The Importance of LEED Points
What Are LEED Points?
Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) point system. Formed in 1993 with the goal of transforming the building design and construction industries toward sustainability.
On April 27, 2007 the California Air Resources Board (CARB) voted unanimously to adopt the nation's most stringent regulations on formaldehyde emissions from particleboard and other composite wood products. This decision, likely to improve indoor air quality across the nation, attests to the potential power of the LEED rating system to dramatically accelerate the transformation of the building materials market toward healthier materials.
Seven years ago, the US Green Building Council's LEED rating system began awarding a credit for use of composite wood products with no added urea formaldehyde, setting a high standard and sending a clear signal to the market. The credit helped catalyze market demand for a range of formaldehyde-free products, undermining the standard industry arguments that healthier building materials cost too much and won't be accepted by consumers.
The CARB regulations will be phased in over several years. But if history is any guide, the market demand for healthier materials will beat these deadlines. Although the CARB's jurisdiction is limited to California, the availability of these products should accelerate the pace of change in markets across the US. There is simply no reason now to accept products with added formaldehyde in any green building, or any building for that matter, especially those whose occupants are particularly vulnerable, such as children.
FACT: Buildings represent nearly 40% of our total energy consumption and people spending nearly 90% of our time indoors, efficient and healthy buildings are becoming a major priority.
LEED has four certification levels and a point system to determine qualification for each level:
| Level |
Point Values |
Certified
Silver
Gold
Platinum
|
26-32
33-38
39-51
52-69 |
In evaluating a project, LEED examines six Credit Areas of design and construction practices:
- Sustainable Sites
- Water Efficiency
- Energy
- Materials & Resources (*Document Destruction Industry)
- Construction waste management – points awarded to divert materials to landfill; disposal management; recycling.
- Recycled content – points awarded to use materials with recycled content; need at least 5-10% post consumer recycled content.
- Regional materials – points awarded to use a minimum of 20-50% of building materials and products must be manufactured regionally within a 500 mile radius.
- Rapidly renewable materials – points awarded to use rapidly renewable building materials and products within a 10 year cycle or shorter; 5% of total value.
- Indoor Environmental Quality (*Document Destruction Industry)
- Low emitting materials: adhesives & sealants – points awarded to have when VOC content of adhesives and sealants are low; less than government standards.
- Innovation & Design Process (*Document Destruction Industry)
- Points awarded to develop and implement the use of ‘green design’. Green design involves design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of building on the environment and on occupants.
Interesting Facts:
- HIPAA drafted in California; pioneer for this legislation for the document destruction industry.
- California leads with certain accreditation (tax incentives, grants, etc.)
- In Fall 2008 All Source will introduce a Swap-Out Program – more information will be available at a later date.
- Following the point system and using better, greener products not only credits you but it gives your business a competitive advantage. An increased chance of winning a contract.
Why are LEED Points important to the document destruction industry?
The LEED program affects many industries. A huge target for LEED points is the industry where the construction of wood products is produced. Industries, such as document destruction where wood consoles are used for shredding services, produce wood consoles that are made of chemically-treated particle board and, under strict rules and regulations, those consoles will not earn any LEED credits.
Your customers need to receive those credits. The government will continue to run building evaluations to review your LEED points which are based on air quality, light quality, energy produced & saved, and the products purchased.
Your customers can receive points just based on the fact that you have a formaldehyde-free, 100% recyclable wood office console. If you don’t have a LEDD creditable product, and your competitor does, how will that affect your reputation? Build a competitive advantage and go Green.
|
