Green council helps LEED way to healthier homes

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

That famous quote is a powerful and simple truth. One such group of thoughtful, committed citizens has changed the construction industry forever. Though small in its inception, the U.S. Green Building Council now consists of a diverse group of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofits, teachers and students, lawmakers and citizens.

The Nevada Chapter of the USGBC is but one of 79 similar groups across the country. All told, there are 15,000 member organizations and 162,000 accredited professionals that share the same vision of a sustainable built environment for all within the next generation.

The private, nonprofit organization was formed around a simple idea: to change the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated by making them more environmentally responsible, economically profitable and healthier places for people to live and work.

Through a consensus-driven process involving all members, a green-building rating system was created to serve as a road map for improving our built environment.

Successful projects could achieve a meaningful certification goal based on the emerging standard. It was called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, now commonly referred to simply by its acronym, LEED. It is the means by which the USGBC works to realize its vision of a sustainable built environment for all within the next generation.

Everyone has benefited from LEED in some way. Many live and/or work in homes or buildings that have much better indoor air quality and are more comfortable, energy efficient and enjoyable as a result of LEED certification. Many children enjoy healthier learning environments that reduce absenteeism and improve their ability to learn.

Some new homes become LEED certified, and many others are built to higher standards because the bar has been raised for others to follow.

Older homes benefit through modern retrofitting techniques that have, in part, been driven by the effects of the LEED green-building rating system. Taxpayers save millions of dollars due to energy efficiency of federal buildings that have participated in the program.

LEED addresses not only energy and water conservation but also human health, biodiversity and sustainable material resource cycles. And although it is completely voluntary and anyone can join the USGBC to become involved in its ongoing improvement, the opportunity for equal cooperation is not enough for some. Over the years, various industries have attempted to aggressively undermine the program when they felt it might impinge on their profits.

Now the chemical industry feels threatened since the improvements in LEED seek to increase incentives for reducing toxic materials used in our buildings. The industry is concerned that the concepts of precaution and prevention will cut into revenues. A who's who of chemical companies and trade organizations are lobbying Congress in opposition to the latest developments in the LEED rating system.

Jennifer Sass of the Natural Resources Defense Council wrote, "The new proposed LEED Version 4 standard will give credits for building teams that use materials that do not cause cancer, birth defects, and other health or environmental impairments."

I can't imagine why anyone would oppose that. But it is the same old story of powerful corporate interests putting their money and influence above acting responsibly in the best interests of the people of this country.

You can help by supporting your local chapter (and by avoiding dangerous chemicals such as vinyl). The U.S. Green Building Council­, Nevada Chapter is an outstanding, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides great services to our state, including many excellent educational events . Check out www.usgbcnv.org. You can join, learn, participate, attend monthly meetings, become a Friend of the Chapter or just make a simple donation.

Please be one of those thoughtful, committed citizens who are changing the world. It is up to us.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, a company committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. For more information and links to additional resources relating to this column, or to reach Steve, please visit www.greendream.biz. He is a co-founder of the Nevada Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council and served on the national council's board of directors.