Sustainable Choice

http://www.scscertified.com

SCS Sustainable Choice™ certifies that carpets and rugs  qualify for LEED EQ 4.3 for low-emitting carpets. Carpets and rugs earning either the Platinum or Gold level of SCS Sustainable Choice™ also earn EPP (Environmentally Preferable Product) certification.

The Sustainable Choice Brand Certification has the most stringent requirements over any other certification program. For example, carpet products must be designed for maximum life (twice as long as previous industry standards), reduced energy impacts by 50% in manufacturing and distribution and meet the strictest indoor air standards, emissions standards that have been deemed safe for school children and office workers.

The Indoor Advantage™ certification program, developed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), tests and certifies compliance with specific indoor air quality emission requirements. The program is designed for nonflooring products generally used within an enclosed indoor environment including, wall coverings, insulation, systems furniture, seating, casework, and paints. Two levels of certification are offered under the program —Indoor Advantage and Indoor Advantage Gold. Both certifications are based upon the SCS Standard, SCS-EC-10.2-2007 Indoor Air Quality Performance.

Indoor Advantage™ tests and certifies for conformance with four criteria:

• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.5 (furniture and seating)
  
• Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer’s Association Standard for low-emitting office furniture systems and seating (BIFMA X7.1-2006)

Indoor Advantage™ Gold tests and certifies for conformance with the following criteria:

• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.1 (adhesives and sealants) 
  
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.2 (paints and coatings) 
  
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.4 (composite wood and agrifiber products)
  
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.5 (furniture and seating)
  
• BIFMA X7.1-2006 Low-emitting office furniture systems and seating
  
• Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
  
• California 01350 Special Environmental Requirements
  
• California Department of General Service (DGS) "...Indoor Air Quality
  
• (IAQ) Specifications for Open Panel Office Furniture"
  

Indoor Advantage Gold contains the more rigorous requirements of the two -- it is the toughest indoor air quality certification program in the business. We are starting to prod our clients that have products that are Indoor Advantage-certified to try to strengthen their environmental performance and bring it up to the level of SCS Indoor Advantage Gold.