USGBC, American Chemistry Council join forces to advance LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) announced a new initiative designed to ensure the use of sustainable and environmentally protective products in buildings by applying technical and science-based approaches to the LEED green building program. This new initiative acknowledges USGBC’s success in leading the transformation of the built environment and sets up a pathway to take advantage of the materials science expertise of ACC and its members.

“USGBC and ACC share the goal of advancing sustainability in the built environment, and we will work together to take advantage of our collective strength and experience,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “The looming impacts of climate change and the possibilities of improving human health and wellbeing favor collaboration and engagement as key strategies. The goal is forward progress.”

ACC President and CEO Cal Dooley noted, “Modern energy efficiency gains, building safety advances and carbon footprint reductions would not be possible without the products of chemistry. From windows to insulation, adhesives to flooring, chemistry provides solutions that enable the energy efficient and sustainable buildings that consumers expect in today’s world.

By combining USGBC, a leader of the green building movement, with the scientific know-how of ACC, we can develop a path to stronger, science-based standards that achieve measurable progress in sustainability.”

LEED is regularly updated through a rigorous development process that includes public comments, technical review and balloting. USGBC and ACC will work within that framework to incorporate state-of-the-art safety, sustainability and life-cycle based approaches to LEED. LEED has facilitated advances in building technologies, integrated design and operating practices, as well as the tremendous growth of the green building sector, which supports or creates 7.9 million jobs across all 50 states and contributes $554 billion to the U.S. economy annually.

The American business of chemistry employs nearly 800,000 Americans and supports nearly 25 percent of the U.S. GDP. Chemistry-based plastic building and construction materials saved 467.2 trillion BTUs of energy over alternative construction materials – enough energy saved over the course of a year to meet the average annual energy needs of 4.6 million U.S. households. Energy savings made possible by innovations in chemistry in homes in the U.S. prevented nearly 283 million tons of CO2 emissions in 2010—equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions of 50 million passenger vehicles.

More people than ever are reconsidering what work and career mean. What can AEC firms do to recruit and retain workers in this changing workplace environment? Karl Feldman, Partner with Hinge Marketing, discusses ideas and strategies with BD+C's John Caulfield in this exclusive interview for HorizonTV.

Plans move forward on Central Place Sydney, duel towers with an AI-driven facade system

Glass and Glazing | Sep 30, 2021

Plans move forward on Central Place Sydney, duel towers with an AI-driven façade system

SOM and Fender Katsalidis are designing the project.

Architects | Sep 28, 2021

Hoffmann Architects Welcomes Travis Heim as Senior Staff Architect

Hoffmann Architects, an architecture and engineering firm specializing in the rehabilitation of building exteriors, announces that Travis Heim has joined the New York office as Senior Staff Architect.

AEC Business Innovation | Sep 28, 2021

Getting diversity, equity, and inclusion going in AEC firms

As a professional services organization built on attracting the best and brightest talent, VIATechnik relies on finding new ways to do just that. Here are some tips that we’ve learned through our diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) journey.

Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021

Designing for the ‘missing middle’ in multifamily housing

Multifamily housing expert Patrick Winters, AIA, discusses a neglected segment of the market: the "missing middle."

Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021

11 notable multifamily projects to debut in 2021

A residence for older LGBTQ+ persons, a P3 student housing building, and a converted masonic lodge highlight the multifamily developments to debut this year.

Data Centers | Sep 22, 2021

Wasted energy from data centers could power nearby buildings

A Canadian architecture firm comes up with a concept for a community that’s part of a direct-current microgrid.

Currently Reading

USGBC, American Chemistry Council join forces to advance LEED

Tags

Green | Oct 6, 2021

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Oct 1, 2021

Sponsored | Glass and Glazing | Oct 1, 2021

Architects | Sep 30, 2021

Glass and Glazing | Sep 30, 2021

Architects | Sep 28, 2021

AEC Business Innovation | Sep 28, 2021

Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021

Multifamily Housing | Sep 22, 2021

Data Centers | Sep 22, 2021

Most Popular Content

Magazine Subscription

Get our Newsletters

Follow BD+C: