New “Green” Certification by The Sustainable Performance Institute
The opportunity to be certified as “green” is now being extended to design and construction firms. The Sustainable Performance Institute (SPI) has launched a program that will recognize firms that can deliver on their promises of sustainability. The program has undergone a pilot phase in Boston, and takes the form of yet another credit based system that rewards leadership, project delivery and strategy among other criteria. The cost of certification can range from $2000 - $6000 per office, with an additional charge on a per office location of a few thousand dollars more.
What does this really mean for the green design and building landscape? Probably not much, YET. There are two programs available today, B Corp and Green Plus, that both offer programs for certification of a company based on an assessment of current practices via a questionnaire or survey and some feedback and reporting. Both focus on environmental and social responsibility, with B Corporations having a stronger lean toward triple bottom line performance and corporate governance.
The real problem with these certification programs is adoption, recognition and demand. High profile firms need to get on board with the programs quickly, then a critical mass of firms meeting the criteria needs to be achieved to be recognized as a “standard” and ultimately, “certified” companies must be demanded by the end customers. The timeframe for a widespread roll out, mass adoption and implementation to the point where clients will only engage with a firm that is “Green Firm Certified” is likely years away. But, the intention is good, and the push towards elevating the firms that truly “walk the talk” in sustainability is in the right direction.
More information on the Green Roundtable’s SPI certification can be found by clicking here.
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