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Article: New credit in LEED green building standard could lead to increased risk of infection in hospitals and higher costs while providing no environmental benefit.
- Article from:
- PR Newswire
- Article date:
- November 9, 2009
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2009 PR Newswire Association LLC. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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VANCOUVER, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- A new LEED pilot credit announced by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) encourages builders, architects and designers to shift from affordable, versatile and safe halogenated materials, including chlorine-based vinyl products, to unproven and more costly alternatives.
"This approach could lead to higher risk of infection in hospitals and increased health care costs while providing no environmental benefit," said Greenpeace co-founder and Greenspirit Strategies Ltd. Chairman Dr. Patrick Moore. "Nearly two million people contract infections each year in hospitals, and almost 100,000 people die as a result," Moore said. ...