Generally we have found it difficult to introduce LEED as its new but specifically the Low VOC materials, paints, sealants and adhesives are not easily availble in China (we couldn't find them) as the locally produced products do not test VOC content. They may in fact be low VOC but VOC content is just not tested as its not a China local requirement.
We have had to drop the low VOC paints, sealants and adhesives during construction for our projects in China as they have not been locally available unless imported from places like Hong Kong even by the same well known brands that do the testing outside China. If anyone has found low VOC products that have appropriate testing availble in China please post them here. I've started to doubt if the certified LEED projects in China have really used low VOC paints for example...
Jean Marais
b.i.g. Bechtold DesignBuilder Expert832 thumbs up
September 7, 2010 - 2:26 am
I cringe when I read this. Transporting lumber and paints thousands of miles simply can't be good for the environment. We all know this is an issue. Wood certification is still hot topic at USGBC (with hopefully a usable outcome soon). As for low emitting materials, filter efficiencies, equipment efficiencies, etc. I seriously suggest the USGBC think about taking the efficiency standards of some large widely known countries other than the USA (Like China, Germany, Russia) and setting a usable benchmark using these standards so that international projects can certifiy using an alternative efficiency standard. This be applied where it safely can be applied. Common chaps, filter efficiency for example can be specified only so many ways! Just get something on the board to play with now...you can always refine it later.
What we need is some sort of matrix...official matrix, of acceptable alternative codes and benchmarks. You're not going to loose credibility if you make the benchmark a bit too high innitially and refine it later, but for international projects it's easier to over spec something locally than to import it from miles away.