Where Glass Doors Can Contribute to LEED

While the design community has long understood the importance of green building and delivered cost-effective, sustainable spaces, how interior glass contributes to a LEED rating has sometimes been unclear. To set the record straight, interior glass sliding doors can help earn points in several LEED categories.

Energy and Atmosphere (to promote better building energy performance though innovative strategies)

Optimize Energy Performance (EA 1.0). The use of glass minimizes the need for conventional lighting, resulting in significant energy savings. Points earned for reducing lighting power density below the standard:

15% => 1 point
20%=> 2 points
25% => 3 points
30%=> 4 points
35% => 5 points

Materials & Resources (to encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste)

Building reuse (MR1.2): glass walls can be moved to renovate an existing space, reducing demolition in the old space and requiring fewer resources in the new space. Designers must maintain at least 40 or 60 percent by area of the existing non-shell, nonstructural components (e.g. walls, flooring, and ceiling systems). The minimum percentage interior component reuse for each point threshold:

• 40% => 1 point
• 60% => 2 points

Construction Waste Management (MR 2.1). The use of glass versus drywall construction eliminates the waste as the glass is manufactured to fit perfectly in the opening while the drywall comes with standard dimensions that need to be cut on site with some materials left over. The minimum percentage debris left to be recycled or salvaged for each point threshold:

• 50% => 1 point
• 75% => 2 points

Materials Reuse (MR 3.1, 3.2). Reuse of materials and products to reduce demand for virgin materials and reduce waste, thereby lessening impacts of extraction and processing of virgin resources. The minimum percentage materials reused for each point threshold:

• 5% => 1 point
• 10% => 2 points

Recycled Content (MR 4.1 and 4.2). To increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled materials, thereby reducing impacts from extraction and processing of virgin materials. Sliding glass doors are 100 percent recyclable as are aluminum frames and can be reused to fit sustainable projects. The minimum percentage materials recycled for each point threshold:

• 10% => 1 point
• 20% => 2 points

Regional Materials (MR 5.1, 5.2). To increase demand for materials and products extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing transportation impact. The requirements are to use a minimum of 20 percent of the combined value of construction and Division 12 (furniture) materials and products manufactured regionally within a 500 mile (800 kilometer) total travel distance from the project site using a weighted average determined by:

(Distance by rail/3) + (Distance by inland waterway/2) + (Distance by sea/15) + (Distance by all other means) ≤ 500 miles [800 kilometers].