Posted by Kristy V.
| Posted in
LEED
| Posted on Thursday, January 28, 2010
LEED accreditation is another "buzz" word that is hitting the environmental scene. This is a new trend to promote "Green Building" practices. Here are some basics about LEED and how artificial grass fits into the picture.
What is LEED?
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) provides independent verification that a building project meets stringent, universally understood and accepted criteria for high performance and sustainability.
LEED’s Green Building Rating SystemTM is a nationally accepted benchmark for design, construction and operation of “green” buildings. It recognizes performance in five key areas of human and environmental health:
Sustainable Site Development
Water Savings
Energy Efficiency
Materials Selection
Indoor Environmental Quality
Projects registered with LEED are eligible to accrue credits through the rating system, enabling you to earn valuable tax credits and government incentives.
Here are some examples of how you can earn LEED points:
Water Savings
Description | LEED Point Value |
Water Efficient Landscaping: Reduce by 50% | 1 Point |
Water Efficient Landscaping: No Potable Use or No Irrigation | 1 Point in addition to point from above. |
Water Use Reduction: 20% | 1 Point |
Water use Reduction: 30% | 1 Point in addition to point from above. |
Artificial Grass can contribute up to 4 LEED points for water efficiency alone!
Materials Selection
Description | LEED Point Value |
Recycled Content: Total project must contain 10% (based on cost) recycled content, in a ratio of 2:1 post consumer to post-industrial recycled content. | 1 Point |
Recycled Content: Total project to contain 20% (based on cost) recycled content in a 2:1 ratio of post consumer to post-industrial recycled material. | 1 Point in addition to point from above. |
Regional Materials: 10% of the total materials needed for project must be extracted, harvested or recovered and manufactured with a 500-mile radius. If only a fraction of the material is from the region, that amount by weight contributes to the regional credit value. | 1 Point |
1 additional point available if 20% of project’s total materials meets criteria outlined in above description. | 1 Point |
Rapidly Renewable Materials: 2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products used in the project (based on cost) must come from materials made from plants typically harvested with a 10-year (or shorter ) cycle. | 1 Point |
Some Aritificial Grass components can earn 4 or more LEED points!
Indoor Environmental Quality
Description | LEED Point Value |
Low Emitting Materials: All carpet installed in building interior must meet Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label Plus program testing and requirements. All cushion must also qualify for CRI’s Green Label program, and all adhesives must meet EQ prerequisite standards. | 1 Point |
Additional LEED points are available for Artificial Grass in Indoor Environmental Quality category.
LEED Credit FAQs
Who uses LEED?
Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials.
Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials.
State and local governments have adopted LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings, and there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies (Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy and State). LEED projects are in progress in 41 countries, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.
How can I get my building project LEED-certified?
Register with USGBC (usgbc.org); this will serve as declaration of intent to have a project LEED certified. LEED project teams are required to provide documentation throughout various states of project development.
How are credits “awarded”?
By meeting performance standards set forth in LEED’s rating system. Project teams determine which products are most appropriate for credit achievement.
Do building materials qualify for LEED certification?
No – the project’s total LEED point score determines if it qualifies. Various levels of certification are available, depending on the number of points accrued.
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