The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has developed a nationally accepted system to rate the design, construction and operation of buildings. The USGBC’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a standard that recognizes the life-cycle cost of construction and helps to guide and distinguish high-performance commercial and institutional projects. The LEED rating system allows designers and building owners to acquire credits by meeting certain conditions pertaining to the use of sustainable, energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly products and systems. Buildings can become LEED Certified by achieving certain point levels. There are four levels of certification. Using Dyplast Products insulation in building designs can assist in obtaining LEED credits in several categories. Listed below are the categories where Dyplast Products may assist in achieving LEED credits. A brief description of the credit is also included.
SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS CREDITS)
SS Credit 7.2 – Heat Island Effect: Roof (1 point possible)
Purpose: Reduce heat islands to minimize impact on microclimate and habitat. The credit requires the use of a reflective roofing material or the use of a roof garden. Although this credit does not relate solely to insulation,
Dyplast insulation can be used in roof systems with reflective membranes and in garden roof assemblies to help reduce the urban heat island effect.
ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA CREDITS)
EA Credit 1 – Optimize Energy Performance (10 points possible)
Purpose: Reduce the negative environmental impact resulting from excessive energy use by demonstrating a measurable improvement in the building performance rating compared to the baseline building performance rating per ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 (without amendments). This credit encompasses the entire building.
An increase in the R-value of the Dyplast insulations used in the roof, wall and below-grade systems of a project would contribute to this credit.
EA Credit 5 – Measurement & Verification (1 point possible)
Purpose: Provide for the ongoing accountability of building energy consumption over time by developing and implementing a Measurement & Verification Plan. Although this credit does not relate solely to insulation, proper R-value provided by the Dyplast products will contribute to the overall energy savings and the subsequent accounting of building energy consumption.
MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR CREDITS)
MR Credit 2.1 & 2.2 – Construction Waste Management:
Divert 50% or 75% From Disposal (2 points possible)
Purpose: Recycle and/or salvage at least 50% (1 point) or 75% (2 points) of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris. Dyplast can receive and reuse uncontaminated polystyrene removed from rehabilitated buildings and the scrap generated on new construction projects.
MR Credit 3.1 & 3.2 – Materials Reuse: 5% or 10% (2 points possible)
Purpose: Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials so the sum of these materials, based on cost, constitutes at least 5% (1 point) or 10% (2 points) of the total value of materials on the project to reduce demand for virgin material and minimizing generation of waste. Dyplast Roof Insulation is suitable for and often reused in new roof systems at the end of the original roof system’s life.
MR Credit 4.1 & 4.2 – Recycled Content 10% or 20% (2 points possible)
Purpose: Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content of at least 10% (1 point) or
20% (2 points), thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials. Dyplast can provide product suitable for use in several different construction applications with up to a 25% pre-consumer recycled content.
MR Credit 5.1 & 5.2 – Regional Materials (2 points possible - 1 point for 10% & 2 points for 20%)
Purpose: Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value. From some of its locations, Dyplast can provide products that include only components extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the total materials value.