Dr. Todd Shupe, founding Director of the ISO 17025 accredited Wood Durability Lab, has recently earned Green Associate accreditation from LEED. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.

The US Green Building Council administers the accreditation process of individuals seeking to improve their knowledge of green building practices and principles. Shupe plans to use his accreditation in combination with his background in wood framed housing to better serve the local and national residential housing industry. Shupe has frequently served as an expert witness in residential housing tort cases involving framing, wood decay, remedial wood preservation, flooring, insulation, fastener corrosion, sheathing, insulation boards, and decking.

Shupe has vast research and consulting experience with the wood housing supply industry. His background includes lumber design and performance, wood preservation for all building materials (sill plates, structural insulated panels, OSB, and deck boards), spray foam insulation, fastener strength and corrosion, and wood flooring, including manufacturing, installation, and species identification. This experience has assisted Shupe as a sought-after expert witness in numerous housing related cases.  Shupe cooperated with the USDA Forest Products Lab to investigate Moisture Control in Crawl Spaces in Louisiana. This research confirmed several trends that were expected, relating to the effects of summer air-conditioning temperatures and impermeable interior floor finishes. It was found that foil-faced rigid foam board and closed-cell sprayed polyurethane foam insulation performed well, keeping subfloors from accumulating moisture. This work provides a research basis for builders, contractors, homeowners, architects, and building officials to make informed decisions.