Some Say LEED Is Lacking

Critics are making their concerns heard about LEED, the green building standards created by the U.S. Green Building Council. Some argue that the standards cater too much to building industry manufacturers. But LEED certification remains highly sought, even amongst critics.

"All this enthusiasm might lead one to believe that LEED standards have been developed based on the latest scientific research, factoring in the life cycles of construction materials and climate variations; that they have been arrived at independently and without compromises with the building industry. But not everyone agrees. Instead, some say, the building council’s 'consensus-based approach' means that it has catered to manufacturers whose products it should have banned, ignored regional idiosyncrasies and set up a point system that makes some of its criteria meaningless."