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LEED v4
Commercial Interiors
Materials and Resources

Interiors life-cycle impact reduction

LEED CREDIT

CI-v4 MRc2: Interiors life-cycle impact reduction 1-4 points

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View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »

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Sarah Buffaloe

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

WSP USA
Associate, Built Ecology

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Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1. interior reuse (2 points)
Reuse or salvage interior nonstructural elements for at least 50% of the surface area. Hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project must be excluded from the calculation.

AND/OR

Option 2. furniture reuse (1 point)
Reuse, salvage, or refurbish furniture and furnishings for at least 30% of the total furniture and furnishings cost.

AND/OR

Option 3. design for flexibility (1 pointI)
Conduct an integrative planning process to increase the useful life of the project space. Increase project space flexibility, ease of adaptive use, and recycling of building materials while considering differential durability and premature obsolescence over building design life and individual component service lives. Use at least three of the following strategies.
  • Install accessible systems (floor or ceiling) for at least 50% of the project floor area to allow for flexible use of space and access to systems (under floor distribution systems) not entangled with other building systems.
  • Design at least 50% of interior nonstructural walls, ceilings, and floors to be movable or demountable.
  • Ensure that at least 50%, by cost, of nonstructural materials have integral labels (radio frequency identification, engraving, embossing, or other permanent marking) containing information on material origin, properties, date of manufacture, in compliance with Canadian Standards Association CSA Z782-06 Guideline for Design for Disassembly and Adaptability in Buildings.
  • Include in at least one major component or systems purchase contract a clause specifying sub-contractor, vendor, or on site take back system.
  • Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.12. [Canada ACP]
  • Implement flexible power distribution (i.e., plug-and-play) systems for at least 50% of the project floor area so that lighting, data, voice, and other systems can be easily reconfigured and repurposed.
  • Implement a flexible lighting control system with plug and play components such as wall controls, sensors, and dimming ballasts for a minimum of 50% of the lighting load. The system shall allow for reconfiguring and repurposing of luminaires and controls without rewiring such as having the capability to group and assign luminaires into zones and change those zones as needed. Also, the system shall be flexible so that as a space changes functions, the lighting levels can change to suit the needs of the space without rewiring or removing or adding luminaires.

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Canada ACP - Environmental Claims
Projects in Canada may consider Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers as an equivalent to the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d). See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Frequently asked questions

How do you account for previously exposed structures that are finished as part of the project?

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Can crushed concrete, masonry, or asphalt being reused onsite qualify as materials reuse?

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Would retaining the exterior windows contribute to the credit?

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

7/1/2014Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change:
Add the following as a Canada ACP under the fifth bullet

"Projects in Canada may consider Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers as an equivalent to the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change denominator text from "Total interior floor area" to "Total lighting load"
Change the numerator text “Total area with plug-and-play lighting systems” to “Total lighting load with plug and play lighting systems”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Under 5th bullet point "Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)." change reference from " 260.7(d)" to "260.12"

Make the last paragraph of Option 3 a bullet.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under 5th bullet point "Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)." change reference from " 260.7(d)" to "260.12"

Make the last paragraph of Option 3 a bullet.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2015Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In table, 4th column under "Documentation," revise the language to read: "Floor plans, sections and/or details (as applicable) showing compliance with flexibility strategies."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

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LEEDuser expert

Sarah Buffaloe

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

WSP USA
Associate, Built Ecology

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1. interior reuse (2 points)
Reuse or salvage interior nonstructural elements for at least 50% of the surface area. Hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project must be excluded from the calculation.

AND/OR

Option 2. furniture reuse (1 point)
Reuse, salvage, or refurbish furniture and furnishings for at least 30% of the total furniture and furnishings cost.

AND/OR

Option 3. design for flexibility (1 pointI)
Conduct an integrative planning process to increase the useful life of the project space. Increase project space flexibility, ease of adaptive use, and recycling of building materials while considering differential durability and premature obsolescence over building design life and individual component service lives. Use at least three of the following strategies.
  • Install accessible systems (floor or ceiling) for at least 50% of the project floor area to allow for flexible use of space and access to systems (under floor distribution systems) not entangled with other building systems.
  • Design at least 50% of interior nonstructural walls, ceilings, and floors to be movable or demountable.
  • Ensure that at least 50%, by cost, of nonstructural materials have integral labels (radio frequency identification, engraving, embossing, or other permanent marking) containing information on material origin, properties, date of manufacture, in compliance with Canadian Standards Association CSA Z782-06 Guideline for Design for Disassembly and Adaptability in Buildings.
  • Include in at least one major component or systems purchase contract a clause specifying sub-contractor, vendor, or on site take back system.
  • Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.12. [Canada ACP]
  • Implement flexible power distribution (i.e., plug-and-play) systems for at least 50% of the project floor area so that lighting, data, voice, and other systems can be easily reconfigured and repurposed.
  • Implement a flexible lighting control system with plug and play components such as wall controls, sensors, and dimming ballasts for a minimum of 50% of the lighting load. The system shall allow for reconfiguring and repurposing of luminaires and controls without rewiring such as having the capability to group and assign luminaires into zones and change those zones as needed. Also, the system shall be flexible so that as a space changes functions, the lighting levels can change to suit the needs of the space without rewiring or removing or adding luminaires.

Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

Canada ACP - Environmental Claims
Projects in Canada may consider Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers as an equivalent to the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d).

How do you account for previously exposed structures that are finished as part of the project?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Can crushed concrete, masonry, or asphalt being reused onsite qualify as materials reuse?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Would retaining the exterior windows contribute to the credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

7/1/2014Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change:
Add the following as a Canada ACP under the fifth bullet

"Projects in Canada may consider Environmental Claims: A Guide for Industry and Advertisers as an equivalent to the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change denominator text from "Total interior floor area" to "Total lighting load"
Change the numerator text “Total area with plug-and-play lighting systems” to “Total lighting load with plug and play lighting systems”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Under 5th bullet point "Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)." change reference from " 260.7(d)" to "260.12"

Make the last paragraph of Option 3 a bullet.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under 5th bullet point "Ensure that at least 50% of nonstructural materials, by cost, are reusable or recyclable, as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Guide for Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, 260.7(d)." change reference from " 260.7(d)" to "260.12"

Make the last paragraph of Option 3 a bullet.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/1/2015Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In table, 4th column under "Documentation," revise the language to read: "Floor plans, sections and/or details (as applicable) showing compliance with flexibility strategies."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

Sarah Buffaloe

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

WSP USA
Associate, Built Ecology

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Unsubscribe from discussions about CI-v4 MRc2 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit