Three certification systems passed GSA screening criteria: Green Building Initiative's Green Globes, U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and the International Living Building Challenge.

Washington, D.C. — May 7, 2012:

The General Services Administration (GSA) released its review of the Green Building Certification Systems on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Three certification systems passed GSA screening criteria: Green Building Initiative's Green Globes, U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and the International Living Building Challenge.

Five years ago, only LEED passed the screening process. In its most recent review, GSA determined Green Globes best advanced federal policies in new buildings and recommended LEED for existing buildings. Out of more than 180 green building certification systems, GSA narrowed its consideration to whole building systems with a third party verification process.

The Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing (Center) has been an outspoken advocate of the federal government's use of science and consensus-based green building certification systems. In November 2011, the Center filed comments with GSA recommending the agency approve Green Globes based on the certification system's "more economical approach to building certification and the implementation of a true accredited national standard using the ANSI process."

On Wednesday, May 9th, the Center's president Craig Silvertooth will deliver testimony at a GSA sponsored meeting on the Green Building Certification Systems review in which he will highlight the potential opportunity and challenges involved in the GSA review process. Members of the House Science Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on the agency's review.

GSA oversees the leasing and construction of over 9,600 buildings in the federal building portfolio. The agency is required under the Energy Independence and Security Act to evaluate green building certification systems every five years to ensure the federal government is using the most appropriate programs to promote its own initiatives. A copy of the review is available on the GSA website here.

The Center for Environmental Innovation in Roofing is a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., whose mission is to promote the development and use of environmentally responsible, high performance roof systems and technologies. For more information on the Center, visit www.RoofingCenter.org.