Date
Inquiry

ISO 14001 Certified EMSThe Hillsboro City Hall team would like to submit for an innovation and design credit for employing a general contractor that has undergone ISO 14001 certification. We feel this qualifies as exemplary performance to ID Credit 2.0, for utilizing a LEED Accredited Professional. Below is a description of the evaluation criteria from Baugh/Skanska, our general contractor.Description:The intent of the Innovation and Design Process category is to provide a project the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Green Building Rating System.We request the award of one (1) point for utilizing an ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System during the construction of the Hillsboro City Hall. As described below, the high standards of Baugh Skanska\'s ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management System add additional environmental value to the Hillsboro City Hall project, above the existing USGBC requirements that have been set forth.Skanska USA elected to pursue the challenge of raising the level of environmental awareness and performance at all Skanska USA companies. To accomplish this goal, Baugh Skanska utilizes an Environmental Management System (EMS), which is in compliance with a standard called ISO 14001. ISO 14001 is an international environmental management standard drafted by the International Organization for Standardization. Primarily, the purpose of ISO 14001 is to improve the environmental standards of all businesses, (not only construction), through training, internal auditing, documentation and self-regulation. Skanska has earned the distinction of being the first construction organization in the United States to achieve ISO 14001 certification. Now, every Baugh Skanska jobsite meets the high standards for environmental management systems as defined by the International Organization for Standardization.Environmentally conscious construction practices play an important role in preserving our environment. Companies taking a proactive rather than reactive approach will be better able to address environmental issues during the construction process. All Baugh Skanska project teams comply with a well laid out corporate environmental management framework and are required to develop job-specific environmental management programs. Another critical component of our proactive approach is the emphasis that Baugh Skanska places on training of the EMS. At each jobsite, every employee, including subcontractor employees, receives training on Baugh Skanska\'s EMS and on the environmental issues that pertain to that jobsite. Each employee is required to incorporate environmental standards into daily activities and is encouraged to promote these environmental practices in their homes and communities. Baugh Skanska\'s training approach ensures that the entire project team has the knowledge needed to perform construction activities at the project site with full attention to a safe and sound environment. Skanska makes environmental stewardship part of everyone\'s responsibility. The USGBC Innovation Category requires proposed submittals to be outlined that will demonstrate compliance with the proposed innovation. To demonstrate compliance, Baugh Skanska proposes to submit for review the Baugh Skanska EMS, internal audit reports for the Hillsboro City Hall, external NSF-ISR (the certification body) audit reports and any other requested jobsite EMS records.We believe that this proposal satisfies the intent of the innovation point credit and we respectfully request the award of one (1) innovation point for the utilization of an ISO 14001 certified EMS on the Hillsboro City Hall.

Ruling

The use of ISO 14001 certified management firm for the project may qualify as an innovation credit if the environmental merits are appropriately documented and shown to be above and beyond the current scope of LEED credits. The project should, at a minimum, address the following issues in the application submittal: 1) Describe the ISO 14001 Standards. 2) Describe the implementation process for requiring and ISO 14001 certified firm to oversee the construction of the project. (Was ISO 14001 certification an initial requirement for the award of the project, a significant selection criterion, or was it an unexpected bonus for the project?) 3) Quantify the environmental benefits achieved by the project through the use of and ISO 14001 certified firm as opposed to utilizing a standard non-certified firm. Provide executive summaries of the audit reports mentioned in your proposal. 4) Demonstrate practices that were implemented during the construction of the project that can set a level of achievement for future projects wishing to pursue this credit. 5) Describe environmental benefits that are not already addressed by existing LEED credits such as Erosion and Sedimentation Control, Construction Waste Management, Construction IAQ Management, Building Commissioning, and others. Applicable Internationally.

Internationally Applicable
On
Campus Applicable
Off