Green Seal to adopt holistic approach to certification

WASHINGTON — Green Seal Inc. is launching a pilot Company Certification Program that provides the first and only holistic assessment of a company's product line and its business operations, according to a press release.

Building on the development of 30 environmental standards and certification of over 3,500 "green" products and services, Green Seal's pilot program will certify companies as a whole based on their commitment to environmentally-sound business practices and sustainable products, the release stated.

According to the release, recognition of environmental leadership — at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels — will be based on corporate-wide practices and environmental impacts, third-party environmental certification of the company's products and life-cycle assessment of the company's key product lines.

Green Seal will factor in greenhouse gas emissions, water conservation, biodiversity impact and labor relations, among other requirements, the release noted.

Arthur Weissman, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Green Seal, said: "Today's green-savvy consumers are increasingly wary of corporate greenwashing and are looking for proof that companies and their products are as green as they say they are. Our pilot Company Certification Program makes green corporate claims credible and provides real marketing power as manufacturers brand themselves in a sustainability-minded marketplace."

Once social and environmental impact studies are completed, qualified companies are given a license to use the Green Seal which, in addition to certifying their commitment to the environment for consumers, also provides greenwashing insurance for the business, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

Green-Buildings.com launches free LEED-GA practice exam

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Green-Buildings.com announces the availability of its first free practice test for the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design-Green Associate (LEED-GA) exam offered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), according to a press release.

The free practice test, developed by Green-Buildings.com's team of LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED-AP), consists of 50 questions and detailed explanations covering different aspects of green building and LEED, the release stated.

Rob Freeman Jr., LEED-AP and co-founder of Green-Buildings.com, said: "The LEED-GA credential represents potentially the best springboard for new careers in sustainability. It is also a popular starting point for many aspiring LEED-APs. LEED-GA candidates are obviously very excited about this new credential and the potential it holds for future professional and personal growth. We developed our free LEED-GA practice test to provide green building professionals with an affordable way to prepare and to test their knowledge of green building."

LEED professional credentials have become an important part of the growing sustainability industry with over 130,000 professionals becoming LEED-APs since the launch of the LEED credentialing system in 2001, the release added.

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Study: Green roofs store carbon dioxide

EAST LANSING, MI — A new study performed at Michigan State University (MSU) found that living roofs can store heat-trapping carbon dioxide and prevent it from entering the atmosphere, according to the Lansing State Journal.

The focus of the study that spanned two years was the Detroit metropolitan area, which has between 77 million and 101 million square yards of available rooftop, the story stated.

According to the study, planting green roofs on all available rooftops in Detroit would have the same environmental benefit as removing 10,000 sport utility vehicles (SUVs) from the road or approximately 55,000 tons of carbon.

Twenty plots of plants were placed on MSU's Plant and Soil Sciences Building, and once researchers harvested plant material every other month during growing season, the plants were weighed and their carbon content measured, the story noted.

Kristin Getter, head researcher for the study, said: "This study is the first of its kind. We knew these roofs had benefits, but we didn't know they would be able to store carbon. A traditional roof is not storing any carbon, but a green roof is a brand-new storehouse. We were thinking they probably wouldn't store very much, and it isn't a lot compared to a forest or grassland, but it is more than what a traditional roof would have."

The study's results, which were published in Environmental Science and Technology, found that approximately 13.3 ounces of carbon per square meter was stored throughout the two-year study period, the story added.

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JohnsonDiversey commits to threefold reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

STURTEVANT, WI — JohnsonDiversey Inc. recently announced a commitment to triple its reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the World Wildlife Fund's (WWF) Climate Savers program, according to a press release.

According to the release, JohnsonDiversey's original industry-leading pledge of an 8 percent reduction, which was made in 2008 when it joined the Climate Savers program, is now 25 percent and will be achieved in the originally committed timeframe ending in 2013.

To achieve this substantial increase in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, JohnsonDiversey, the first Climate Savers partner to increase substantially its commitment, will invest an estimated $14 million, facilitating savings of approximately $32 million, the release stated.

JohnsonDiversey will achieve their greenhouse gas emission reduction goal by augmenting operating efficiencies and targeting actions across every aspect of the company — manufacturing, distribution and general commercial operations, the release noted.

WWF President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carter Roberts said: "By tripling their emission reduction goals, JohnsonDiversey is showing business leaders and political decision makers that addressing climate change is also really good business. JohnsonDiversey and our other forward-thinking Climate Savers partners are leading the charge toward a healthier, more sustainable economy."

JohnsonDiversey has joined other Climate Savers members in supporting the "Let the Clean Economy Begin" campaign, which aims to persuade decision-makers at the United Nations Climate Summit in Copenhagen in December to deliver an ambitious, fair and effective agreement to cut global greenhouse gas emissions, the release added.

Aramark employee admits to Social Security fraud

KANSAS CITY, MO — The former food service director for Aramark Services Inc. at the Richard Bolling Federal Building pled guilty to Social Security fraud, according to the Kansas City infoZine.

Christopher Wenell admitted to recruiting Luis Carreon, an illegal alien from Mexico, to work for Aramark between December 9, 2005, and September 25, 2007, knowing that his Social Security card was false, the story stated.

Wenell, who waived his right to a trial by jury, faces a sentence of up to five years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000, the story noted.

According to the story, Carreon was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading guilty to Social Security fraud and identity theft.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of an investigation by the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System, the story added.

Click here to read the complete article.

Ashkin urges support for EPA's DfE program in New York State

ALBANY, NY — The New York State Office of General Services (NYSOGS) is amending its guidelines and criteria for "environmentally-sensitive cleaning and maintenance products" to be used in state schools, state agencies and public authorities, according to a press release.

According to the release, the draft does not accept the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Design for the Environment (DfE) program, which continues to develop important tools to help us solve complex problems like childhood asthma and other health and environmental issues.

Stephen Ashkin, president of The Ashkin Group LLC, is making a personal appeal for those concerned with this issue to send a letter or e-mail to NYSOGS requesting DfE be included in their program no later than Friday, November 20, 2009, the release stated.

Points that Ashkin stresses include: DfE now has a clear and transparent standard and the DfE process is equal and, in some cases, superior to other ecolabels; independent third-parties to do the verification for DfE, eliminating any potential or perceived conflict of interests between the standard setter and the verifier; and DfE now includes very specific product performance requirements that are equal to, if not superior, to other ecolabelling programs, the release noted.

According to Ashkin, the inclusion of DfE would add another compliance path and thus create more competition, which could help reduce the costs for cleaning products for state schools, state agencies and public authorities.

E-mail comments should be sent to: nysogsesu@ogs.state.ny.us.

Written comments can be mailed to:
New York State Office of General Services
Environmental Services Unit
39^th Floor, Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12242

Alternatives to LEED-CI certification

WASHINGTON — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI) is arguably the most widely known certification for building interiors; however, two other certifications exist that address similar attributes: Energy Star and Green Globes, according to Green Buildings.

Energy Star, as offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), examines building energy usage and compares that data to national averages to establish a rating, the story stated.

According to the article, the Energy Star rating complements LEED-CI certification as it examines energy usage, a major component of the LEED-CI process.

Green Globes, originally developed in Canada and adapted for the U.S. in 2004, is similar to LEED-CI in that only points applicable to the specific project are taken into consideration; projects are not penalized for not achieving irrelevant points, the story noted.

According to the story, Green Globes differs from LEED-CI because once a building is constructed, a team of third-party assessors — including architects and engineers — walk the building to ensure it meets certification requirements.

The total cost of Green Globe certification for a 15,000-square-foot office building ends up being about $5,000 more than LEED-CI certification, the story added.

Sarah Gudeman, a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED-AP), said: "People haven't really heard of [Green Globe]. It's no wonder people lean more towards LEED. The two rating systems aren't supposed to be in competition, but I honestly don't see how they would conceivably fit together [like LEED-CI and Energy Star do]. Still, it's good to know what's out there."

Click here to read the complete article.