{"id":6859,"date":"2014-03-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-03-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/leed-v4-the-old-the-new-and-the-reinvented-what-new-regulations-will-mean-for-insulation-users-and-manufacturers\/"},"modified":"2014-03-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2014-03-01T00:00:00","slug":"leed-v4-the-old-the-new-and-the-reinvented-what-new-regulations-will-mean-for-insulation-users-and-manufacturers","status":"publish","type":"articles","link":"https:\/\/insulation.org\/io\/articles\/leed-v4-the-old-the-new-and-the-reinvented-what-new-regulations-will-mean-for-insulation-users-and-manufacturers\/","title":{"rendered":"Leed V4: The Old, the New, and the Reinvented: What New Regulations Will Mean for Insulation Users and Manufacturers"},"content":{"rendered":"

The U.S. Green Building
\nCouncil (USGBC) unveiled the latest version of its Leadership in
\nEnergy and
\nEnvironmental Design (LEED) program—LEED v4—at the
\nGreenbuild International
\nConference and Expo in Philadelphia last November. The latest
\nversion, classified
\nas a “quantum leap for LEED” by the USGBC, builds on the foundations
\nof the
\nprevious version, LEED 2009, while incorporating new types of
\nbuildings,
\nproduct selection criteria, impact categories, and credit-earning
\ncalculations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Consistent
\nwith previous versions of LEED, LEED v4 includes prerequisites that
\nmust be
\nsatisfied to earn credit, as well as optional credit requirements.
\nHowever,
\nthere are some notable differences in approach as well as the
\naddition of new
\nsustainability criteria. This article describes how and where the
\nselection and
\nuse of insulation applies to LEED credits, with a specific focus on
\nthe
\nMaterials and Resources section, and changes to Indoor Environmental
\nQuality
\ncriteria. Manufacturers of insulation as well as architects,
\ndesigners,
\ncontractors, specifiers, and other users will continue to leverage
\nthe benefits
\nof steps taken to earn LEED credits under the previous standard,
\nwhile also
\naccessing new credit opportunities with the strategic selection of
\ninsulation.<\/span><\/p>\n

The 40,000 Foot View of
\nLEED<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

In some ways, LEED v4 is
\nmore complex than former versions, as it tries to evaluate and
\nmeasure the
\nsynergistic benefits of designing, building, managing, and operating
\nsustainable buildings. In many cases, credits are no longer offered
\nfor simply
\nmeeting a particular criterion, but are now awarded based on a
\ncalculation of
\nhow meeting a given criterion impacts the end result. The new
\nstandard also
\nincludes credits for new sustainability criteria that must be third-
\nparty
\nvalidated or certified.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are 6 areas where thermal insulation on mechanical
\nsystems can apply toward earning credits in LEED v4:<\/span><\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

  1. Energy
    \nefficiency<\/font><\/p>\n

  2. Product
    \ntransparency<\/font><\/p>\n

  3. Raw materials
    \nsourcing<\/font><\/p>\n

  4. Material
    \ningredients<\/font><\/p>\n

  5. Indoor air
    \nquality<\/font><\/p>\n

  6. Acoustic
    \nperformance<\/font><\/p>\n

    <\/OL><\/p>\n

    In
    \nsome cases, credits are earned simply by selecting insulation that
    \nmeets a
    \ngiven criterion. In others, credits are based on the impact
    \ninsulation has on
    \nthe end result.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Energy Efficiency<\/font><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

    LEED
    \nwas originally created with the intention of revolutionizing how we
    \ndesign,
    \nconstruct, and operate buildings. It focuses on many aspects of
    \nsustainability
    \nincluding water use and conservation, indoor environments that
    \nsupport human
    \nhealth, operation and management of buildings in environmentally
    \nfriendly ways,
    \nand environmentally conscientious use and reuse of materials, among
    \nother
    \nfactors. Above all, however, LEED has focused on energy efficiency.
    \nFrom this
    \nstandpoint, insulation can play an enormous role in helping LEED-
    \naccredited
    \nbuildings achieve their desired project status. Most types of
    \ninsulation are
    \nexplicitly designed to increase energy efficiency. Unlike some other
    \nproduct
    \ncategories, insulation is relevant to every type of building
    \nstriving to earn
    \nenergy credits for LEED certification. <\/span><\/p>\n

    Energy and Atmosphere<\/font>
    \n<\/b><\/p>\n

    Minimum energy
    \nperformance prerequisites in LEED call for measurable reductions in
    \nenergy
    \nconsumption in a standard building. Energy simulation calls for
    \nevaluation of
    \nchosen insulation methods used in the building. By increasing energy
    \nefficiency, insulation helps deliver buildings that operate with
    \nincreased
    \ncomfort and efficiency—both significant goals of LEED. <\/span>\n<\/p>\n

    However,
    \nthe use of insulation has implications for other environmental
    \nattributes as
    \nwell, and insulation brands that support sustainability will pull
    \nahead of
    \nothers in terms of helping project teams earn LEED credits.<\/span>\n<\/p>\n

    Product Transparency<\/font>
    \n<\/b><\/p>\n

    The
    \nMaterials and Resources section of LEED v4 calls for the efficient
    \nuse of
    \nresources and selection of materials that support both human health
    \nand
    \nsustainability. New to this latest version of LEED is the potential
    \nto earn
    \ncredits based on selection of building materials from manufacturers
    \nthat strive
    \nto bring a level of transparency to their environmental impact.
    \nProject teams
    \nearn credits for selecting products that have received a verified
    \nthird-party
    \nenvironmental product declaration (EPD) or, alternatively, those
    \nthat have been
    \nshown to meet environmental impact criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The
    \nEPD (worth 1 credit) calls for the building to “use at least 20
    \ndifferent
    \npermanently installed products sourced from at least 5 different
    \nmanufacturers
    \nthat meet 1 of the disclosure criteria.”<\/span><\/p>\n

    An
    \nalternative option is to ensure that 50% of permanently installed
    \nmaterials of
    \na project meet a set of performance criteria outlined for reduced
    \nglobal
    \nwarming, depletion of ozone, acidification of land and water
    \nresources,
    \neutrophication, and formation of tropospheric ozone.<\/span><\/p>\n

    In
    \nboth instances, third-party validation and\/or certification offers
    \nmanufacturers and users the most effective, streamlined way to
    \nidentify
    \nproducts that meet these criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

    An
    \nEPD is a comprehensive report that documents the ways in which a
    \nproduct
    \nimpacts the environment in 6 key areas. Independent program
    \noperators offer
    \ncertification of EPDs, which must comply with product category rules
    \nthat have
    \nbeen established using a defined process. These types of EPDs meet
    \nthe
    \nspecifications outlined in LEED and offer clear and definitive
    \ncompliance for a
    \ncredit’s criteria.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Raw Materials Sourcing<\/font>
    \n<\/b><\/p>\n

    LEED has long called for
    \nthe specification of products that are sustainably sourced. The
    \ndifference in
    \nLEED v4 is that the collection of attributes has been centralized
    \ninto a single
    \nprerequisite calling for the achievement of multiple single-
    \nattribute criteria.
    \nThrough this prerequisite, it is possible to earn a total of 2
    \npoints for a
    \nproject. Required attributes include:<\/span><\/p>\n