Recycling Batteries

Paola - If I understand what you are asking, the most relevant forum for this question is Innovation in Design - http://www.leeduser.com/credit/NC-2009/IDc1. As a LEEDuser guest, you can't see the Bird's Eye View there that discusses Path 1 - Innovation in Design. It states that: "This approach must represent an innovative design approach to a problem, must be comprehensive in scope, and must have a quantifiable environmental benefit. Approach this path as if you were creating a new LEED “ID credit” from scratch." The FAQs for IDc1 state: "However, there are some reliable guidelines that any project should consider: The approach must be "innovative," i.e., not standard practice. The approach must be comprehensive in scope. For example, many projects ask whether they can earn an innovation point for using a specific technology that is considered new or different, for example, an elevator that uses novel technology to offer energy efficiency. Use of a specific technology would not be considered comprehensive. (Doubly so in this case because energy efficiency is already covered under a LEED credit.) If you are starting out by considering a single technology, consider how you can expand that into a project-wide theme. The approach must have a quantifiable environmental benefit. You should also consider that earning an ID credit basically requires you to write a LEED credit, set certain quantifiable measures, and meet them. So a good test is to put your idea in terms of a LEED credit. What is the credit name, intent, and requirements? Could this same credit be used on another project (is it repeatable?), or is it extremely unique? Many ideas will not hold up after applying these tests. Remember that a strategy might be a good idea even if it is not recognized for an ID credit, and that not every good idea meets the standards demanded by LEED." Based on these guidelines, I am not sure if your idea is comprehensive in scope. In addition, you'd have to outline how this is a quantifiable environmental benefit. (For instance, when the building is torn down, what happens to batteries in the concrete? Would the batteries have a reaction with the concrete?) Consider looking for other ideas for innovation at http://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction/v2009/innovation-catalog.