Coatings World: When did Benjamin Moore get involved with the Green Building movement and LEED?

Kouassi: We started updating our technical data sheets to include LEED references around 2008, however, we had developed green products years before that including a product called Pristine which later became Eco Spec.

CW: What are the benefits of LEED certification?

Kouassi: The majority of our interior products qualify for LEED credit, and they can be used towards the LEED certification of buildings (since only buildings get LEED certified). We also reference LEED attributes and satisfaction of certain green performance standards to demonstrate that our products are both durable and environmentally responsible. We are convinced that we make great products, and a lot of those great products qualify for LEED credit(s).

CW: What specific products and services does Benjamin Moore offer to meet LEED standards?

Kouassi: Our interior Gennex tinted products such as Aura, Natura, Regal Select, ben, Eco Spec and Ultra Spec meet various LEED standards including emission certification requirements (e.g. LEED v4 Credit, CPDH v1, CHPS, VOC). Red-list free Declare labels and, Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) are also available for select exterior paints, plus we can issue Health Product Declarations (HPDs) upon request for virtually any of our products. Note that these are just examples, and not all standards listed are applicable to each product; we have a LEED brochure that details which product(s) qualify for most of the various LEED standard(s).

CW: What are the challenges in working with these types of products?

Kouassi: No particular challenge in working with products that meet LEED or other environmental performance standards in general since these are our main product lines and have been engineered to offer uncompromised performance while satisfying stringent standards.

CW:  As Green Building continues to gain momentum, where does Benjamin Moore see its place in the sustainable building materials movement?

Kouassi: At the forefront as always.

CW: What is Benjamin Moore’s strategy for keeping up to date on the latest regulations and trends?

Kouassi: To be at the forefront in that we do our best to anticipate or meet the latest regulations and green trends while emphasizing product performance and end-user satisfaction.