Greentech Media

Materials and Resources -- 13 Possible Points, 1 Pre-Requisite

This category encompasses recycling, existing building and material reuse, construction waste, recycled and renewable materials and local resources. Within the building-reuse criteria, a project can achieve several points depending on the percentage of existing building structure and materials that are salvaged for reuse. This is the same scenario for recycled materials, locally available (within a 500-mile radius of the site) and renewable materials. A point is also given specifically for the use of wood certified by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

As part of this category, a point can be acquired by diverting 75 percent of the construction waste from a landfill. Solutions include recycling the packaging and waste materials and/or reusing the packaging and waste materials (i.e. giving once-used pallets to suppliers when they deliver goods).

The prerequisite requires that a site recycling storage and collection plan be created and executed for use by building occupants. The facility must be easily accessible to all occupants.

Indoor Environmental Quality -- 15 Possible Points, 2 Prerequisites

Part of what makes a green building green is the quality of the environment in which occupants will be working or living. The purpose of the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) points is to promote the well-being of building occupants through a quality environment. All LEED-certified buildings are required to have either a no-smoking policy or have designated indoor smoking areas that are properly sealed off from the main building HVAC and ventilated to the outside. The second prerequisite is that a minimum of air quality must be met and maintained. This minimum is determined by the ASHRAE code for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). IEQ also deals with ventilation issues such as constant monitoring of the IAQ and maximizing ventilation.

Points are also given for IAQ throughout all phases of construction. This can be achieved by creating an IAQ plan for construction, using low VOC- (Volatile Organic Compounds-) emitting materials, airing out and ventilating the space before occupancy and installing separate ventilation systems for areas that will have hazardous chemicals in them during occupancy.

Lighting and temperature control are another key aspect of having a high IEQ. LEED gives points for high individual and group controllability of lighting and temperature as well as incorporation of daylight into occupied spaces. Points are awarded for continuous monitoring of thermal comfort during building occupancy.

Innovation in Design and Process -- 5 points available

The final category is designed to provide teams and projects with extra points for exceptional performance above and beyond the standards in place. Additional points can also be awarded for innovative ideas that are not specifically addressed by the LEED Rating System.

One point is awarded for having a LEED AP as a project principal.

LEED recognizes that technology and materials are constantly changing. At any time, projects can submit other innovative solutions that address any of the above credits. These will be evaluated by the USGBC and LEED and points will be thusly awarded.