Standards and Certification
By Kenton Shepard
CERTIFICATION and STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS (products and materials)
As more green building standards come into effect, the need for verification of compliance with a standard will grow. Although standards will probably vary according to state, county, city or other jurisdiction, one requirement that most standards have in common is that they offer value or have requirements for green features and products which must be certified by a standards authority. Although authorities will vary, the list below gives links and descriptions to various certification organizations which already provide standards and certification.
Products (general)
- ENERGYSTAR Products in more than 50 categories are eligible for the ENERGY STAR. They use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.
- Greenseal provides environmental Standards and certification for a number of products and systems, acts as an advisor to government and industry, provides technical reports and performs intensive evaluation of products using life-cycle analysis from raw material extraction through disposal.
- Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) is a leading third-party provider of certification, auditing and testing services and standards. Their stated goal is to stimulate continuous improvement in food and agriculture, manufacturing, forestry, fisheries, electricity and environmentally responsible purchasing.
- National Sanitary Foundation (NSF) an independent, not-for-profit providing national and international standard and certification of food, water and consumer products.
- The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program. As an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings.
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) is a federal-wide program that encourages and assists Executive agencies in the purchasing of environmentally preferable products and services.
Roofing Products
- The Cool Roof Rating Council was created in 1998 to develop accurate and credible methods for evaluating and labeling the solar reflectance and thermal emittance (radiative properties) of roofing products and to disseminate the information to all interested parties.
Lumber
- The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organization with an extremely impressive membership of social, economic and environmentally-based membership. FSC works to find solutions which promote responsible stewardship of the world’s forests. As of December 2006, more than 200 million acres of forest in 76 countries had received FSC certification.
- Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFC) A North American lumber and forest industry-supported organization supplying standards, certification and training for sustainable forestry practices.
Carpets and Rugs
- The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is a nonprofit trade association representing the manufacturers of more than 95 percent of all carpet made in the United States, as well as their suppliers and service providers. We coordinate with other segments of the industry, such as distributors, retailers and installers, to help increase consumers’ satisfaction with carpet and to show them how carpet creates a better environment.
NATIONAL and INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)- The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation, use and accrediation of thousands of norms, guidelines and standards that directly impact U.S. businesses.
International Organization for Standardization (ISO)- ISO is a non-govermental organization comprising a network of the national standards institutes of 157 countries. ISO provides technical standards for a number of subjects
as of 2007, ASTM International offers the following active standards concerning sustainability...
and has proposed the following standards...
- WK11944 Minimum Attributes of a Building that Promotes Sustainability
- WK3161 Standard Guide for the Use of Data for Building Product Sustainability Assessment
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