BICSI Works with U.S. Green Building Council to Create LEED Tech Credits
November 17, 2008 // Published as a news service by IHS
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Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) is working with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to develop strategies for the recognition of technology infrastructure related innovation credits in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building certification system.
BICSI representative including President Edward J. Donelan, RCDD, NTS, TLT, of Telecom Infrastructure Corp. and President-Elect Brian Hansen, RCDD, NTS, of Leviton Network Solutions met with USGBC's Brendan Owens, VP of LEED Technical Development in March 2008 to create an awareness that the information transport systems (ITS) industry manufacturers and contractors have products and processes that could apply for LEED credits, if technology credits were a part of the existing LEED rating system.
"We recognized a long time ago that there were no technology credits for LEED," said Hansen. "We are responding to requests from our membership to respond to this issue. There are various manufacturers that are producing green-friendly products and have processes in place such as technology, recycling and green friendly packaging that could apply for LEED credits, but don't because there is no placeholder within the current system for it."
Owens agreed with BICSI's concern and requested that BICSI create a consortium consisting of representatives from the industry in order to create the necessary technology credits for LEED.
The members of the consortium are Hansen as the chair, Dave Labuskes, RCDD, NTS, OSP, of RTKL Associates Inc., Betty Bezos, RCDD, NTS, OSP, WD, of Bezos Technologies and Ed Mikoski, vice president, standards and business development for the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA).
Mikoski was added because of his involvement in helping to create an international green manufacturing certification program with the US Electronic Components Certification Board (ECCB) called IECQ QC 080000, a certification that Hansen said will be coveted throughout the industry once the technology credits are established in the LEED rating system.
InfoComm was also added to the consortium.
The members of the consortium said that possible technology credits could be included in the innovation in design section of the 2009 LEED rating system.
The consortium will begin working on the technical writing of these technology credits.
Source: Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI).