Cradle to Cradle Recognized in LEED

By Tristan Roberts

Products earning Cradle to Cradle (C2C) certification, a multifaceted program run by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC), are now recognized in the LEED Rating System, following an April 2007 ruling by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The new “administrative credit interpretation ruling” allows projects to earn a LEED credit if at least 2.5 percent of the building’s materials, by cost, are C2C-certified.

The stated purpose of the ruling, which was posted on USGBC’s website for LEED users, is to “stimulate the development of environmentally focused product evaluation and certification tools for use by building professionals.” The 2.5 percent threshold incorporates some adjustments to the calculation to account for different C2C certification levels. The cost of products certified at the lower levels—as Silver or as technical or biological nutrients—is discounted by half. The cost of products at the middle level, Gold, is not adjusted, while the cost of Platinum products, C2C’s highest and so far unattained level, is doubled for the calculation.

USGBC’s decision was made as an approval of an innovation credit, avoiding the more extensive review and balloting required for a new credit. No registered LEED projects appear to be pursuing the credit yet. The ruling was reviewed by USGBC’s Materials & Resources Technical Advisory Group (MR TAG). Despite the ruling’s affirmation of C2C, it includes several caveats, notably that “TAG has concerns about the lack of transparency in the C2C certification process.”

For Tom Hicks, who oversees LEED for the USGBC, the C2C ruling is an example of USGBC’s focus on continuous improvement. “In the past, if a good idea came about, we were looking at the next iteration of the rating system,” which could take years, he says. “We’re looking for ways to make the system more nimble,” he says, noting the potential for other programs to follow in C2C’s footsteps. Referring to USGBC’s intent to integrate life-cycle assessment (LCA) into LEED, Hicks adds, “We are also interested in addressing health and other impacts [of products] not directly addressed in LCA work.” C2C evaluates products in five areas, taking in an array of environmental and human health factors.

The decision appears to represent a continued strengthening of ties between MBDC cofounder William McDonough, FAIA, and USGBC, following his keynote address at the 2006 Greenbuild conference.

This article was produced by BuildingGreen, Inc.- www.buildinggreen.com

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