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Easy credit, but might take some time
The large and thriving market for reused furniture makes this credit an easy one to achieve—and you can often find items that are as good as new. It can be a bit more time-consuming to search for furnishings that are appropriate for your project, and to ensure that what you find is durable enough.
If your project involves moving existing tenants from one location to a new commercial interior fit out, the easiest way to obtain this credit is to reuse your existing furniture.
Reused vs. recycled
It’s common to have some confusion about the difference between “reused” and “recycled.” Often the terms are (incorrectly) used interchangeably—but there is a distinct difference, especially for the purposes of LEED.
Recycled refers to anything that contains...
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15 Comments
Reused furniture
I'm documenting the credit MR c3.2 and i have the following question. How do I present the 20% of cutsheets when the furniture is reused?. We are bringing furniture from the old office to use it in the new office, due to the lack of information that we have about the contractors, I want to know if it is completely necesary to include this cutsheets. We don't have them because the furniture is too old.
David Posada replied Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Jul 30 2010
I think it would be reasonable to write a narrative explaining your strategy and upload that in place of the cutsheets. To minimize the chance of being second-guessed by the reviewer, it might help to provide some additional documentation that helps verify your story, whether photographs, part of the contract, drawings, specifications, work order, memo, or anything that indicates this is what's being done.
You can always use the check box and narrative at the end of most letter templates that indicates an alternative compliance path when your project doesn't exactly fit what the letter template is requiring.
Susie Spivey replied Director of Sustainable Design, tvsdesign Aug 02 2010
If you hover your mouse of the 20% Cut *** column in that template it notes that the column isn't applicable to MRc3.2, only MRc4-7. If for 7, then an invoice must also be included.
Hope that helps.
Reused furniture works against you for MRc4?
Hi there,
I was filling out the Credit Form and realized that all my reused furniture is hurting me for MRc4, Recycled Content. This doesn't seem right.
For instance, it is my understanding that all reused furniture cannot be included under MRc4 but it is still part of the denominator. This doesn't seem fair. Anyone else notice this?
Lauren
Angelica Ospina Alvarado replied Aug 25 2010
I guess you're right. The definition of reused material or reused furniture is different from the definition of recycled content, therefore you cannot use your reused furniture for credit 4, but you have to include them in your materials cost.
Susie Spivey replied Director of Sustainable Design, tvsdesign Aug 26 2010
Since the furniture is actually reused it stands to reason that you wouldn't also be able to call it recycled. I think this is inherent to the definition of 'reused' and 'recycled content'.However, it can contribute to MRc5.
Since the cost of all furniture has to be used in the Div 12 number it stands to reason that the reused furniture replacement value would be included. The key is perhaps in identifying the replacement value.
Anthony Brower replied Sustainable Design Director, Gensler Aug 31 2010
I have completed this credit previously under the CIv2.0 system. You are correct in that reused furniture cannot contribute to MRc4 but it should not hurt your application for that credit. Previously I documented the credit by excluding the re-used furniture cost from the MRc4 template as directed by my projects review team. Now with the project cost reading from multiple credit templates it is more difficult to manually remove this value from only the MRc4 form. I would suggest following the aternate form of compliance and submitting supplementary calculations to illustrate credit compliance.
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Aug 31 2010
Thanks Anthony. You have described my exact issue here. Is there a way we can alert the GBCI to the problem so that they can fix their Credit Form?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Aug 31 2010
Anyone tried sending them a feedback request through LEED Online? I have heard that they are responsive to this kind of request.
Anthony Brower replied Sustainable Design Director, Gensler Aug 31 2010
Like Lauren, I am also in the middle of this scenario for a current v2009 project. I posted a feedback query yesterday and will report back on the reply here. My plan though is to submit my calculations separately as opposed to trying to "back door" the form. I do not think that this is an issue they addressed in the beta forms yet as it is not a scenario often implemented. I think there is a lot of work to be done on the cost credit forms MRc3,4,5,6, & 7. The interface is very clunk and laborious.
Susie Spivey replied Director of Sustainable Design, tvsdesign Sep 01 2010
After looking into this further I have also submitted a feedback request for this credit. This will be my first time documenting it under v3 so I looked back and found that, as Anthony stated above, this is an issue for everyone since the form updates have not addressed this. I will also post the response I get here. In the meantime, I will also submit separate calculations showing MRc3.2 costs subtracted from Div 12 costs.
Anthony Brower replied Sustainable Design Director, Gensler Sep 01 2010
Well, here it is:
"Yes, the value of reused materials is subtracted from the total materials cost for MRc4. The beta version of this form has two major problems; one is that it does not subtract the reused materials value from the total material cost for MRc4, and the other is that the tables are not linked as there were intended to be. There are new forms available for upgrade that have fixed both these issues. You have two choices to document points for MRc4. Either fill in the table in the current form and then submit correct credit calculations in special circumstances, or upgrade all the MR forms and re-enter the material data.
If you choose to keep the forms you have, you would select special circumstances and state that there is an error in the form and the value of reused furniture is not subtracting from the total materials cost for MRc4. This is a known issue the reviewers are familiar with.
If you choose to upgrade your MR forms, both of the tables will link across MR3.2, 4.1, and 5. Although you would lose the data entered in the table currently you would only have to re-enter it once."
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Sep 01 2010
Wow, thanks a lot Anthony!
Lauren Glasscock replied Sr. Sustainability Professional, KEMA Services, Inc. Sep 01 2010
Anyone know how long it takes between when you submit your request for new Credit Forms and you see your new Credit Forms for your project on LEED Online?
I just followed their protocol but am wondering how long I should tell my project team from entering anything on LEED Online?
https://www.leedonline.com/irj/go/km/docs/documents/usgbc/leed/config/co...
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Sep 01 2010
I received an email notice that my LOv3 forms were updated within a couple days.
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