Debate Over Green Building Certification
The National Association of Home Builders has been working on their own NAHB National Green Building Program for certification since March of 2004. Various parties have argued that the NAHB should develop their program rather than rely on the well-known US Green Building Council LEED scheme. Some people believe that the Leeds program is too strict and pricey. The fact that LEEDs only allow Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) lumber is one of the major causes that has builders dissatisfied. Because not all timber yards carry or are approved to sell FSC, this limits the supplies available in many places. The FSC certification process is becoming more expensive. According to a ProSales Magazine article, The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the key wood certification basic in green construction, is trebling its accreditation admin costs for chain of custody ( COC ) certification and retaliating against certifying bodies that claim other standard-setters rules are as good as FSC's....