In all stages of cradle-to-cradle LCA, it is useful to consider sustainability
standards and ratings systems. In particular, in the light of the U.S. Green
Building Council's LEED rating systems for various project types,
it is important to use a life cycle perspective to inform project
material selection.
Apart from the perceived prestige associated with project
certification, LEED ratings are becoming more commonly seen as
emblematic of efficiency and reduced operating costs. Owners with
plans to occupy rather than sell completed projects may insist on LEEDleaning
specifications because they will save energy and
maintenance cost over the long term. "When it becomes part of the way
we think of thecommodityof the building, thenwe knowwe're doingwell,"
observes Michael B. Lehrer, FAIA, principal of Lehrer Architects in Los
Angeles. "I have spoken with developers who said that financial
institutions are increasingly looking at lifecycle costs, and are factoring
them into the value of each building." Linking a project with financing
helps press the idea of sustainability-and standards or ratings systems
such as LEED-to achieve full mainstream adoption.
Indeed, as LEED ratings systems evolve, they incorporate more and
more aspects of cradle-to-cradle LCA in the requirements for points.
In addition, there are many opportunities for flooring product choice to
contribute to a LEED rating. The table below demonstrates how flooring
materials and products could contribute to LEED ratings,mainly through
credits in the categories of Materials and Resources (MR) and Indoor
Environmental Quality (EQ). Most of these credits are from LEED-NC
(New Construction) but they, or similar ones, are available in LEED
ratings systems for various project types, including LEED-CI for
Commercial Interiors:
Unfortunately, some LEED credits may not allow points for certain
flooring products even as manufacturers strive for the best possible
green practices. For instance, bamboo is usually treated withurea-based formaldehyde, which is prohibited under all EQ 4 credits. But
according to bamboo manufacturers, naturally occurring urea
formaldehyde is found in ambient air in greater quantities than in
bamboo products. "Phenyl-based and melamine-based formaldehydes
are permitted by LEED, but they can be worse than urea-based,
particularly when comparing VOC emission levels," says Teragren's
Knight. Yet many manufacturers accommodate the LEED preferences
by offering special-order product-in Knight's case, an EPI adhesive,
which is formaldehyde-free. "But we are convinced that they need
to rethink that credit to allow for harmless emissions levels from
otherwise highly sustainable products," she adds.
In addition to LEED forprojects, there are other useful standards and
certification programs for products. These product-related
programs help project teams understand the benefits of flooring
materials, systems and finishes for green building. Among the more
useful are:
- Greenguard. An Accredited Standards Developer under ANSI,
the Greenguard Environmental Institute in Marietta, Georgia,
issues its certification for various material and products,
not just flooring. The Greenguard Certification Program
conducts industry independent, third-party testing for lowemitting
products and materials and publishes a product
guide, which is available at no charge. There is a Greenguard
Mold Protection Program as well, which issues its own
certification.
- Floor Score. The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), a
North American manufacturer's trade association, has
created a certification system specifically for flooring products
called "Floor Score." RFCI certifies a resilient flooring product
with a Floor Score seal when the product has been shown by
third-party testing to have low VOC emission levels, surpassing
California high-performance standards and sometimes
garnering LEED EQ 4.3 credit. Though not yet a widely known
mark of sustainability, a specifier may find that products
bearing Floor Score seals pass muster in one or more lifecycle
stage assessments.
- Green Building Initiative. For residential and commercial
construction projects, a valuable counterpoint to the LEED
rating systems is the Green Building Initiative (GBI), which
created GreenGlobes, a building environmental design and
management tool with an online assessment protocol, rating
system, and guidance for green building design, operation and
management.
- EcoCalculator. GBI's GreenGlobes incorporates theAthenaInstitute's Athena EcoCalculator for Assemblies. Developed by
the Athena Institute in association with the University of
Minnesota and Morrison Hershfield Consulting Engineers,
the tool was commissioned specifically for use with GBI's
Green Globes environmental assessment and rating system.
(A generic version is available for use by the sustainable design
community at no cost.)
- Market-specific guidelines. Other examples include Green
Guide for Healthcare (which has partnered with USGBC on
the new LEED-HC rating), CHiPS (for primary and secondary
schools) and the Global Green Energy Consortium (a
nonprofit for the hospitality industry). Some of these are
for building components or utilities, and others may relate
to materials choices.
