Our project is a renovation of a university dormitory. We request an interpretation of Materials and Resources Credit 6, Rapidly Renewable Resources. Specifically, we would like to know if plant material used in landscaping can qualify for this point. The LEED NC v2.1 Reference Guide defines rapidly renewable materials as those that "...substantially replenish themselves faster than traditional extraction demand (i.e., planted and harvested in less than a 10-year cycle)." All of the plants to be used on our site have been planted and harvested in less than a 10-year cycle. Landscaping is included in CSI Division 2 and all items in Divisions 2 through 10 are to be included when calculating this and other MR credits. Additionally, the Reference Guide shows a sample spreadsheet to calculate compliance with MR Credit 5.1 & 5.2 (Local /Regional Materials), which includes plantings as contributing towards that point. Since all MR points are supposed to include the same materials, it seems reasonable to include plantings in MR Credit 6 calculations, provided they are planted and harvested within a 10-year cycle. We ask for this interpretation because landscaping is not specifically mentioned in the Rating System or Reference Guide for MR Credit 6. Also, if it isn\'t allowed, a project is penalized for having extensive landscaping. Could you please confirm that rapidly renewable landscaping complies with the intention of this credit and should be included in the calculations?
The strategy described is considered to be standard practice and does not fulfill the credit\'s intent to reduce the use and depletion of finite raw materials and long-cycle renewable materials by selecting rapidly renewable materials. The credit is concerned with manufactured building products. Plantings can not contribute to MRc6 achievement. You may exclude them from the denominator in all MR credit calculations so that projects are not penalized for having extensive landscaping. Applicable Internationally.