Article Number : 4530 |
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| Date | 6/2/2009 8:38:27 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=4530 |
| Abstract | WASHINGTON—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has added Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) regional credits as part of LEED 2009, the new version of... |
| Article | WASHINGTON—The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has added Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) regional credits as part of LEED 2009, the new version of the organization’s green building rating system. These new credits encourage that specific regional environmental priorities be addressed when it comes to the design, construction and operations of buildings in different geographic locations. “Because environmental priorities differ among various regions of the country—the challenges in the Southeast differ from those in the Northwest, for example— regionally specific credits give USGBC a way to directly respond to diverse, regionally grounded issues,” said Brendan Owens, vice president of technical development, USGBC. “The inclusion of these regional credits is the council’s first step toward addressing regional environmental issues.” USGBC identified (from among the existing LEED credits) credits addressing six environmental issues within a region. In LEED 2009, projects will be able to earn bonus points for implementing green building strategies addressing the important environmental issues facing a particular region. A project can be awarded as many as four extra LEED points. LEED 2009 is one of the three major components that make up LEED Version 3, the next version of USGBC’s green building certification program, which launched last month. The changes to USGBC’s rating system reflect the rapid advancements in building science and technology, and provides incentives for strategies that have greater positive impacts on energy efficiency and CO2 emissions reductions, among other priorities, Owens noted. Other components of LEED Version 3 include a faster and easier to use LEED Online, the tool for managing the rating system’s registration and certification process, and a new building certification model administered by the Green Building Certification Institute through a network of recognized independent internationally accredited certification bodies. Dave Kitts, vice president of environment for Mannington Mills, commented on LEED 2009 and the new regional emphasis. “It’s essentially well written and good to go. But, I am concerned that some folks are confusing this new regionalization focus with M&R (Materials & Resources) Credit 5.1 and 5.2, which are existing credits called Regional Materials and is focused on buying stuff more locally. The new broader regionalization incentives are different and shouldn’t be confused. Overall, the program really looks good.” To learn more about LEED 2009, visit usgbc.org/leed2009. In other news, the GreenGuard Environmental Institute (GEI) announced all flooring and building insulation products certified to the stringent GreenGuard Children & Schools standard are eligible to earn LEED credits across multiple building rating systems. These approvals increase the availability of LEED qualified sustainable flooring/insulation products. Currently, there are more than 10,000 flooring products certified by GEI including hardwoods, laminates, rubber, stone, ceramic and cushions that can earn credit EQ 4.3. Specific LEED credits for insulation depend on each specific LEED rating system being used. This is not the first time GreenGuard Children & Schools Certification has been accepted by the USGBC’s LEED program. “A variety of GreenGuard Children & Schools Certified products have been accepted since LEED for Schools was started in 2007,” said Mandi Joyner, GEI’s communications manager. “Just recently, the USGBC LEED program recognized GreenGuard Children & Schools Certified flooring and insulation in other LEED programs such as LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED for New Construction/Core and Shell.” For more information, call 678.444.4044. |