Masonry Magazine November 2009 Page. 24
GREEN BUILDING & NATURAL STONE
Natural Stone, continued from p.20 made publicly available on the NSC Web site to make transparent the extent and affect of stone industry operations and to support an informed decision regarding stone products. The datasets can be accessed at www.genuinestone.com/env researchandresults.
Beyond LEED, the green building movement has inspired numerous other green building certifications and programs in the United States and abroad. Some of these programs, such as The Living Building Challenge, seek to inspire builders, owners, architects, engineers and design professionals to build environmentally sound and self-sustaining buildings - buildings that actually "give back" to the ecosystem in which they are built. Developed in 2005 by the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, the Living Building Challenge promotes "no credits, only prerequisites," meaning buildings must meet requirements such as generating all of its own energy with renewable resources, capturing and treating all of its water on site, and using resources efficiently and for maximum beauty. The program is comprised of six performance areas, or "petals," including site, energy, water, materials, indoor quality, and beauty and inspiration. Each petal includes prerequisites that must be met in order to achieve that specific performance area designation.
Finally, the NSC is coordinating international discourse around the development of a green certification program for natural stone products. The certification is projected to address environmental topics, in addition to social and economic aspects of industry operations. We have been referencing the Forest Stewardship Council's work on a "Chain of Custody" certification program to inform our thinking. We anticipate sharing more information on this effort in 2010.
Masonry: What is most important for stonemasons to know about natural stone and sustainability?
Mattke: We hope that they understand and appreciate the stone industry's overarching goal of positioning stone as not only a green building material, but also the preferable green building material. The NSC would also encourage masons to implement some of the best practices we've identified and use green materials.
Masonry: How can masons get involved and partner with the stone industry with regard to sustainability?
Mattke: You are already a part of the stone industry community, given the nature of your business. By joining the NSC, you would be on the front lines of the industry's sustainability effort and be able to leverage an established network of like-minded people. The natural stone industry is building for the future, and we would certainly welcome your involvement.
John Mattke is co-chairman of the Natural Stone Council. He may be reached at jmattke@coidspringgranite.com. For more information, visit www.GenuineStone.org or contact Duke Pointer, executive director of the NSC, dukepointer@aol.com or 603-465-2616.