© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
An Introduction to Labeling and Certifications
Allison FriedmanRate It [email protected](617) 686-8977
Green Building Product and Service Directory Peer-Review Resource Community Portal
Allison FriedmanFounder, Rate It Green
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Rate It Green (www.rateitgreen.com)
Rate It Green further fuels green building industry growth by providing a vibrant, user-driven green building community and information resource.
Green Building Product & Service DirectoryPeer-Review ResourceCommunity Portal
Core Elements:
Top Goals:
Build the largest green building product/service directoryCreate and lead the green building peer-review segmentLasting Impact on the green building market
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Peer-Review:
• Helping people sift through what’s green, what works, who to trust (like labels!)
• Critical market feedback
• Building Community
Peer-Review: National Fiber as an Example
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Green Building 101 – Resource Guide
A directory of over 900 green building industry information resources. The guide lists trade associations, resources, and tools as well as green building media, forums, resource centers, directories, guides, and more.
Topics: Associations and Organizations Green Building Resource Centers Guides and Guidelines Federal and Other Resources Retailers Design Tools Educational & Training Resources Media Events
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Green Building – Reducing Impact, Increasing Health
Fewer Resources- Materials and Resources- Energy Efficiency- Water Efficiency
More-Natural or ”All Natural”*
Lower Toxicity- Indoor Air Quality
- General Safety
Keep in mind:- All building has some impact.
- Defining all green building terms and values is NOT easy. - Measuring greenness and quality is also NOT easy.
Green Building means designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining buildings with concern for the environment, for the inhabitants of a building, and for the surrounding community.
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Types of Information
Labels and Certifications Laws and Regulations Articles/Media Directories Peer-Review/Testimonials
– Experts– End Users
Associations and Organizations Trade Events Advertisements and Marketing Information
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
The Problem: Too Much Information = Too Little Information
We’re not all scientists, and we can not evaluate each claim.Meanwhile, there is great market pressure on companies to make claims.
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Who to Believe, and Why?
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Definitions
Labels– Verification of a single claim/attribute– Seal/reward for meeting multiple claims/attributes– Promise/declaration of information provided on the label
Certification– Confirmation that information is true– Verification that a specific standard has been met– Often used for multiple attributes
Standards– Requirement that a certain certification be met– Issued by:
– Government Agencies– Industry Associations– Independent Organizations
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Types of Labels and Certifications
Certifier Relationship– First-Party: Claim made by the manufacturer or service provider– Second-Party: Claim made by an interested or partner entity– Third-Party: Independent verification, no vested interest
Type of Label/Representation– Single Attribute– Multiple Attribute– Detailed information on the label itself
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Types of Processes
Voluntary Consensus– Formal, open process– Transparent
Proprietary– Companies or organizations working together– Not generally transparent
Regulatory Specifications– Promulgated by a government agency
De Facto– Common Industry Practice– “Everyone knows”
Note: Level of Public and Outside Expert Involvement Varies
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
Selected Top Product Certifications Third-Party, Consensus-Based, Transparent
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC) EcoLogo Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Green Seal National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) WaterSense (EPA) SMaRT Consensus Sustainable Product Standards
© 2010 Rate It Green, LLC.
GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
Nonprofit, Founded in 2001
ANSI Accredited Standards Developer
Mission: To protect human health and quality of life through programs that reduce chemical exposure and improve indoor air quality.
Certifications
– Building materials– Interior furnishings– Cleaners– Electronics– Children’s products – Mold, moisture and indoor pollutants
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