This is my first time working on a LEED project for a residential construction company and I'm trying to finish up the final paperwork (basically the MR 2.2 section). I am not LEED certified and our LEED consultant has been really busy.
What is the best way to approach this section? I have the LEED for Homes Rating System PDF from USGBC but, no other reference material.
Is it correct that one material must make up 90% of a component in order for it to be eligible for points?
For example, would 90% of all the counters in the Kitchen + Bathrooms in the whole house have to be made from the same material to count OR is it okay if the materials are different OR is it on a room by room basis (like if 90% of the cabinets in the kitchen were LEED compliant, would they be eligible)?
I'm trying to get this section filled out correctly as soon as possible. I have a lot more questions, is this section supposed to be really tedious? or am I doing something wrong? Is there some other reference material that would help me answer these kinds of questions?
Any advice on LEED for Homes and specifically the MR 2.2 section would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Ann Edminster
founder/principalDesign AVEnues LLC
LEEDuser Expert
9 thumbs up
December 28, 2012 - 9:14 pm
Natalie, if you're going to work on LEED for Homes projects it's probably worth investing in the Reference Guide. Your Green Rater should also be able to help with questions like this.
Meanwhile, here's the answer to this particular question: 90% of an ENTIRE, project-wide component -- i.e., all counters in the house -- need to be made of a qualifying material or combination of qualifying materials in order to earn credit.
It's true that this credit can be quite research-intensive and can be a pain in the neck, which is why some of us have developed tracking tools! I suggest you ask your LEED for Homes Green Rater if s/he has any that will help you out. If not, as you're doing your research, document what you learn. For example, as you select counter materials, keep an organized record of how you learned that they qualify for credit -- a PDF or URL showing the attribute that defines the product as "environmentally preferable" and the specific threshold, if applicable (e.g., 25% post-consumer recycled content). That source document (or link) will give the Green Rater what s/he needs to verify that the product complies.
Bottom line is that most of the work is in selecting materials that are environmentally preferable; after that, it goes into your library and becomes a resource for future projects. It's all part of building your organization's capacity to deliver greener projects. The documentation piece is incidental if you're well-organized.
This credit is a great example of the LEED principle that credit is given not for the amount of effort involved, but for the benefit(s) derived. It may take a fair amount of research to round up enough aesthetically pleasing, budget-compliant, LEED-qualifying counter materials to satisfy your clients.
Like all other choices involved in a project, the client needs to decide if having counters (or cabinets or doors or windows, etc.) that meet environmentally preferable criteria provides sufficient value to justify the investment. LEED credit isn't the primary benefit; it's merely an outcome of making choices that address the project goals.