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LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a Green Building Rating System developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to encourage the development & implementation of green building practices. Green Building practices promote construction of buildings that reduce our impact on the environment. The benefits include lower energy costs, environmentally effective usage of materials, long-term economic benefits and a healthier, more productive workplace.
There are four areas related to the commercial environment where LEED standards are in place or being developed.
- LEED-NC establishes guidelines to certify new construction projects and major renovations.
- LEED-EB contains standards for renovating existing buildings.
- LEED-CI covers commercial interiors, typically in a multi-tenant situation.
- LEED-CS refers to requirements for core and shell construction.
Each category is evaluated in the areas of Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere, Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and Innovation & Design. These areas are defined somewhat differently within each LEED category. LEED-NC for example pertains to construction of the building up to completion. LEED-EB, CI and CS also contain performance standards for the ongoing operation of the building.
Flooring is impacted under Materials & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality and, in some circumstances, Innovation & Design.
Materials & Resources
- The best known part of M&R is Recycled Content. Today most flooring manufacturers are working to increase the amount of recycled material in their product. Keep in mind that the USGBC is referring to pre-consumer or post-consumer material. If a manufacturer uses the scrap off their production line, that cannot be counted as recycle content. The goal is to reduce the use of virgin material.
- Resource Reuse is applicable if the existing flooring can be restored through cleaning or resurfacing. There are also local sources for salvaged materials.
- Local/Regional Materials refer to material or an assembly point that is within 500 miles of the point of use.
- A Rapidly Renewable material pertains to finishes that are regenerated in a period of ten years or less, such as bamboo.
- Certified Wood refers to material that has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as having come from a responsibly managed forest where harvested trees are replaced and clear-cutting is not used.
- Construction Waste Management can also pertain to flooring, though it is not commonly sought. This credit is weight based, and other construction materials play a much larger role. However, total weight of materials, including packaging and their method of recycling or reuse may be required.
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