Here at Flooringnow, we love to promote Green Flooring. There are many reasons for this, but it seems that some of them are more well-known than others. Oftentimes we will receive questions to the effect of, “What makes it environmentally friendly? What makes a product ‘green’?” While we have already addressed elsewhere what it really means to be green, it remains to be shown that there is a standard that is followed for current new constructions, as well as large-scale renovations. In 1994, plans were put into play that would bring about the forming of a group that would standardize the accepted environmental aspects of a given building. This group, developed and endorsed by members of the USGBA – the United Stated Green Building Association – would come to be known as LEED, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. By 1998, LEED was ready to officially guide the rest of the nation towards green building with the use of a point system to plan and help grade the construction of a proposed project with the end result being an environmental creation that catered to the needs of the planet, in addition to the well-being and prolonged success of our society as a whole. It is this process that began to show developers and builders that while an average 2% more was spent on the materials and labor involved in building a LEED certified structure, the long-term costs were effectively reduced – at times by up to 10%. From the time of its inception until 2008, LEED has participated in over 14,000 projects worldwide, covering over a billion square feet – an admirable feet in its own right. The idea is to use a point system to rate and track the progress of proposed green buildings. Points are earned by following guidelines to various degrees within six general categories. Categories include: · Sustainable sites· Water efficiency· Energy and atmosphere· Materials and resources· Indoor environmental quality· Innovation and design process Depending on the type of flooring you are interested in, it will affect the amount of points you are capable of earning, not based on a restriction policy, but rather on the general characteristics of that floor. For example, Bamboo flooring generally makes two points, with a third if finished with a non-urea adhesive. It is to be understood that at this moment, recycled rubber flooring and cork flooring are the two most accommodating materials to use for flooring, when planned properly. Cork, in certain instances, can be creatively designed to gain a total of six LEED points, quite impressive when 26 points qualifies you for minimum certification. Over 32 points represents the “Silver” bracket of certification, while 39 to 51 points is “Gold” and 52 or higher is “Platinum”. Flooring itself can only contribute to three categories out of six: Materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovative design. However, with a creative and skilled team, a new construction could easily gleam the full possible points out of a cork or bamboo floor.
Pre- and Post- consumer products play a large role in the construction of a new building in regards to earning points. Additional points can be earned according to the percentage of recycled products. For example, your home is $1 million dollars. To earn the first point for post-consumer products, a total of $100,000 would need to account for post-consumer products. To gain the second point, $200,000 is required. However, for pre-consumer products, double the amount is necessary as these types of materials are graded as 50%. Therefore, twice the dollar amount is necessary in pre-consumer products to achieve the same LEED points, $200,000 in pre-consumer products for the first point, and $400,000 for the second. Cork flooring, bamboo flooring, rubber flooring, and FSC certified hardwood flooring can greatly assist with the earning of these points.
The role of flooring in earning LEED certification can be significant, helping to achieve the result of a building that reduces the impact on the environment, as well as saving money in the long run.
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