Leed Product Certification and Information
SiteScapes thoroughly recognizes the critical
importance of utilizing recycled materials in an
effort to preserve the delicate global ecosystem
and we embrace the opportunity to take part in the
"Green Building" movement. Our commitment
derives from our desire to protect valuable natural
resources, conserve energy, reduce environmental
pollutants, and help diminish landfills. Our greatest
hope is to leave this earth a better place than
we found it and a welcoming home to our children.
1. SiteScapes Product Information
2. What is LEED certification?
3. What are the benefits of
LEED certification?
4. How does LEED work?
5. How does one achieve LEED
certification?
6. Tips for Getting LEED Certified
7. Are SiteScapes products LEED
certified?
8. Helpful Links
SiteScapes Product Information
STEEL: SiteScapes, Inc. purchases its steel
materials from steel mills that primarily utilize
Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) technology. The EAF technology
makes use of post-consumer scrap steel by melting
it down for reuse in new steel materials.
SiteScapes, Inc. products are manufactured of primarily
steel flat bar, steel solid square bar and steel
sheet materials. As you can see from the below data,
our mill vendors report excellent levels of recycled
content in each of these materials allowing SiteScapes,
Inc. to provide environmentally friendly steel products
for use in "Green Building" applications
or LEED programs.
Product Recycled Content
Steel Bar Products 99%
Steel Sheet Products 70%
DUCTILE CAST -Bench Ends: SiteScapes, Inc.
ductile cast iron bench ends are poured with 60%
post-consumer materials and 40% nodular pig iron.
In addition, a small percentage of the make up of
the nodular pig iron (iron ore, coke and limestone)
is also post-consumer resources.
GRAY CAST - Tree Grates: All tree grate base
materials are 100% post-consumer materials. These
materials are derived from the melting of shredded
auto bodies, scrap steel, used engine blocks etc.
No pig iron is utilized in this production process.
WOOD: SiteScapes, Inc. purchases its wood
materia ls from IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for the
Environment and the Renewal of Natural Resources)
registered mills. All wood is certified to provide
the product origin and compliance with all legal
log harvesting policies. In addition, these mills
participate in "Fields to Forests" reforestation
programs. As a result, a tropical tree is replanted
in a certified plantation program for every 500
board feet of lumber supplied.
What is LEED certification?
In the United States and in a number of other countries
around the world, LEED certification is the recognized
standard for measuring building sustainability.
Achieving LEED certification is the best way for
you to demonstrate that your building project is
truly "green."
What are the benefits
of LEED certification?
LEED certification, which includes a rigorous third-party
commissioning process, offers compelling proof to
you, your clients, your peers and the public at
large that you've achieved your environmental goals
and your building is performing as designed. Getting
certified allows you take advantage of a growing
number of state and local government incentives,
and can help boost press interest in your project.
How does LEED work?
LEED is a point based system where projects earn
LEED points for staisfying specific green building
criteria. Within each of the six LEED credit categories,
projects must satisfy particular prerequisites and
earn points. The six categories include Sustainable
Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmosphere,
Materials & Resources, Indoor Enviromental Quality
and Innovation in Design (projects can earn ID points
for green building innovations). The number of points
the project earns determines the level of LEED Certification
the project receives. LEED certification is available
in four progressive levels: Certified, Silver, Gold,
and Platinum.
How does one achieve LEED
certification?
The U.S. Green Building Council's
LEED
website provides tools for building professionals,
including:
- Information on the LEED certification process.
- LEED documents, such as checklists and reference guides. Standards are now available or in development for the following project types:
- New commercial construction and major renovation projects (LEED-NC)
- Existing building operations (LEED-EB)
- Commercial interiors projects (LEED-CI)
- Core and shell projects (LEED-CS)
- Homes (LEED-H)
- Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND)
- A list of LEED-certified projects
- A directory of LEED-accredited professionals
- Information on LEED training workshops
- A calendar of green building industry conferences
Tips for Getting LEED Certified
- Set a clear environmental target. Before you begin the design phase of your project, decide what level of LEED certification you are aiming for and settle on a firm overall budget. Also consider including an optional higher certification target -- a "stretch" goal -- to stimulate creativity.
- Set a clear and adequate budget. Higher levels of LEED certification, such as Platinum, do require additional expenditure and should be budgeted for accordingly
- Stick to your budget and your LEED goal. Throughout out the design and building process, be sure your entire project team is focused on meeting your LEED goal on budget. Maintain the environmental and economic integrity of your project at every turn.
- Engineer for Life Cycle Value As you value-engineer your project, be sure to examine green investments in terms of how they will affect expenses over the entire life of the building. Before you decide to cut a line item, look first at its relationship to other features to see if keeping it will help you achieve money-saving synergies, as well as LEED credits. Many energy-saving features allow for the resizing or elimination of other equipment, or reduce total capital costs by paying for themselves immediately or within a few months of operation. Prior to beginning, set your goals for "life cycle" value-engineering rather than "first cost" value-engineering.
- Hire LEED-accredited professionals. Thousands of architects, consultants, engineers, product marketers, environmentalists and other building industry professionals around the country have a demonstrated knowledge of green building and the LEED rating system and process -- and can assist you in meeting your LEED goal. These professionals can suggest ways to earn LEED credits without extra cost, identify means of offsetting certain expenses with savings in other areas and spot opportunities for synergies in your project.
Are SiteScapes products LEED certified?
No, LEED applies to green building projects. Individual
products can contribute to points under the rating
system; LEED criteria are performance based. In attempting
to meet those requirements, LEED practitoners identify
products that have desired attributes. However, some
LEED criteria do require specific product data as
a part of a succesful submittal.
Links
- U.S. Green Building Council
- World Green Building Council
- Frequently Asked Questions
