Thinking Green: Is LEED Enouph?

Is LEED Enough? It is a question that is being asked by a lot in the industry.  My answer is NO.  LEED is only a stepping stone that all need to know.  We are in a time of change just like back in the mid 1980’s when ADA was first introduced by congress.  This was not an easy transition for the building industry as we needed to learn to build and design differently; But now any designer, architect, contractor, etc knows the simple regulation such as main hallways need to be 5’-0” min, doorways need to be 3’-0” min.  Without thought we know these have to be done.  Well, LEED provides these same rules that need to be followed and thought of as all aspects of a project is being developed. 

The introduction of ADA did not just happen like that.  “…The ADA story began a long time ago in cities and towns throughout the United States... It began with the establishment of local groups to advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. It began with the establishment of the independent living movement which challenged the notion that people with disabilities needed to be institutionalized, and which fought for and provided services for people with disabilities to live in the community.”   

Again our industry is in transition and we are at the beginning of the movement where we have local organizations fighting for the change.  Some examples of NYC organizations are USGBC Urban Green Council, NY League of Conservation voters, GrowNYC, Lower East Side Ecology Center, Solar One / Two. There are so many more that are out there that see the need for change and are fighting this battle through education, public awareness and policy.  

This is not an easy transition for companies as it was not back in the 1980’s, but it is coming and it is time to embrace it.  As individuals we need to educate ourselves with the basics, LEED Green Associates is a start.  As companies we need to hire individuals that understand the green building process; these individuals would be LEED GA or LEED AP.  As organizations we need to make sure that we work with companies that have true knowledge of sustainability with an accredited staff.  As consumers we need to purchase green products and organic produce to show the manufactures that this is where they need to be.

As I stated before LEED is NOT enough and as I said it is not an easy transition.  If it was simple at this time, all that is built would be LEED Platinum.  But we need to start Striving for Living building and communities with LEED Platinum as a minimum.   The Living Building Challenge strives past LEED to create self a self sustaining building and community, etc.  It has similar performance areas as LEED, they are: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. They provide a framework for design, construction and the symbiotic relationship between people and all aspects of the built environment.  Check out the latest Version 2.0 challenge at http://ilbi.org/lbc/Standard-Documents/LBC2-0.pdf . 

As individuals, we need to strive for higher sustainability measures while using LEED as a template for understanding.  As we do this and collaborating with others to try to achieve these measures, people will start developing products that will make it easier for others to do the same.  

 “If not us, who? If not now, when?” John F. Kennedy.