Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the green building rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). The LEED system’s intent is to provide a standard certification process that registers and quantifies buildings for design and construction methods that promote five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of building lifecycle.
LiveRoof can provide up to 20 points toward the USGBC Point Categories
LiveRoof® and LEED Certification Points
The LiveRoof® System can help you achieve LEED certification in several categories–above and beyond that of just any green roof system. LiveRoof® can actually enhance LEED ratings in categories that might not usually apply to a typical green roof. Below are the major categories of the USGBC rating system and potential points that can be influenced by the LiveRoof® system.
The Bottom Line
LiveRoof® system can contribute to over 20 LEED certification credits, depending on the size of the green roof and the degree to which the various features described above are incorporated into the overall building design. LiveRoof® modules help to save money which can be applied to other sustainable building methods in other areas of the project.
Sustainable Sites (Potential Rating: 1 point)
If you think about it, wherever there is a building, there once was some
type of vegetation. Green roofs help to reclaim green space, and in the process
they provide habitat (for songbirds, butterflies and a host of other invertebrates)
and help to promote biodiversity.
Storm Water Management (Potential Rating: 1 to 2 points)
LiveRoof® systems help to prevent excess storm water discharge. They also help
to filter and detoxify storm water by removing suspended solids and other pollutants.
Urban Heat Island Effect (Potential Rating: 1 point)
LiveRoof® significantly reduces roof temperatures during the summer months, and the USGBC specifies green roofs as a means of mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Energy and Atmosphere
Green roofs of the same depth as the LiveRoof® system have been documented to reduce energy demand by up to 50% annually in certain types of structures. More typically, green roofs have proven to substantially reduce the need for air conditioning, and therefore require smaller cooling systems, lower capital costs, and lower operating costs.
Potential Rating: 1 to 8 points, depending on total energy reduction as a percent versus conventional buildings of the same size.
Rapidly Renewable Materials
LiveRoof® plants are harvested within a 10-year cycle (actually much shorter), and therefore contribute to this objective.
Potential Rating: 1 point.
Materials and Resources (Potential Rating: 1 to 3 points)
The LiveRoof® system acts as a protective umbrella over the roof membranes
and therefore can substantially extend the useful life of the roof and contribute
to the LEED reuse objective.
Local Sources (Potential Rating: 1 to 2 points)
LiveRoof® modules are manufactured within a 15-mile radius of distribution. Also,
since plants are obtained at local nurseries, LiveRoof® may contribute to the 50%
extracted regionally credit.
Recycled Content (Potential Rating: 1 point)
LiveRoof® modules are constructed of 100% recycled polypropylene which exceeds the LEED target of 5% or 10% of project components.
Innovation and Design Process
LiveRoof® systems may qualify for innovation and design credits by helping to create a better work environment. LiveRoof® installations can be used for meetings and relaxation, and perhaps more importantly, they create beautiful vistas, beneficial to people’s health and state of mind. Additionally, green roofs can reduce exterior sound by up to 40 decibels and therefore create a more peaceful and less stressful interior environment.
Potential Rating: 1 or 2 points.
Habitat Restoration
This applies to previously developed sites. LiveRoof® may be used to restore a minimum of 50% of the site area (of impervious surfaces) with native or adaptive vegetation.
OUR GREEN ROOF SYSTEM:
Member, United States Green Building Council
LiveRoof® modules help to save money which can be applied to other sustainable building methods in other areas of the project.