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Intertech Flooring in the LEED
Guide to Green Building Floors
The environmentally responsible commercial construction market will
reach $10 - $20 billion over the next five years. This “green” growth
will offer greater opportunities for everyone from product manufacturers
to specifiers to be involved with environmentally friendly building
projects. Along with this growth you can expect more
information, and unfortunately, more misinformation, about green
construction materials and methods. To help you separate fact from
fiction, here are answers to the most-often asked questions that
specifiers and facility managers have about flooring and environmentally
friendly projects.
Q: What LEED programs are impacted
the most by commercial flooring?
A: LEED-NC (New Construction
and Major Renovations) and LEED-CI (Commercial Interiors).
LEED-NC
and LEED-CI are two programs (of four total) where flooring can play
a role in earning LEED points. LEED-NC has performance criteria that
apply to commercial and institutional buildings that are either new
or undergoing major renovations. LEED-CI is a newer program
designed to address the specifics of tenant spaces primarily in office
and institutional buildings.
Q: Are there LEED experts that can assist with projects?
A: Yes. LEED awards professional accreditation to those
who have studied and passed rigorous training.
Understanding the standards within these programs takes education
and experience. The benefit to working with accredited professionals
is their ability help you understand the documentation and certification
process, and assist you with design and construction phase submittals.
Intertech Flooring is leading the industry in LEED expertise. We
are one of the few flooring companies in the nation to have LEED-accredited
staff on board.
Q: Are there any recent changes in
LEED that can affect my flooring choice if I’m working
towards LEED certification on my project?
A. Yes. A
new version of LEED-NC released in November 2005 has updates
that relate specifically to flooring.
LEED-NC version 2.2 includes major credit changes that affect your
floor product choice, including updates to recycled content, new
requirements on what constitutes regional materials, and an enhanced
standard on low-emitting materials-carpet systems. Intertech Flooring
has access to the broadest product selection available on your search
for flooring that meets the new NC v2.2 criteria.
Q: Does it cost more to specify
green flooring products in pursuit of LEED certification?
A: Not necessarily.
Building green can pay off in reducing
the environmental impact a building has on its surroundings and in
the bottom line as well. If you look at just the “first cost” figures,
it can cost approximately 2% more to construct a LEED certified building. But,
that cost can be recovered through faster lease-up rates, rental
premiums and increased market valuation. A study by internally
acclaimed architectural consultants Davis Langdon reported that sometimes
the first costs of constructing a sustainable building are comparable
to constructing a non-green structure, especially if LEED-savvy professionals
are used and building systems synergies are identified early in the
construction process. Intertech’s LEED-accredited satff can
help you reduce “first cost” floor expense, thanks to
our national StarNet buying clout with the nation’s leading
floor covering manufacturers. And, because of our green building
experience, we know how to control installation costs and related
expenses.
Q: How can I justify the cost of green flooring on
my project if the initial cost is higher?
A: Conduct a life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis
to evaluate and quantify the economic and environmental benefits
of the floor over the life of the product and the building.
At
Intertech, we understand that, for green projects, that translates
to specifying for long life cycle rather than specifying for first
costs. LCA analysis methods are becoming more standardized
and tools are emerging from manufacturers and organizations to provide
comparable product evaluations. We can assist you with LCA evaluations
and provide you with the best possible high performance flooring
solutions for your projects.
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Tips for
Controlling Costs on LEED Projects
- Define your environmental target and decide what level of LEED
certification you going after.
- Set a clear and adequate budget: higher levels of LEED certification
do require additional expenditure.
- Maintain the economic and environmental integrity of your project
at every stage.
- Engineer for optimum life cycle value and sustainability.
- Hire LEED-knowledgeable professionals to assist with your project.
StarNet – and Intertech Flooring - Take the LEED
As
a member of national flooring cooperative StarNet, Intertech Flooring
also is a proud member of the U.S. Green Building Council. Our
specifiers are among the only LEED-accredited flooring experts
in the country. They can provide objective product advice, technical
assistance, and installation documentation. As you work through
your LEED planning, ask us questions early in the process. We will
give you credible answers and may be able to point out ways to
earn additional LEED points. When you need flooring help on your
next LEED project, call on the LEED-accredited flooring experts
at Intertech Flooring.
McGraw Hill Fast Facts About Green Growth
- By 2010, the green building market is expected to be 5% - 10%
of commercial construction starts.
- Over 70% of a representative sample of architects, engineers,
contractors and building owners anticipate sales growth from
green buildings.
- 60% of architects, engineers and contractors are specifying
and installing green building products in their construction
projects.
- Operating costs of green buildings is expected to be between
8% - 9% lower than other buildings.
- Green buildings are expected to have increased values of 7.5%.
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