Cradle to Cradle certification, a strict assessment of the environmental qualities of materials used in green buildings, is a controversial provision in LEED V4. Those seeking LEED certification will get credits for Materials & Resources for disclosing and optimizing where building materials are sourced and purchased. The essence of Cradle to Cradle is the importance of a closed loop, that only materials and processes that can be reused endlessly should be included in product design. Buildings that have at least 20 Cradle to Cradle Certified products can earn points, or a project must use at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products. Twenty-seven trade groups representing building materials industry companies oppose this provision, and are pushing Green Globes as a LEED alternative.
(http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2013/07/17/leed-cradle-cradle-certification-green-building)
Related Stories
| Mar 10, 2013
Walgreens to build first net-zero energy retail store
Walgreens announced plans last week to build one of the nation's first net-zero retail stores. The Evanston, Ill., location will utilize solar panels, wind turbines, geothermal technology, LED lighting and ultra-high-efficiency refrigeration to produce energy equal to or greater than the building consumes.
| Feb 25, 2013
HOK sustainability expert Mary Ann Lazarus tapped by AIA for strategy consulting position
Mary Ann Lazarus, FAIA, LEED® AP BD+C, has accepted a two-year consulting position with the American Institute of Architects in Washington, DC. Her new position, which begins March 1, will focus on increasing the AIA's impact on sustainability across the profession. The St. Louis-based architect will continue consulting at HOK.
| Jan 7, 2013
Jerry Yudelson's issues his "Top 10 Green Building Megatrends" for 2013
Yudelson, a Contributing Editor to Building Design+Construction, says, “It looks like a good year ahead for the green building industry. Based on our experience, it seems clear that green building will continue its rapid expansion globally in 2013 in spite of the ongoing economic slowdown in most countries of Europe and North America. More people are building green each year, with 50,000 LEED projects underway by the latest counts; there is nothing on the horizon that will stop this Mega-trend or its constituent elements.”
| Nov 20, 2012
SchenkelShultz-designed Valencia at Lake Nona certified 3 Green Globes
Featuring the latest technologies, the three-story, academic facility includes academic spaces and teaching laboratories, student services, a book store, library, café, a Dean’s suite and administrative offices.
| Nov 14, 2012
Lutron introduces new roller shade fabric, Sensor Layout and Tuning Service at Greenbuild 2012
Light control manufacturer Lutron Electronics partners with Mermet and announces new sensor calibration service.
| Oct 3, 2012
Fifth public comment period now open for update to USGBC's LEED Green Building Program
LEED v4 drafts and the public comment tool are now available on the newly re-launched, re-envisioned USGBC.org website.
| Sep 26, 2012
EDITORIAL OPPORTUNITY – BD+C Greenbuild 2012 Issue
Your firm is invited to contribute to this special issue, which will be distributed at Greenbuild San Francisco, Nov. 14-16, 2012.
| Jul 11, 2012
Perkins+Will designs new home for Gateway Community College
Largest one-time funded Connecticut state project and first designed to be LEED Gold.