent with USGBC's consensus process. A detailed timeline will be published on USGBC's website in June.
