SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser expert
Ashwini Arun
WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager
SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Frank advice from LEED experts
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Have in place storage locations for recyclable materials, including mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. Safely store and dispose of batteries and all lamps (indoor and outdoor, hard-wired and portable fixtures). Track and measure all ongoing waste and durable goods waste. Measure the total weight of waste (in lbs., kg, or tons) that is generated, and the total weight that is diverted from landfills and incineration facilities for one full year or from a waste analysis. Exclude any facility renovations waste. Input generated and diverted waste totals into the Arc platform, and calculate a Waste Performance Score for the project. Obtain a minimum Waste Performance Score of 40. Additional points for this prerequisite are awarded for Waste Performance Scores above 40, according to Table 1.
Table 1. LEED Points for Waste Performance
| Waste Performance Score | LEED Points |
|---|---|
| 40 (Required) | 3 (Required) |
| 44 | 4 |
| 57 | 5 |
| 69 | 6 |
| 82 | 7 |
| 94 | 8 |
Waste Performance Score
The waste performance score rates the waste generated by the building against the waste generated by comparable LEED certified buildings. The score is a value from 1-100 based on the project’s total weight of waste generated and the total weight of waste diverted from landfills and incineration facilities.
Waste Performance Score calculation
To calculate waste performance score, the following data is required:
- Total waste generated (lbs., kg, or tons)
- Total waste diverted (lbs., kg, or tons)
- Weighted occupancy
The waste generated is converted into an average daily waste generated per occupant, using Equation 1. Equation 1. Average daily waste generated = (waste generated / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy The waste diverted is converted into a daily waste undiverted per occupant, using Equation 2. Equation 2. Daily waste undiverted per occupant = (waste diverted / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy The daily undiverted waste is calculated using Equation 3. Equation 3. Daily undiverted waste per occupant = daily waste generated per occupant– daily waste diverted per occupant The project’s calculated average daily waste generated per occupant AND average daily waste undiverted per occupant are input into the waste scoring function to calculate the waste performance score. The waste scoring function was developed using waste information reported by LEED buildings certified under LEED O+M v2009. The data set includes buildings that pursued MR credit 6. Solid waste management – waste stream audit.
See all forum discussions about this credit »What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Have in place storage locations for recyclable materials, including mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics, and metals. Safely store and dispose of batteries and all lamps (indoor and outdoor, hard-wired and portable fixtures). Track and measure all ongoing waste and durable goods waste. Measure the total weight of waste (in lbs., kg, or tons) that is generated, and the total weight that is diverted from landfills and incineration facilities for one full year or from a waste analysis. Exclude any facility renovations waste. Input generated and diverted waste totals into the Arc platform, and calculate a Waste Performance Score for the project. Obtain a minimum Waste Performance Score of 40. Additional points for this prerequisite are awarded for Waste Performance Scores above 40, according to Table 1.
Table 1. LEED Points for Waste Performance
| Waste Performance Score | LEED Points |
|---|---|
| 40 (Required) | 3 (Required) |
| 44 | 4 |
| 57 | 5 |
| 69 | 6 |
| 82 | 7 |
| 94 | 8 |
Waste Performance Score
The waste performance score rates the waste generated by the building against the waste generated by comparable LEED certified buildings. The score is a value from 1-100 based on the project’s total weight of waste generated and the total weight of waste diverted from landfills and incineration facilities.
Waste Performance Score calculation
To calculate waste performance score, the following data is required:
- Total waste generated (lbs., kg, or tons)
- Total waste diverted (lbs., kg, or tons)
- Weighted occupancy
The waste generated is converted into an average daily waste generated per occupant, using Equation 1. Equation 1. Average daily waste generated = (waste generated / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy The waste diverted is converted into a daily waste undiverted per occupant, using Equation 2. Equation 2. Daily waste undiverted per occupant = (waste diverted / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy The daily undiverted waste is calculated using Equation 3. Equation 3. Daily undiverted waste per occupant = daily waste generated per occupant– daily waste diverted per occupant The project’s calculated average daily waste generated per occupant AND average daily waste undiverted per occupant are input into the waste scoring function to calculate the waste performance score. The waste scoring function was developed using waste information reported by LEED buildings certified under LEED O+M v2009. The data set includes buildings that pursued MR credit 6. Solid waste management – waste stream audit.
In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
- Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
- Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
- Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
LEEDuser expert
Ashwini Arun
WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager
