AAMA Works with Others on Green Building Coalition

The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) has joined 20 other organizations that have an interest in the green building movement to form the North American Coalition on Green Building. According to the association, one of the group's main goals is to educate the construction industry and the public on alternative to the Leadership n Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Green Building Rating System developed by the U.S Green Building Council. The system awards credit points for various building design and construction measures seen as contributing to the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of a building.

"Although the LEED rating system is an idea with merit, the current program is seen by many as disorganized, without basis and lacking in product manufacturer input," said AAMA president Richard Walker, in AAMA's August 2004 newsletter. "It is essentially being adopted because it has been the only green building evaluation systems available at this time."

The new coalition has many goals, one of which is to develop a strategy to oppose a new Senate bill to establish the Office of Sustainable Buildings, which would adopt LEED as its standard methodology.