USGBC and LEED Benchmark
December 8, 2010
An Open Letter from FSC-US President Corey Brinkema
Re: A Path Forward for Certified Wood in LEED
FSC Remains Committed to Strong Independent Standards
With 55% of participating US Green Building Council (USGBC) members voting in favor of the proposed Forest Certification Benchmark, the proposed revisions to the certified wood credit in LEED failed to meet the two-thirds majority required to pass. This vote is a victory for maintaining the current high standards in LEED, and it also signals significant support for the benchmark approach.
The FSC remains unequivocally committed to a strong independent benchmark for the certified wood credit in LEED, one that sets the forest management principles captured in FSC certification as the floor rather than the ceiling.
FSC strongly encourages USGBC not to give up on the benchmark process, but rather consider quickly turning around a revised ballot. Based on the results of the recent vote, we are confident a strengthened benchmark would be approved by the membership. Closing a few unintended loopholes and giving prerequisite status to several optional credits within the current benchmark would likely garner the support of the U.S. conservation community and building industry professionals who recently voted “NO” in order to keep the LEED standard for forests high.
The motivation behind FSC’s commitment to high standards is simple: The certified wood credit in LEED has been one of the most important drivers of forest conservation in North America. The LEED credit brings a highly functional consumer-driven model to recognize and reward forest managers who practice exemplary forest management. And when it comes from a well-managed forest, wood is among the most sustainable of building materials.
High standards are working, as demonstrated by the fact that in the 10 years since the LEED program has recognized FSC, North American forests certified under FSC standards have grown in size from less than 10 million acres to more than 130 million.
Quickly turning around a slightly revised ballot would integrate well with the 2012 LEED revisions, which are underway even now. Because the 2012 revisions currently reference the proposed benchmark, a new vote on a strengthened version would provide both closure and a structure for the work ahead.
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