Healthy Indoors Magazine
Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/383623
fact that so many iconic buildings in our country like the Empire State Building, the U.S. Treasury Building, the Merchan- dise Mart, the San Francisco Academy of Science, the Clinton Presidential Li- brary are LEED certified gives me such a sense of hope and pride. As far as unfinished business, our mis- sion won't be complete as long as we know that there are millions of buildings in the world today that are guzzling ener- gy and water and laden with toxic chemi- cals that are harming occupants. HI: What is the one biggest thing you would like to see from the green build- ing movement within your lifetime? Fedrizzi: I want to see us get to a place where we're not evaluating buildings on doing less harm when it comes to our environment and our health and our bottom line, but that are actually spaces that are regenerative. Schools are my passion, so that's really the first thing I'd like to see us accomplish in my lifetime. Schools where kids get the best possible chance in life to learn, to be healthy, to connect to nature, and to be successful. HI: How has the USGBC and its LEED standards affected the indoor environ- mental quality of buildings in the U.S. and around the globe? Fedrizzi: LEED has dramatically affected IEQ considerations in the building sector. Before LEED launched in 2000, things like low-VOC paints and toxic-chemical- free cleaning supplies were practically unheard of, but today, they are widely available. Similarly, dynamic ventilation systems that enhance occupant comfort and well-being are the new normal in construction projects. As more and more projects and people have come to ex- perience the benefits of healthier indoor environments that LEED offers, the mar- ket has responded in kind. Through the development and launch of LEED v4, we have made transparency and disclosure a focal point of our efforts as we continue to work toward further market transfor- mation. HI: Are there any new LEED standards in the pipeline related to indoor air & environmental quality? LEED is a dynamic system that is con- stantly evolving as our understanding of building science grows. However, the launch of LEED v4 in November 2013 was the last major update to the system, including those credits related to IEQ. At this time, we are focused on foment- ing market adoption of LEED v4 as it becomes the new normal for the green building industry. Fedrizzi Interview Continued from previous page Healthy Indoors 41