hospitalitystyle.com

(Fall 2010) posted on Thu Nov 18, 2010 EST

…Or at least vigorously debated. Hospitality designers weigh in on the gap between eco-hype and the reality of what it takes to create and execute earth-friendly projects.

By Matthew Hall

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Leave it to Frank Gehry—perhaps the leading “starchitect” of our time—to diss LEED. In an interview earlier this year with the Chicago Tribune, Gehry had this to say about the U.S. Green Building Council's point-based, eco-friendly design specs: “A lot of LEED is given for bogus stuff,” such as the inclusion of on-site bike racks that might never get used.

Not surprisingly, Gehry's comments spawned some serious debate within design circles. Architects and designers around the world are questioning whether LEED, the BRE Environmental Assessment Method and at least a half-dozen other green certification programs are labels that deliver more marketing power than positive environmental impact or whether they should be lauded for moving the industry's green needle—finally.

LEED may be the hot-button issue, but it's not the only factor in the greenwashing discussion. Does going green cost too much? Do green and luxury mix? Is local sourcing always the most eco-friendly route? Here's what the design community has to say.

LEED Is Overrated

Reactions to this statement range from “definitely” to “yes, but” to “not!” Among those questioning LEED's value is Eric Corey Freed, a principal at San Francisco-based organicARCHITECT, who says “LEED is only worthwhile if it will help you market the property involved. Otherwise, I think it's better to spend the money that would go into completing the paperwork on making the building itself more eco-friendly."

Taking a more middle-of-the-road view is Jim Stapleton, an architect and vice president at Cincinnati's FRCH Design Worldwide, who believes that though LEED has been helpful in “raising our awareness of the real issue, which is conservation in all aspects of our building,” it doesn't go far enough. “Imagine if we committed to reducing the size of our buildings, rather than just reducing the amount of energy needed to operate some of the oversized structures that are being built now,” Stapleton says. “There aren't any LEED points given for that, but there should be.”