Editor’s Note : This Viewpoint piece was written in response to the article ‘Green Building with Plastics’ by Marion Axmith, Director General of the Canadian Plastics Industry Association, that appeared in the Nov/Dec 08, Issue 14 of SABMag.

PVC use is increasing in spite of the toxic by-products of the manufacturing process

by Tracey Loston

The case made by the plastics industry on behalf of PVC is full of misleading facts and figures that misrepresent or underplay the case against one of the most toxic building materials in use today. In addition, the plastics industry implies a connection between the use of their products and the acquisition of LEED points. No one product can give a project a point, and to imply that putting PVC in your building can “make a significant contribution” to your LEED scorecard is ludicrous. (more…)

New rating systems will change our ways

Green roof of the Burnside Gorge community Centre controls stormwater runoff as part of a landscaping strategy that contributes points to LEED Gold certification.

We think of the landscape as green by default. In reality, it is challenging to achieve this goal in urban areas where requirements are imposed by market expectations, municipal requirements, and a range of other factors.
At the same time, green building rating systems are beginning to demonstrate their power to transform both the market and the regulatory context, and are offering opportunities for landscape architects, engineers, and other designers to apply a variety of new approaches to site development. (more…)