The law forbids state building projects to pursue points for material transparency and optimization in LEED v4.
The West Quad at the University of South Carolina was one of the first LEED-certified residence halls in the world. But new state-funded buildings like these will not be permitted to pursue LEED points for a new credit regarding hazardous substances in building products.
Photo is in the public domain. Spurred by the chemical industry, the State of Ohio in February moved to effectively ban LEED v4 for state projects. This month, the State of South Carolina took a narrower path toward the same goal by banning a specific LEED v4 credit (MRc4) that encourages manufacturers to disclose or eliminate hazardous chemicals used in their products.
The law (H3592), which took effect when Governor Nikki Haley signed it April 7, 2014, states that South Carolina building projects will “not be allowed” to pursue points from the “building product disclosure and optimization credit that requires material ingredient reporting.” The law closely resembles a 2013 measure (S635) in the state banning projects from earning LEED points for certified wood.
South Carolina has required all major state-funded construction projects to achieve LEED Silver or two Green Globes since 2007 and has further requirements that a minimum percentage of points must be earned from energy performance credits.
Melton, P. (2014, May 5). South Carolina Ban Rejects LEED v4 Materials Credit. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/south-carolina-ban-rejects-leed-v4-materials-credit
I received this statement by the South Carolina Chapter of USGBC via email.
"South Carolina remains committed to LEED as a critical part of our future. USGBC-South Carolina Chapter is proud of the coalition of organizations, businesses, and lawmakers who were successful in overcoming powerful special interests to bar the use of the world's most popular green building certification program," Michael Criss, chair of the USGBC South Carolina Chapter's advocacy committee said in response the law. "However, H.3592/Act 150 continues efforts by the vested interests of the timber and chemical lobbies to weaken the use of LEED. Instead, South Carolina should be expanding the many benefits of green building, and LEED in particular, to schools and other State-funded buildings that will save taxpayer money and improve occupant health."
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