LEED & Green Materials

The Green Roundtable

Green Materials

and

The Green Roundtable is a Registered Provider with The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems. Credit earned on completion of this program will be reported to CES Records for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for non-AIA members are available on request.

This program is registered with the AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product. Questions related to specific materials, methods, and services will be addressed at the conclusion of this presentation.

AIA/CES

The Green Roundtable(copyright © Green Roundtable 2007)

Learning Objectives

- What makes a material green

- What are some of the tools we can use to pick green materials

- What other factors must be considered besides ‘greenness’

- Where are the suppliers

Answer the following questions:- What is the imperative for ‘doing green’

- What are LEED’s requirements for materials


4

Why do green….


Up until now, we haven't designed and built our environment in a manner that sustains itself - that is aware of the far reaching consequences of our actions and decisions.

Because we haven’t been considering the whole system. Green Building seeks to address these issues in a comprehensive way, looking at the bigger picture.

Not A Pretty Picture


What Do We Get From What We Build?WHAT BUILDINGS USE:35 to 40% of total primary energy use in U.S.65.2% of total US electricity consumption30% of the US wood & other raw materials (3 billion tons /year)12% of potable water in US

WHAT BUILDINGS CREATE: 35-38% to US air pollution 40% to US Co2 release32 to 40% to the US municipal solid waste stream (136 million tons of C&D waste in US = ~2.8 lbs per person/ day)

Estimate by the US Green Building Council


Environmental Impacts of Buildings

INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)• Over 30% of buildings have poor indoor air quality,• Often the air inside the average home is 10 times more polluted than

the outside air on the smoggiest of days,• We spend 90% of our time indoors.

Marc Richmond


Considering Multiple Attributes


Green Product Selection OFTEN CONFLICTING PRIORITIESFEW SOLUTIONS ARE PERFECT…YET


New Perspective

How much does it cost?What is the quality?How long is the lead time?How does it function?

What does it look like?

What is it made from?How is it made?Where is it manufactured?How is it disposed of after

its useful life?How does it function?Does it off-gas?


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A Solution:Building Green


Embodied Energy•Initial & Recurring

Materials Efficiency•Reuse & recycle, dimensional planning•Material management

Resource Efficiency•Recycled content•Sourced locally

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)•During construction•Initial occupancy and over time

Affordability•Material & Installation cost•Cost of alternatives

Overview of Criteria for Selection


The quantity of energy required to manufacture, andsupply to the point of use including:

• Extraction • Transportation• Manufacturing

• Assembly • Installation• Some definitions also include:

Disassembly & Removal

What is Embodied Energy?


How Does Embodied Energy Compare With Annual Operating Energy?

Embodied Energy

http://www.cmmt.csiro.au/brochures/tech/embodied/index.cfm

For a typical office building:embodied energy = 10 to 30times the annual operating energy


Recycled Content: Products with identifiable recycled content, including post-industrial content with a preference for post-consumer content.

Natural, plentiful or renewable: harvested from sustainably managed sources and are certified by an independent third party.

Resource efficient manufacturing process: including reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste (recycled, recyclable and or source reduced product packaging), and reducing greenhouse gases.

Locally available: found locally or regionally saving energy and resources in transportation to the project site.

Salvaged, refurbished, or remanufactured: saving a material from disposal and renovating, repairing, restoring, or generally improving the appearance, performance, quality, functionality, or value of a product.

Reusable or recyclable: Select materials that can be easily dismantled and reused or recycled at the end of their useful life.

Recycled or recyclable product packaging:

Durable: longer lasting or are comparable to conventional products with long life expectancies.

Resource Efficiency


Material generated by end-users of the product

Post-Consumer vs. Pre-Consumer(Post-industrial) material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Excluded are materials capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.

Recycled Content


Low or non-toxic: emit few or no carcinogens, reproductive toxicants, or irritants as demonstrated through appropriate testing.

Minimal chemical emissions: minimal emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Products that also maximize resource and energy efficiency while reducing chemical emissions.

Low-VOC assembly: Materials installed with minimal VOC-producing compounds, or no-VOC mechanical attachment methods and minimal hazards.

Moisture resistant: and inhibit the growth of biological contaminants in buildings.

Healthfully maintained: require only simple, non-toxic, or low-VOC methods of cleaning.

Systems or equipment: promote healthy IAQ by identifying indoor air pollutants or enhancing the air quality.

Indoor Air Quality


A New Paradigm:

The Cradle-to-Cradle LifecycleSee McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry

http://www.mbdc.com/c2c_home.htm


Materialsextraction/harvesting

Mfg/Processing End Use Disposal

Cradle to Grave: Linear flow


Cradle to Cradle: Cyclical

End Use

Demolition/Removal/Collection

Re-Manufacture/Re-Processing


LEED

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design,LEED (not LEEDs)


Water Efficiency

Sustainable Sites

Energy & Atmosphere

Materials & Resources

Indoor Environmental Quality

Innovation & Design Process

The LEED Credit Categories


LEED Credits Impacted by Material Selection

Site Credit 7- Heat Island Effect (2 Points)

Water Efficiency Credit 3- Water Use Reduction (2 Points)

Energy & Atmosphere Energy Credit 2- Renewable Energy (1-3 Points)

Energy & Atmosphere Energy Credit 1- Optimize Energy Performance (1-10 Points)

Materials & Resources Credits 1-7 – Next Slide (13 points)

IEQ Credit 1- Permanent CO2 monitoring system (1 point)

IEQ Credit 4 -Low-emitting materials (4 Points)

IEQ Credit 5- Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control (1 Point)

IEQ Credit 6- Controllability of Systems (2 Points)

IEQ Credit 7 -Thermal Comfort (1 Point)

Depending on specifics of the project > 25 credits can be impacted by material and product selection. (This is almost at or above LEED certification status)


LEED Credits - Materials & Resources 13 points

MR C 3.1 Materials Reuse, Specify 5% 1MR C 3.2 Materials Reuse, Specify 10% 1MR C 4.1 Recycled Content, Specify 10% (post consumer + ½ post industrial) 1MR C 4.2 Recycled Content, Specify 20% (post consumer + ½ post industrial) 1MR C 5.1 Regional Materials, 10% Extracted, Processed, & Manufactured

Regionally1

MR C 5.2 Regional Materials, 20% Extracted, Processed, & Manufactured Regionally

1

MR C 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials 1MR C 7 Certified Wood 1

MR Pr 1 Storage and Collection of Recyclables Req

MR C 1.1 Bldg Reuse, Maintain 75% of Existing Shell 1MR C 1.2 Bldg Reuse, Maintain 95% of Shell 1MR C 1.3 Bldg Reuse, Maintain 95% of Shell and 50% Interior Non-Structural 1MR C 2.1 Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% 1MR C 2.2 Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% 1


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Choosing Green Materials


57

• Identify ‘best in class’ product characteristics

• Identify your most important selection criteria

• Compare products side-by-side

• Don’t forget to factor in performance & durability characteristics

General Methodology:

• Get additional guidance from suppliers

• Define what makes a product green

• Verify green claims using 3rd party resources


Some Things We May Want To Write Off:

• Vinyl-based products

• Products containing halogenated fire-retardants

• Products containing heavy metals and arsenic

• Products that emit excessive amounts of formaldehyde

• Appliances that contain HCFC’s and do not meet the standards referenced by LEED


BEWARE OF…

G R E E N W A S H I N G


3rd Party Resources for Judging Products

• Certification organizations (GreenSeal, FSC, etc.)

• LCA software tools (BEES, PHAROS, etc.)

• Online green product databases (e.g. GreenSpec)

• Manufacturer Material Safety Data Sheets

• Other online databases like NIH hazardous materials database


Online Resources

• Environmental Building News/ Greenspec-http://www.buildinggreen.com)


Product Certification

• Scientific Certification Systems (www.scscertified.com)

• Green Label (http://www.carpet-rug.org/) (2nd party)

• GreenSeal (www.greenseal.org)

• GreenGuard (www.greenguard.org)

• Forest Stewardship Council (http://www.fscus.org/)

• Cradle-to-Cradle


Considerations for Choosing & Using Best-in-Class

(a brief sampling)


Concrete

• At least 3-5% fly ash, recycled content and regional

•Consult structural engineer for specific amount, can be as high as 40%

• Components are regionally extracted: sand, water, aggregate, fly ash

• Recycled and regional aggregate

• Represents a large percentage of construction budget


Steel

• Can easily have over 90% recycled content, mostly post-consumer

• Select a local manufacturer who gets their scrap from a local recycling facility

• LEED default assumptions: 25% post-consumer recycled content

• Represents a large percentage of construction budget


Gypsum

• Can easily have over 90% post-industrial recycled content

• Regional facilities with products containing recycled content:

•National Gypsum - Shippingport, PA

•USG – Aliquippa, PA and Gypsum, OH

• Synthetic Gypsum is made using waste from coal plants


Synthetic (FGD) Gypsum

Synthetic Gypsum


Glazing

• Hard to find regional products in the northeast

• Recycled content in glazing is hard to find

• Look for recycled content in framing

• PPG Industries Solarban has post-industrial recycled content and Cradle-to-Cradle certification

• Use appropriate Tvis and U-values for location and design

• Avoid vinyl framing


Furniture

• GreenGaurd certification• Cradle-to-Cradle certification

• Recycled content

• Regional materials

• Recyclable at the end of their useful life

• Low emitting materials

• The market for nice reused furniture is growing

• Rapidly Renewable material


Acoustical Ceiling Tile

• Recycled content• Regional materials• Low emitting materials

Products:• USG• Armstrong

• Ultima HRC, Optima, Cirrus Profile• Recycled content and reclamation program• Steel and Aluminum suspension systems w/ recycled content

• Rapidly Renewable material

• Recyclable at the end of their useful life


Lumber

• Forest Stewardship Council, FSC wood (www.fsc.org)• Sourced or salvaged locally• Naturally decay-resistant:

Ipe – naturally fire resistant, strong, dense hardwood, doesn’t need to be sealed

• Use advanced framing to minimize lumber use; use efficient planning to minimize waste

• Avoid use of tropical hardwoods

• Use natural finishes like salad bowl oil (unscented), mineral oil, beeswax (waxes may contain petroleum distillates)

• Use low-VOC clear finishes (e.g. water-soluble polyurethane) from companies like AFM Safecoat


Engineered lumber/ composites(sheet goods, plywood)

• Made w/ low-VOC, formaldehyde-free adhesives

• Recycled or rapidly renewable fibers (FSC, GreanSeal, SCS, etc.)

• Moisture & mold resistant• Use exterior grades of plywood or MDF (medium-density fiberboard); they contain phenol-formaldehyde binders rather than formaldehyde-based resin binders, which are generally safer; favor plywood over OSB

• Look for SCS and FSC certification


Paints

• Low or no VOC; low odor• Good coverage (minimal coats)

• Do not pose a disposal hazard

• Easy touch-up (e.g. good color matching w/ old vs. new)


Paints

• Brands:- Sherwin-Williams Harmony- Benjamin Moore Aura (& Ecospec)- Pittsburg Pure Performance- AFM Safecoat (www.afmsafecoat.com)- The Old Fashioned Milk Paint Company (www.milkpaint.com)- Livos plant paints (http://www.floorings.com/livos.html)- Yolo Colorhouse (See bettencourtwood.com)

• Make sure paints are Green Seal or Scientific Certification Systems certified (www.greenseal.org; www.scscertified.com)


Adhesives/ Sealants

• Low or no VOC

• Easy clean-up

• Freeze-tolerant

• UV resistant

• Flexible (or not, depending upon application!)

• Do not pose a disposal hazard

• Water-soluble varieties generally safer

• Look for Green Seal or Scientific Certification Systems certified (www.greenseal.org; www.scscertified.com)


Carpeting and Flooring

• Formaldehyde-free

• Rapidly renewable – cork, natural rubber, bamboo, marmoleum (natural linoleum, Forbo)

• Simplified installation (e.g. doesn’t require adhesive)

• Requires minimal maintenance (cleaning, refinishing)

• Easy sectional replacement (e.g. carpet tiles)

• PVC free

• Recycled materials – rubber, carpet

• Look for Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label designation for carpets (http://www.carpet-rug.org/)


Insulation

• Formaldehyde free (e.g. binders in fiberglass batts)

• HCFC-free blowing agents (foam board)

• High recycled content (fiberglass, cellulose, denim)

• High thermal insulating characteristics! Good resistance to air infiltration (these may trump other factors if it can reduce embodied energy of structure enough)

• Moisture/ mold resistant

• Low flame-spread/ non-combustible


Insulation

• Look for formaldehyde-free fiberglass products- e.g. Johns Mansville (contained in some fiberglass batt binders)

• Newer soy-based foams may be good choice too (see www.biobased.net)

• Icynene spray foam one of more benign options

• Denim insulation, a rapidly renewable material (Bonded Logic, Ultra Touch)


Counters

• Rapidly renewable or recycled materials

• Mechanically fastened and don’t require finishing

• Minimal off-gassing from adhesives/ binders

• Cradle-to-Cradle certification (Icestone)

• Natural stone & recycled glass might be good options

• Avoid laminated particleboard (e.g. Formica) unless on formaldehyde-free substrate & bonded with low-VOC contact adhesive• Formaldehyde-free substrates: Wheatboard, Agriboard (see Bettencourtwood.com)


Roofing

• Made from rapidly renewable or recycled materials

• High-reflectance (improves longevity, minimizes heat island effect, keeps building cooler in summer)

• Green Roof

• Recycled materials, like faux slate shingles made from recycled rubber

• Metal roofs (like standing seam) may be sustainable due to their durability, but they may have a high embodied energy


Some roofing options

• Ecostar- www.ecostarinc.com

• Interlock- www.interlockroofing.com

• Authentic Roof- www.authentic-roof.com

• Naturals- www.naturalsroofing.com

• Note: Some of these given high marks based on durability more so than recycled content


Additional guidelines for material efficiency

• Employ advanced framing techniques in wood-framed structures

• Keep it small

• Use structure as finish

• Use re-used/ salvaged/ surplus materials whenever possible

• Use locally harvested/ extracted materials whenever possible


Some Pitfalls in Spec’ing Green Materials

• Uninformed & resistant code and municipal officials

• Products that ‘go away’

• Sourcing materials in a developing market

• Spec materials in Division 1, and product specific division


GRT: www.greenroundtable.orgBuilding Green: www.buildinggreen.comEnergy Star: www.energystar.govCharles River Watershed: www.crwa.orgUS Green Building Council: www.usgbc.orgRenewable Energy: www.nrel.govUS DOE: www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/EPA: www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

Residential Green Building Guide:A Web Source Book for New Englandwww.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings

NAHB: Model Green Home Building Guidelines: www.nahb.org

General Resources

http://www.greenroundtable.org/�

http://www.buildinggreen.com/�

http://www.energystar.gov/�

http://www.crwa.org/�

http://www.usgbc.org/�

http://www.nrel.gov/�

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/�

http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings�

http://www.epa.gov/ne/greenbuildings�

http://www.nahb.org/�


Alternative Energy Storewww.altenergystore.com

Boston Building Materials Coopwww.bbmc.com

Boston Materials Resource Centerwww.bostonbmrc.org

Boston ReStorewww.bostonrestore.org

Green Depotwww.greendepot.com

Local Sources of Supply

http://www.altenergystore.com/�

http://www.bbmc.com/�

http://www.bostonbmrc.org/�

http://www.bostonrestore.org/�

http://www.greendepot.com/�


Pure Home Centerwww.purehomecenter.com

Green Source Supply and Designwww.greensourcesupply.com

NE Green Buildingwww.NEgreen.com

Local sources of supply, cont.

http://www.purehomecenter.com/�

http://www.greensourcesupply.com/�

http://www.negreen.com/�


• Upcoming workshops • Reference library• Samples library – Nutrition Labels• Cyber Lounge• Online resources at nexusboston.com (in the

pipeline)• Local green building community

And Don’t Forget About NEXUS!



Questions?

This concludes The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education Systems Program

Thank You

The Green Roundtable 617-374-3740www.greenroundtable.org [email protected]

LEED & Green Materials

Documents

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recycled content

energy amp

green seal

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