Some communications during public discussion left the impression that individual private low VOC programs would like to be referenced in LEED 2012 low-emitting interiors credit, such as UL Greenguard. What their recent pledge really goes for is to expand the number of referenced test methods, including their own UL Greenguard test method.

But if such a change would be made, then US GBC could influence competition between available private labels in several regions. Today draft LEED 2012 does not reference to any private low VOC programs or VOC testing methods. It references to public programs (CDPH, AgBB), and to consensus-based standards (ANSI/BIFMA). If LEED would change that approach then LEED could be urged to reference all of these methods, meaning besides UL Greenguard test method also the methods applied with programs such as ISO 16000, CEN TC 351, GUT, EMICODE, Blue Angel, Austrian ecolabel, EU ecolabel, M1, Indoor Advantage, Indoor Air Comfort, Floor Score, Natureplus, DICL, and more. All or nothing :-)