What is “green washing” and how can I avoid being labeled as such?
“Green washing” is a term used not only in green building circles, but anytime someone is presenting something as “green” when in fact it is not. For example, just because someone claims to be a “green” builder because he/she says so, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true. There are a few ways to ensure that your green building program is recognized as green. First, it’s important to use or reference established green rating systems that are accepted by the industry as being green. While there are two green building standards currently being developed through the ANSI and ASHRAE standard development process, many of the mainstream green building rating systems, such as LEED®, offer credible means to verify that buildings are truly green. Third party verification is one means of confirming that projects in your program are green.
