LEED 2012 has some substantial changes which will be controversial but may be more appealing to the woodworking industry. Now it appears that they will be taking all of the new commercial and institutional programs and putting them into two categories named Building Design & Construction and Interior Design & Construction.

 

The proposed changes to the individual credits that affect woodworking are very similar in the two categories listed above. So let’s look at how these individual credits might change.

This credit will now deal with recycled non structural materials and/or closed loop manufacturing. In the documents they describe closed loop manufacturing as materials that are purchased from a manufacturer that has a closed loop product recycling and take back program. I liken this to the people that sell copiers and take it back when you replace it to be recycled.

It appears that this credit will be replacing the existing Rapidly Renewable credit. The intent of this credit is to reduce the use and depletion of non-renewable materials by substituting bio-based materials. Wood should now fall under this category and therefore would be available for another possible credit. The credit would require that the materials have third party certification, which could open this up to more certifications than Forest Stewardship Council only.

At this time the United States Green Building Council has not determined how this credit will look. They have left it with a place holder to be filled in when the second open comment period happens. They may leave it as it is currently written or they may reintroduce the benchmark system or they may use what is in the LEED Pilot Credit #43. No matter which of those options they use, it will create a lot of angst.

This credit has historically dealt with no added urea formaldehyde. In the latest version panels that have been manufactured in accordance with the California Air Resource Board Phase II would be allowed for this credit. There has been a lot of confusion regarding whether or not these panels have been acceptable towards this credit in the past and now that issue will go away.

 

We all need to understand that until these programs are voted upon by the membership everything is subject to change.

 

As I was finishing up this article the second open comment documents just became available. This probably will change some of the information above. I recommend that all of you take a look at these documents, which can be found at www.usgbc.org and don’t forget to make your comments be heard. You do not need to be a USGBC member to comment.