NC-v4.1 MRc3: Building product disclosure and optimization - sourcing of raw materials 1-2 points

Credit language

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To encourage the use of products and materials for which life cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life cycle impacts. To reward project teams for selecting products verified to have been extracted or sourced in a responsible manner.

Requirements

Responsible Sourcing of Raw Materials (1-2 points)

Use products sourced from at least three different manufacturers that meet at least one of the responsible sourcing and extraction criteria below for at least 20%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project (1 point).

Use products sourced from at least five different manufacturers that meet at least one of the responsible sourcing and extraction criteria below for at least 40%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project (2 points).

• Extended producer responsibility. Products purchased from a manufacturer (producer) that participates in an extended producer responsibility program or is directly responsible for extended producer responsibility. Products meeting extended producer responsibility criteria are valued at 50% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
• Bio-based materials. Bio-based raw materials other than wood must be tested using ASTM Test Method D6866 and be legally harvested, as defined by the exporting and receiving country. Exclude hide products, such as leather and other animal skin material.
  • Bio-based products that meet the criteria above: value at 50% of cost multiplied by the biobased content of the product for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
  • Bio-based products that meet the Sustainable Agriculture Network’s Sustainable Agriculture Standard: value at 100% of cost multiplied by the biobased content of the product for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
• Wood products. Wood products must be certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or USGBC-approved equivalent. Products meeting wood products criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
• Materials reuse. Reuse includes salvaged, refurbished, or reused products. Products meeting materials reuse criteria are valued at 200% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
• Recycled content. Products meeting recycled content criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.
  • Recycled content is the sum of postconsumer recycled content plus one-half the preconsumer recycled content, based on weight.
  • The recycled fraction of the assembly is then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled content value.
• USGBC approved program. Other USGBC approved programs meeting responsible sourcing and extraction criteria.

For credit achievement calculation, products sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site are valued at twice their base contributing cost (or number of products), up to a maximum of 200% of cost, or 2 products.

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.

Frequently asked questions