Material Selection Tool - Pharos

Lack of holistic design is one of the many concerns that I have when it comes to utilizing LEED as a framework for implementing "green design". This problem is mostly based in the building and construction industry's way of evaluating and quantifying success as well as a lack of allowing a broad scope design process to take place. As more and more materials become "green" (itself an entire different conversation) and more varied building systems come only for study the designer, contractor and client are all faced with the question "how green IS green?". Is accumulating enough LEED credits to be granted a plaque truly an example of sustainable design? Can someone rightfully say that they own/operate/design green buildings without third party verification? Who are trustworthy sources for newer materials and building products?

Currently there are a PLETHORA of fun and wonderful websites that deal with green design, active environmentalism, sustainable living, etc etc which can all contribute to becoming well educated citizens, clients and designers. The main problem is that it is not only difficult to organize and catalogue material and technique information but also objectively disseminate said information.

Enter the The Pharos Project. There has been word of this project going live bouncing about the web for some time and it seems that it is finally starting to bear fruit. The Pharos Project is an interactive open forum and "wiki" system that will "guide discussion", create a standard rating system (see included image) that rates products in three categories, Environment and Resources, Health and Pollution and Social and Community. Each category includes a series of sub-categories that are also rated in hopes to simplify the complexity of material selection and comparison. The Pharos Project also hopes to accomplish an industry acceptance of a standardized label.

One of the rather amazing parts of this project is that it calls for a consumer driven rating system and transparency of manufacturers in order for a material/technology to qualify. If this project actually works and maintains its transparency not only could this call for a major boom in the "green" industry as it becomes easier to quantify what is and isn't truly a sustainable product but should drive manufacturers to re-evaluate their system of product creation, development and manufacturing.

As for the usefulness of LEED in today's building environment I believe that is up to the included parties to not design to LEED standards but create buildings that work so well, utilize sustainable principles so successfully and are so well thought out that LEED can be applied as an afterthought.

That's what I think at least. We will see how that works out for me in the up coming months.