Sustainability in Construction: A LEED Primer Do NOT print hidden slides Presented by Brandon Jones

About Southface Non-profit 501-C3 founded in 1978 Southface retreats have been held at: Gwinnett Environmental Heritage Center – LEED Gold Sweetwater Creek Visitors Center – LEED Platinum Mission: Southface promotes sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance

Key Objectives Who is the USGBC What is LEED Role of the Aggregate Industry in LEED

U N I T E D S T A T E S G R E E N B U I L D I N G C O U N C I L U S G Check for updates

U N I T E D S T A T E S G R E E N B U I L D I N G C O U N C I L Coalition of leaders from across the building industry: 18,403 member companies and organizations 78 chapters and affiliates across the U.S. Promotes buildings that are: Environmentally responsible Profitable Healthy places to live and work Check for updates

USGBC Web Resources www.USGBC.org www.usgbcGA.org www.Greenbuild365.org www.Southface.org

Green Building Rating System LEED or Leeds... LEED Leeds Green Building Rating System Town in Alabama 7

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Site Water Energy Materials IEQ L E E D Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design 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. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. Check for updates

LEED Rating Systems These are the different LEED tools that exist at the moment or are in development. Mention that the LEED letter templates and LEED calculators are tools you can use to demonstrate compliance with the LEED rating system. As not every building can fit into the basic guidelines set by the LEED rating system, addendums are being developed to include those different sectors of the built environment. Here are the basics: LEED for new construction (or major renovation): for building owners and design teams that address the new building design and construction or major renovations process. Also referred to as LEED 2.0 or LEED 2.1 LEED-EB: set of performance standards for the sustainable operation of existing buildings. The LEED-EB criteria cover building operations and systems upgrades in existing buildings where the majority of interior or exterior surfaces remain unchanged. LEED-CI: addresses the specifics of tenant spaces in office, retail, and institutional buildings. LEED-CS: Broadly defined, core and shell construction covers base building elements, such as the structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC, etc.  The CS product recognizes that the division between owner and tenant responsibility for certain elements of the building varies between markets. CS is used for buildings where the owner does not control interior design and fit-out. LEED-H: These are the different LEED programs that exist or are in development: LEED-NC: For building owners and design teams that address the new building design and construction or major renovations process. LEED-EB: Set of performance standards for the sustainable operation of existing buildings. The LEED-EB criteria cover building operations and systems upgrades in existing buildings where the majority of interior or exterior surfaces remain unchanged. LEED-CI: Addresses the specifics of tenant spaces in office, retail, and institutional buildings. LEED-CS: Broadly defined, core and shell construction covers base building elements, such as the structure, envelope and building-level systems, such as central HVAC, etc.  The CS product recognizes that the division between owner and tenant responsibility for certain elements of the building varies between markets. CS is used for buildings where the owner does not control interior design and fit-out. LEED-H: LEED for Homes is a product for single family homes.

Atlanta Community Food Bank, LEED-NC New Construction & Major Renovations Atlanta Community Food Bank, LEED NC Silver LEED-NC Program: 7 Prerequisites: Non-negotiable 32 Core Credits: 64 optional points Innovation Credits: 5 optional bonus points Levels of Certification: Certified 26-32 points Silver 33-38 points Gold 39-51 points Platinum 52-69 points The LEED for New Construction and Major Renovation Rating System works to improve the building process and create high performance, healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound buildings. The program is applicable for commercial, institutional, and high-rise residential buildings. Major renovation is defined as major HVAC renovation, significant envelope modifications, and major interior rehabilitation. There are seven prerequisites and 26 points that must be fulfilled in order to be a part of the program and achieve LEED Certification. A project can achieve more optional points to get a higher Certification, and a higher performance building.

LEED-NC Point Distribution Credit Format Each credit identifies: Intent Requirements Technologies & Strategies Sustainable Sites: 14 pts Water Efficiency: 5 pts Energy & Atmosphere: 17 pts Materials & Resources: 13 pts IEQ: 15 pts Innovation & Design: 5 pts TOTAL: 69 Pts Within LEED New Construction and Major Renovation, energy makes up the most points, though other aspects that create a sustainable building are very important. Understanding the major components of the Rating System and what they encompass is important for passing the test. Each credit has an intent, requirements, technologies and strategies, as well as the submittal documents necessary to achieve points.

Sustainable Sites Develop appropriate sites Use existing infrastructure Preserve natural areas Reduce need for automobiles Protect endangered habitats Restore polluted sites

Water Efficiency In the U.S., about 340 billion gallons of fresh water are withdrawn daily from rivers, streams, & reservoirs Water treatment is municipality’s single biggest energy bill (water savings = energy savings) Power plants consume 3 gallons of water per kWh produced (energy savings = water savings) Explore Innovation points with non-regulated (process) water or exemplary performance Southern States Energy Board 3 gallons / kWh

Energy & Atmosphere 17 possible points Buildings consume ~40% of U.S. energy (70% of electricity) Fossil fuels produce 3/4 of our energy Coal power plants emit more fine particulate material than any other U.S. activity Natural gas (CO2), nuclear energy (radiation), and hydroelectric power (habitat disturbance) all have negative impacts on ecological systems Efficient buildings reduce pollution & cost and enhance comfort 17 possible points

Materials & Resources Construction/Demolition waste makes up 40% of U.S. waste Reuse/Recycling saves production & transportation energy & landfill room Salvaged/Recycled content materials minimize the use of finite, declining resources Rapidly Renewable resources minimize impact of natural resource consumption for manufacturing Do not print hidden slides!

Indoor Environmental Quality Americans spend 90% of their time indoors Inside pollutant levels may be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels 17 million Americans have asthma and 40 million suffer from allergies Better IEQ can improve worker productivity more than 15% 15 possible points

LEED Rating System & Reference Guide LEED Rating System – free, but only minimal detail LEED Reference Guide – explains each credit in detail LEED Reference Guide Version 2.2 Available for purchase Comprehensive Guide to individual Credits/Criteria LEED Rating System Available in a downloadable .pdf file from the USGBC website Contains credit intent, requirements, submittals and technologies/strategies includes the Credit Checklist. The Reference Guide is the detailed “User’s Manual” that explains the LEED credits in sufficient detail, and is available for purchase on the U.S. Green Building Council’s website. The rating system is a condensed version of the guide that is a free downloadable .pdf file from the website which contains a credit checklist, followed by a brief summary for each credit criteria, including intent, requirements, and potential technologies and strategies.

LEED and the Aggregate Industry

REMEMBER: Buildings are Certified…… Products are NOT

Sustainable Sites Credit 6.1 Stormwater Management, Rate & Quantity Decrease stormwater run-off Use permeable concrete OR Pervious hardscape

Sustainable Sites Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof Use light color hardscaping material such as concrete or gravel

Materials and Resources Credit 4.1 and 4.2 Recycled Content, 10% - 20% Use concrete made with substitute materials such as fly ash OR Use asphalt made with recycled asphalt planings, recycled concrete road base, recycled asphalt road base.

Materials and Resources Credit 5.1 and 5.2 Local / Regional Materials Manufactured, Harvested & Extracted Locally 10% - 20% Purchase products that were manufactured, harvested and extracted from within 500 miles of the project.

Additional Information www.USGBC.org or www.Southface.org Brandon Jones bjones@southface.org