A material being reused contains recycled content. Can I count this under MRc3 and MRc4?
No, this would be only counted under MRc3. Material reuse is the relevant environmental attribute in this case.
Can I include reused furniture?
Yes, if furniture is being included consistently across MRc3–7. (For CI projects, furniture must be included.)
A bus has multiple stops within my 1/4-mile radius. Can I count each of those?
No, as this doesn't increase service to the LEED project. (Depending on project specifics, you could try to make a case, however.)
What are the requirements for shuttle buses?
Per the LEED Reference Guide, they must connect to public transit and operate during the most frequent commuting hours.
Per a LEED addendum published 4/1/12, they must also "provide direct access to transit facilities within 2 miles of the project site, approximately a 5-10 minute drive, and must be available to all project occupants."
The credit language says we need to track paper (printing or copy paper, notebooks, notepads, envelopes), toner cartridges, binders, batteries and desk accessories. Is that everything we have to track for this credit?
No, any purchases that might be classified as an ongoing consumable based on the definition in the LEED Reference Guide need to be tracked. Other items that are commonly tracked in this credit include kitchen supplies like plates, cups and disposable flatware, and shipping supplies.
Lots of products we purchase seem like they could be tracked in two different purchasing credits. For example, toilet tissue seem like an ongoing consumable since it’s replaced frequently at a low cost per unit (MRc1), but it’s also used for our green
Every item should be claimed in only one credit form; do not double-count any purchase. Make your best judgement about where an item falls, and be consistent.
Do manufacturer claims about the average recycled content, etc. in all its products count as acceptable LEED documentation? For example, a toner cartridge website says that the average post-consumer recycled content is 90% across all its toner products.
No, this type of claim does not adequately verify the level of recycled content in the purchased item because there could be a high level of variation across products.
We have multiple tenants in our building, some of which are nonresponsive to requests for purchasing records. Can we exclude their purchases?
The LEED-EBOM 2009 rating system offers a 10% floor area exemption option for multitenant buildings. In instances where tenant data cannot be gathered, or the EBOM applicant does not have control over tenant operational practices, the project team may exclude up to 10% of the building’s gross floor area for any prerequisite or credit. See page xxii of the Reference Guide for further information.
Purchasing for our organization takes place in the EBOM project building, but not all ongoing consumable goods that are purchased end up being used there. Should we include all of the purchases in MRc1?
Only ongoing consumable goods that are used within the scope of the LEED project boundary should be included in MRc1.