Madison, WI, June 15, 2010 – Leonardo Academy, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developer, announced today a call for applications for the Standards Committee that will work to develop the Standard for Sustainable Organizations (LEO-1000).  This committee will develop an ANSI standard that defines what makes a company or organization sustainable and how to measure and document the level of sustainability achieved. The standard will also define the process for third party verification of sustainability achievements.

Michael Arny, President of Leonardo Academy, explained, “Right now, with interest in sustainability exploding in the market place, it is very difficult for investors, companies and organizations, procurement programs, and consumers to evaluate and compare the sustainability of companies and organizations. By providing a third party metric for measuring sustainability achievements, this ANSI standard will make it easier to evaluate and compare the sustainability of organizations. This will generate competition just as the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating System has energized competition among companies and organizations on the relative levels of sustainability of their buildings. By providing clear, practical metrics for sustainability in buildings with third party verification, the LEED rating system has created a massive sustainability building industry. Likewise this sustainable organization standard will provide the language of commerce for the sustainability of companies and organizations.”

Leonardo Academy is seeking standard development committee members that represent four interest categories: (1) Companies and organizations that will follow the standard to make their companies or organizations sustainable; (2) Companies and organizations that will use the standard to specify the level of sustainability they want from the companies and organizations they do business with; (3) Environmentalists; and (4) General interest, which includes government, academia, and others. The first application period will close on July 31, 2010. Application forms are available on the Leonardo Academy website at: www.leonardoacademy.org or upon request.

There are many ways to participate in the Standard for Sustainable Organizations development process:

1. Sign up for the interest group
2. Apply to be a member of the Standard Committee, a subcommittee or to be an observer
3. Sign up to participate in the pilot program for the draft standard
4. Make a charitable donation to support the standard development process (Leonardo Academy is a charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization)

Visit the Leonardo Academy website for more information.

Leonardo Academy Sustainability Standards Development Program
Leonardo Academy is an ANSI-accredited standard developer. Leonardo Academy is developing a suite of ANSI sustainability standards that include:

• Sustainable Organizations (LEO-1000)
• Emission Inventories, Reduction Credits and Offsets (LEO-5000)
• Sustainable Vehicles (LEO-6000)
• Sustainable Events (LEO-7000)
• Sustainable Gaming Standard (LEO-8000)
• Sustainable Agriculture Practice Standard for Food, Fiber and Biofuel Crop Producers and Agricultural Product Handlers and Processors (SCS-001)
• Type III Life-Cycle Impact Profile Declarations for Products, Services and Systems (SCS-002)

About ANSI (www.ansi.org)
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is a private, (501)(c)(3) nonprofit organization that administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization and conformity assessment system. Leonardo Academy is an ANSI-accredited standards developer, and this project will be carried out in accordance with Leonardo Academy’s ANSI approved standard development process. This project has been announced through the ANSI Project Initiation Notification System (PINS).

About Leonardo Academy

Mission Statement
Leonardo Academy is a charitable nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability by leveraging innovative tools and information to motivate the competitive market. By utilizing an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability strategies, education and implementation, we strive to make sustainability practical for everyone.

We develop integrative sustainability solutions designed to enhance the environmental stewardship, social responsibility and economic prosperity of organizations, corporations and individuals. We see a world filled with sustainable opportunities that can transform the way we live today and ensure the prosperity of future generations.

Programs and Services
Leonardo Academy works on a broad range of sustainability issues and provides comprehensive sustainability services to help companies, organizations, families and individuals implement sustainability. Our programs and services include: organizational sustainability assessments and implementation; emissions footprints, reduction strategies and offsets; LEED® assessments, implementation and certification application preparation; sustainable land management; sustainability training; and sustainability standards development.

Please Donate to Support Our Work
Donations to Leonardo Academy are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.

For More Information
Tel: 608-280-0255, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , web: www.leonardoacademy.org

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Contact Information
Barbara McCabe, Sustainability Program Manager
(608) 280-0255
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John Rodgers, Standards Development Manager
(608) 310-3144
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Michael Arny, President
(608) 280-0255
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