Article Number : 5525 |
|
Article Detail |
|
 | |
| Date | 4/23/2010 9:07:25 AM |
| Written By | LGM & Associates Technical Flooring Services |
| View this article at: | //floorbiz.com/BizResources/NPViewArticle.asp?ArticleID=5525 |
| Abstract | By Ken Ryan When consumers choose environmentally friendly products for their homes, items like CFL light bulbs, windows, programmable thermostats, insulation, even showerheads often rank ahead of carpets and linoleum. But flooring is contributing to green home building and... |
| Article | By Ken Ryan When consumers choose environmentally friendly products for their homes, items like CFL light bulbs, windows, programmable thermostats, insulation, even showerheads often rank ahead of carpets and linoleum. But flooring is contributing to green home building and earning LEED points in a few ways. While only buildings (not floors) can be LEED certified, flooring contributes in three LEED categories: Materials and Resources, Indoor Air Quality and Innovation and Design Process. Chris Moline, LEED expert and residential group manager at Commercial Carpets of America, said there has been a considerable amount of confusion for retailers regarding the U.S. Green Building Council and the LEED rating system. “It’s tough to dig through, much less convey to someone else,” he said. “In my field, I’ve even heard of some claims that a certain type of flooring is worth a certain amount of LEED points. This is, in a nutshell, a bunch of hooey. I say this because of the complex nature of how points are awarded that makes it impossible that one product is worth a certain amount of points in and of itself.” LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. As a LEED-accredited flooring expert, Moline recommends product choices that contribute to earning LEED points such as: 1. Specifying green label or green label products, such as carpet and carpet backing made primarily from recycled content. 2. Specifying natural products, like linoleum, which is a natural wood-based product. 3. Using green-friendly installation techniques, such as green label adhesives that emit low VOCs. 4. Recommending energy-efficient solutions like raised access flooring and underfloor HVAC systems, which reduce energy consumption. LEED PROGRAMS LEED-NC and LEED-CI are two programs where flooring can play a role in earning LEED points. LEED-NC performance criteria apply to commercial and institutional buildings that are either new or undergoing major renovations. LEED-CI is a newer program designed to address the specifics of tenant spaces primarily in office and institutional buildings. LEED-NC version 2.2 includes updates to recycled content, new requirements on what constitutes regional materials, and an enhanced standard on low-emitting materials/carpet systems. IEQ CREDIT 4.3 This indoor air quality credit covers low-emitting flooring systems. To qualify, a product must comply with the California Special Environmental Requirements Specification 01350 for VOC emissions or be FloorScore-certified. IEQ CREDIT 4.4 The indoor air quality credit covers low-emitting materials — composite wood and agrifiber products. In order to qualify for IEQ Credit 4.4, these products must contain no added urea formaldehyde. Currently, this credit provides acceptable levels of formaldehyde emissions but also qualifies product as to type of formaldehyde. MR CREDITS 4.1 & 4.2 The Materials & Resources credit covers recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre- consumer content constitutes at least 10% of the total value of the materials in the project. Post consumer is defined as waste material generated by end users of a product, either households or commercial facilities, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose. Pre-consumer is defined as material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. MR 4.2 awards another credit for 20%. MR CREDITS 5.1 & 5.2 The Materials & Resources credit covers regional materials, 10% extracted, processed and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% percent of the total material value. The idea is to reduce the environmental impact resulting from transportation. MR 5.2 awards another credit for 20%. MR CREDIT 6.0 The Materials & Resources credit covers rapidly renewable materials. Using rapidly renewable materials (made from plants that are typically harvested within a 10-year cycle or shorter) reduces the depletion of raw materials. Under LEEDNC, one point may be obtained if 2.5% of the total value of all building materials is rapidly renewable. Examples include cork, linoleum and bamboo. Under LEEDCI the minimum value is 5%. MR CREDIT 7.0 The Materials & Resources credit is earned if a minimum 50% of wood-based materials is certified in accordance with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) guidelines, which encourage responsible forest management. |