BACKGROUND TO LEED

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) is a voluntary, broad based consortium of building industry professionals whose objective is to promote sustainability and high performance in construction. The basic premise is sustainable building or “Green Building” saves energy, money and has other positive, albeit less tangible benefits for the environment.

LEED RATING

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system was developed by the USGBC for use as a measurable benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of “Green” buildings.
The LEED rating system basically defines what constitutes a Green Building and identifies the requirements for sustainable design. There are separate LEED programs and performance guides for New Construction (NC) and Existing Buildings (EB). The LEED reference guides are constantly under review and are updated on a regular basis; the latest LEED reference guide for new construction is NC version 2.2 published October 2005.
LEED promotes an inclusive approach to sustainability or “Green” building in new construction by setting standards in six key areas:

• Sustainable Site Development - 14 Possible Points
• Water Efficiency - 5 Possible points
• Energy & Atmosphere - 17 Possible Points
• Materials Resources - 13 Possible Points
• Indoor Environmental Quality - 15 Possible Points
• Innovation & Design Process - 5 Possible Points
Project Totals - 69 Possible Points

LEED CERTIFICATION

It is a common misconception that LEED certification applies to construction products; the reality is that the USGBC does not certify individual products nor does it endorse individual companies. LEED certification can only be awarded to a specific building project. However, it is true to say that construction products, can and do play an important role in enabling a building to achieve LEED rating and therefore the appropriate level of certification by securing credits and qualifying for the award of LEED points.
LEED points are awarded in the six discrete categories named above, which individually and then cumulatively may be used to arrive at level of certification of the building in question.
The points necessary for the four levels of certification are as follows:
• CERTIFIED: 26-32
• SILVER: 33-38
• GOLD: 39-51
• PLATINUM: 52-69

ALPLY AND LEED

Alply is a member of the USGBC and Alply architectural panels (both insulated and plate) can contribute very positively to the LEED rating and certification level of a building. Most typically, Alply architectural panels contribute points in the following categories:

• Energy & Atmosphere

o Credit 1 - Optimizing Energy Performance. The polyisocyanurate foam core used most typically in Alply insulated panels has the best thermal transmittance or ‘R’ value available from any insulation material available. This is supported by Long Term Thermal Resistance Testing (LTTR) undertaken by the manufacturers. It is also important to remember that in the context of sustainability and Green Building, the polyisocyanurate core used in Alply panels is itself 100% recyclable and is both HCFC and CFC free. The foam core does not therefore have any Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and has a very negligible Global Warming Potential (GWP).

• Materials & Resource

o Credit 4.1 - Recycled Content. The recycled content of Alply panels with a steel face are 16% to 19% post-consumer content and 6% to 7% pre-consumer content, for a total recycled content of 22% to 26%. The recycled content of Alply panels with an aluminum face is significantly higher that of a steel faced panel.
o Credit 4.2 - Recycled Content. Due to the superior recycled content of Alply panels (greater than 20%) they can qualify for an additional LEED® point under Credit 4.2.

Additional LEED points could be awarded for the use of Alply architectural panel in other categories depending upon the location of the project and the design and construction process. It is therefore, important when assessing the potential contribution of Alply architectural panels to the LEED rating of a project to gain the fullest information possible at the earliest possible opportunity.
Further information on the USGBC and LEED may be obtained at www.usgbc.org