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International| Menu: | Sustainable Sites (SS) | Water Efficiency (WE) | Energy and Atmosphere (EA) | Materials and Resources (MR) | Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) |
| W. R. MEADOWS is committed to producing products and systems that are environmentally responsible, meet the most current federal, state and local rules and regulations, and that will have a positive impact on the environment for both current and future generations. Our products are designed to protect your work and our world. Use of W. R. MEADOWS green products can contribute to LEED certification of a building. All members of a project team can incorporate these products in the construction of a building to meet the performance criteria that are referenced in the LEED Rating System. LEED is a rating system developed and maintained by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that deals with the environmental performance of buildings based on the overall characteristics of the project. LEED provides a third-party validation of a building’s performance and encourages “green buidling.” A project can earn LEED certification by achieving credits based on seven categories of performance: Sustainable Sites (SS), Water Efficiency (WE), Energy and Atmosphere (EA), Materials and Resources (MR), Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Innovation and Design (ID) and Regional Priority (RP). To contact your local W. R. MEADOWS representative call (800) 342-5976 or email us. |
Green Links:
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Sustainable Sites (SS) |
- SS Credit 3: Brownfield Redevelopment
The intent of SS Credit 3 is to rehabilitate damaged sites where development is complicated by environmental contamination and to reduce pressure on undeveloped land.
Requirements:
- Option 1: Development on a site documented as contaminated (by means of an ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment or a local voluntary cleanup program).
OR
- Option 2: Develop on a site defined as a brownfield by a local, state, or federal government agency.
PERMINATOR underslab vapor barrier can be used on sites that are contaminated with radon gas.
- SS Credit 6.1: Stormwater Design – Quantity Control
The intent of SS Credit 6.1 is to limit disruption of natural hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration, reducing or eliminating pollution from stormwater runoff and eliminating contaminants.
Requirements:
- Case 1: Sites with Existing Imperviousness 50% or Less:
- Option 1: Implement a stormwater management plan that prevents the post-development peak discharge rate and quantity from exceeding the predevelopment peak discharge rate and quantity for the 1- and 2- year 24-hour design storms.
OR
- Option 2: Implement a stormwater management plan that protects receiving stream channels from excessive erosion. The stormwater management plan must include a stream channel protection and quantity control strategies.
Implement a stormwater management plan that results in a 25% decrease in the volume of stormwater runoff from the 2-year 24-hour design storm.
W. R. MEADOWS’ MEL-DRAIN can be used as part of a complete stormwater management program to direct rainwater and stormwater to specific areas.
- SS Credit 6.2: Stormwater Design – Quality Control
The intent of SS Credit 6.2 is to limit disruption and pollution of natural water flows by managing stormwater runoff.
Requirements:
Implement a stormwater management plan that reduces impervious cover, promotes infiltration and captures and treats the stormwater runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall using acceptable best management practices (BMPs).
W. R. MEADOWS MEL-DRAIN can be used as part of a complete stormwater management program to direct rainwater and stormwater to specific areas.
Water Efficiency (WE) |
- WE Credit 1: Water Efficient Landscaping
The intent of WE Credit 1 is to limit or eliminate the use of potable water or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on or near the project site for landscape irrigation.
Requirements:
- Option 1: Reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% from a calculated midsummer baseline case.
May use any combination of the following:
- Plant species, density and microclimate factor
- Irrigation efficiency
- Use of captured rainwater
- Use of recycled wastewater
- Use of water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses
OR
- Option 2: No potable water use of irrigation.
Meet the requirements for Option 1
AND
Path 1: Use only captured rainwater, recycled wastewater, recycled graywater or water treated and conveyed by a public agency specifically for nonpotable uses for irrigation
OR
Path 2: Install landscaping that does not require permanent irrigation systems. Temporary systems are allowed, if removed within 1 year of installation.
W. R. MEADOWS MEL-DRAIN can be used as part of a complete water management program to direct rainwater and stormwater to areas that can be used to store the water, which can later be used for landscape irrigation.
- WE Credit 2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies
The intent of WE Credit 2 is to reduce wastewater generation and potable water demand while increasing the local aquifer recharge.
Requirements:
- Option 1: Reduce potable water use for building sewage conveyance by 50% through the use of water-conserving fixtures (e.g., water closets, urinals) or nonpotable water (e.g., captured rainwater, recycled graywater, on-site or municipality treated wastewater).
OR
- Option 2: Treat 50% of wastewater on-site to tertiary standards. Treated water must be infiltrated or used on-site.
MEL-DRAIN can be used as part of a complete water management program to direct rainwater and stormwater to areas that can be used to store the water, which can later be used for landscape irrigation.
Energy and Atmosphere (EA) |
- EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance
The intent of this credit is to achieve increasing levels of energy performance beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use.
Requirements:
- Option 1: Whole Building Energy Simulation:
Demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared with the baseline building performance rating.
OR
- Option 2: Prescriptive Compliance Path: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide.
Comply with the prescriptive measures of the ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide appropriate to the project scope.
- Path 1: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings 2004
- Path 2: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Retail Buildings 2006
- Path 3: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Warehouses and Self Storage Buildings 2008
OR
- Option 3: Prescriptive Compliance Path: Advanced Buildings™Core Performance Guide™
W. R. MEADOWS air barriers and vapor retarders can be used to optimize energy performance, contributing to EA Credit 1. W. R. MEADOWS thermal and moisture protection products play a key role in maintaining the structure’s energy efficiency and aiding in the integrity of other structural systems, such as insulation.
Materials and Resources (MR) |
- MR Credit 2: Construction Waste Management
The intent of MR Credit 2 is to divert construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incineration facilities. Redirect recyclable recovered resources back to the manufacturing process and reusable materials to appropriate sites.
Requirements:
Recycle and/or salvage nonhazardous construction and demolition debris. Percentage determined by weight or volume of total debris.
50% Recycled or Salvaged (minimum) = 1 Point
75% Recycled or Salvaged (minimum) = 2 Points
Most product packaging by W. R. MEADOWS such as skids/pallets, pails, drums, cardboard cartons, cardboard cores, etc. can be recycled and can therefore contribute to the total overall amount of diverted construction debris.
- MR Credit 4: Recycled Content
The intent of MR Credit 4 is to increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials.
Requirements:
Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of postconsumer recycled content plus ½ of the preconsumer content constitutes at least 10% or 20%, based on cost, of the total value of the materials in the project.
10% Recycled Content (minimum) = 1 Point
20% Recycled Content (minimum) = 2 Points
Many of W. R. MEADOWS products contain recycled content that can contribute to MR Credit 4.
- MR Credit 5: Regional Materials
The intent of MR Credit 5 is to increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.
Requirements:
Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted, harvested, or recovered AND manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) can contribute to the regional value.
10% Regional Materials (minimum) = 1 Point
20% Regional Materials (minimum) = 2 Points
W. R. MEADOWS has nine manufacturing facilities throughout North America. The numerous locations of these facilities make it easy for project teams to use products that have been extracted, harvested, or recovered, as well as manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. W. R. MEADOWS use of locally extracted raw materials along with numerous manufacturing facilities supports not only the immediate regional economy, but also architects who select W. R. MEADOWS products looking to reduce transportation and environmental pollution as well as to obtain LEED Credits.
- MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
The intent of MR Credit 6 is to reduce the use and depletion of finite raw materials and long-cycle renewable materials by replacing them with rapidly renewable materials.
Requirements:
Use rapidly renewable building materials and products for 2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products used in the project, based on cost. Rapidly renewable building materials and products are made from plants that are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle.
Project teams can use W. R. MEADOWS CORK EXPANSION JOINT, SELF-EXPANDING CORK EXPANSION JOINT, and ECO-COAT to help obtain MR Credit 6.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) |
- IEQ Credit 4.1: Low-Emitting Materials – Adhesives and Sealants
The intent of this credit is to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
Requirements:
All adhesives and sealants used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site) must comply with SCAQMD Rule # 1168 – Effective Date July 1, 2005 and rule amendment date of January 7, 2005. (See IEQ Credit 4.1 for a complete listing of product category definitions and maximum allowable VOC limits.)
W. R. MEADOWS manufactures numerous products that comply with SCAQMD VOC Rule 1168 – which is required for contribution to LEED IEQ Credit 4.1.
- IEQ Credit 4.2: Low-Emitting Materials – Paints and Coatings
The intent of this credit is to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
Requirements:
Due to the extensive nature of the requirements please refer to IEQ Credit 4.2 for more information.
W. R. MEADOWS manufactures numerous products that comply with SCAQMD VOC Rule 1113 – which is required for contribution to LEED IEQ Credit 4.2.
For projects located in the U.S., IEQ Credit 4.2 requires VOC compliance to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 that was in effect on 1/1/2004.
For projects located in Canada, IEQ Credit 4.2 requires VOC compliance to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 in effect at the time the building permit for the project was issued.
- IEQ Credit 4.3: Low-Emitting Materials – Flooring
The intent of this credit is to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
Requirements:
Due to the extensive nature of the requirements please refer to IEQ Credit 4.3 for more information.
Multiple W. R. MEADOWS products can be used to meet the requirements for IEQ Credit 4.3.
- IEQ Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials – Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products
The intent of this credit is to reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
Requirements:
Composite wood and agrifiber products used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside the weatherproofing system) must contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins. Laminating adhesive used to fabricate on-site and shop-applied composite wood and agrifiber assemblies must not contain added urea-formaldehyde resins. Composite wood and agrifiber products are defined as particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, wheatboard, stawboard, panel substrates and door cores. Materials considered fixtues, furniture and equipment (FF&E) are not considered base building elements and are not included.
Project teams can use W. R. MEADOWS FIBRE EXPANSION JOINT and FIBER LITE to help obtain IEQ Credit 4.4.
- IEQ Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort – Design
The intent of this credit is to provide a comfortable thermal environment that promotes occupant productivity and well-being.
Requirements:
Design heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, and the building envelope to meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy (with errata but without addenda). Demonstrate design compliance in accordance with the Section 6.1.1 documentation.
W. R. MEADOWS air-vapor barriers, vapor barriers and thermal – moisture protection products can be used to optimize comfort, and contribute to IEQ Credit 7.1.
The above information is based on LEED-NC Version 3.0 (2009).