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What’s “rapidly renewable”?
Rapidly renewable materials must have a harvest cycle of 10 years or fewer. This includes materials like bamboo, agrifibers, and others listed on the chart below. Materials for this credit can come from either plants or animals—but they have to be harvested without harming the animal. Wool is okay; leather isn’t.
“Big ticket” items are just the ticket
This credit can be very easy to achieve—it only requires that a small percentage of the materials budget be spent on rapidly renewable materials. But it can become challenging unless you make a concerted effort to research and specify products with rapidly...
Step-by-step credit help
Got the gist of the LEED credit but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Members get:
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7 Comments
Green roof and landscaping
A collegue of mine mentioned that a green roof and landscaping can be counted toward this credit. True/False?
Nadav Malin replied President, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 05 2010
That's a new one on me. I would be very surprised if live plants were allowed to count toward this credit. Doesn't mean that someone hasn't snuck them through at some point, but I wouldn't count on it, myself.
Anyone have different info?
Lisa Marshall replied Senior Green Building Consultant, KEMA Services Inc. Apr 06 2010
How can I find out for sure, I need to be able to advise my client. I have gotten feedback from projects that have been awarded based on using live plants and green roofing and an individual who does LEED reviews also agree's green roof/landscaping counts, but I can't advise based on this alone.
Seema Pandya replied Sustainability Manager, YRG sustainability Apr 07 2010
This seems like an interesting issue. In the past LEED versions, Division 32 90-Plantings was not included in the MR credits. However, 2009 has allowed Division 32 90. If projects received credit for past versions of LEED, it might have just been lucky with a reviewer. I also wouldn't count plants as a given. A CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide might be in order if they want a definite answer. While our firm has not tried to get credit for plants directly in the past, vegetative roofing is covered under Division 9, and we have received credit for the recycled content of the roof planting trays for a green roof.
Domestically Manufactured Rapidly Renewables
Anyone out there know of domestic manufacturers of rapidly renewableTerm describing a natural material that is grown and harvested on a relatively short-rotation cycle (defined by the LEED rating system to be ten years or less). materials or products? The federal government has "Buy American" clauses in their construction contracts which prevent us from using goods from outside the U.S.
Thanks,
Elliot
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 07 2010
Elliot, have you checked out the "GreenSpec Products" sidebar to the right? There are a ton of ideas there, and although you need a BuildingGreen Suite membership to view the results when you click through, it's a worthwhile resource.
While items like bamboo, linoleum, and wool are likely to be made overseas, what about items like cotton (insulation), agrifiber (straw-core doors, straw panels), or soy-based products? While I can't say for sure, any of these products seem likely to have domestic sources.
Anyone else? And please keep us posted on what you learn.
Mike Miller replied Director of Environmental Stewardship, Eggers Industries Jun 04 2010
Agrifiber based flush doors, raised panel doors and door jambs are available for commercial projects. The cores are made with wheat straw based particlboard with no added urea-formaldehyde1. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring VOC found in small amounts in animals and plants but is carcinogenic and an irritant to most people when present in high concentrations, causing headaches, dizziness, mental impairment, and other symptoms. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm, it can cause watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; nausea; coughing; chest tightness; wheezing; skin rashes; and asthmatic and allergic reactions. 2. A known carcinogen with no known safe exposure level. Formaldehyde occurs naturally, but appears in unnaturally high concentrations in many buildings because it is an ingredient in binders used in many building materials and furnishings. resins. The doors are manufactured by several commercial door companies. The products are usually in the 75% percent compliant material range.
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