LEED v4 and Masonry: A Win-Win

LEED v4 is the most advanced version of the predominant green rating system in the United States. Through it, the U.S. Green Building Council has taken a new stance on what constitutes sustainable design, requiring more participation from manufacturers in terms of rigorous disclosure and measurement of the full life-cycle impacts of their products. As a result, architects must be ever more aware of the ramifications of not only the products they select, but the manufacturers that produce them. Masonry inherently is a green building material, by virtue of its ingredients, its production process, and its thermal mass. Further, masonry systems deliver greater efficiencies and lower costs than a combination of individual components, further adding to the ability to meet and exceed the requirements of LEED v4. As architects approach LEED v4, and particularly its challenging new Materials and Resources credits, they should be aware of solutions that are best suited to quickly meet these new requirements. In this endeavor, manufacturers of advanced masonry products and systems have a valuable part to play.

End Notes

¹“Ask the Expert.” FacilityManagement.com. Continental Business Media LLC. 2015. Web.

Echelon is the consolidated brand for all masonry products and services of Oldcastle Architectural including Trenwyth® Architectural Masonry, Artisan Masonry Stone Veneers®, Quik-Brik® Concrete Masonry Units, Amerimix® Bagged Goods and a complete portfolio of Performance Upgrades. As a single source masonry portfolio solution, Echelon delivers consistent, reliable product manufactured locally at more than 170 locations and delivered by an unrivaled logistics network. For more information, call (844) 495-8211 or visit EchelonMasonry.com