On July 1, 2015, the eco-INSTITUT-Label has been recognised by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an officially accepted compliance path for the LEED v4 EQ Credit for Low-Emitting Materials.

“This approval of the eco-INSTITUT-Label further strengthens our support for our clients and makes it much easier for them to submit their eco-INSTITUT certified products for LEED projects,“

states Dr. Frank Kuebart, founder and president of eco-INSTITUT Cologne.

“Manufacturers of low-emitting construction products are now able to create more value and to better position their eco-INSTITUT certified products in the marketplace.“

The approval of eco-INSTITUT-Label by USGBC and its inclusion into the list of LEED-approved certification programs will significantly simplify the LEED certification process.

Architects and project managers working on LEED construction projects only need an eco-INSTITUT certificate for the LEED documentation submittal to earn desired LEED points for low-emitting materials. Manufacturers with eco-INSTITUT certified products are now able to directly sell into LEED projects. This not only applies to projects that follow the current LEED v4 but also to those following the earlier LEED 2009 rating system. The requirements for low-emitting materials in LEED v4 can be substituted for those in LEED 2009 as well.

Since 1998, the LEED rating system (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), has become the world’s leading sustainable building rating programme promoting environmentally friendly, pollutant-controlled, and sustainable buildings. The original requirements of the programme in the area of low-emitting products were based on North American testing standards. In LEED v4, projects outside the U.S. may now use local or regional testing standards such as the German AgBB scheme in addition to the formaldehyde criteria in the French A+ VOC regulation (A+ classified)

More infos on LEED programme