This course is part of the Multifamily Housing Academy

Materials and Resources - Building product disclosure and optimization - sourcing of raw materials (up to 2 points)
The intent of this credit is “to encourage the use of products and materials for which life cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life cycle impacts”; and to “reward project teams for selecting products verified to have been extracted or sourced in a responsible manner.”

Option 2. leadership extraction practices (1 point)
Use products that meet at least one of the responsible extraction criteria below for at least 25%, by cost, of the total value of permanently installed building products in the project.

• Recycled content. Recycled content is the sum of postconsumer recycled content plus one-half the preconsumer recycled content, based on cost. Products meeting recycled content criteria are valued at 100% of their cost for the purposes of credit achievement calculation.

Materials and Resources - Building product disclosure and optimization - material ingredients (up to 2 points)
The intent of this credit is “to encourage the use of products and materials for which life cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life cycle impacts”; and to reward manufacturers who produce products with verified improved life cycle impacts and project teams for selecting such products.

Option 1. material ingredient reporting (1 point)
Use at least 20 different permanently installed products from at least five different manufacturers that use any of the following programs to demonstrate the chemical inventory of the product to at least 0.1% (1000 ppm).

• Manufacturer Inventory. The manufacturer has published complete content inventory for the product following these guidelines:
• Health Product Declaration. The end use product has a published, complete Health Product Declaration with full disclosure of known hazards in compliance with the Health Product Declaration open Standard.
• Cradle to Cradle. The end use product has been certified at the Cradle to Cradle v2 Basic level or Cradle to Cradle v3 Bronze level.
• Declare. The Declare product label must indicate that all ingredients have been evaluated and disclosed down to 1000 ppm.
• ANSI/BIFMA e3 Furniture Sustainability Standard. The documentation from the assessor or scorecard from BIFMA must demonstrate the product earned at least 3 points under 7.5.1.3 Advanced Level in e3-2014 or 3 points under 7.4.1.3 Advanced Level in e3-2012.
• Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate. The product has been certified at the Bronze level or higher and at least 90% of materials are assessed by weight.
• Product Lens Certification
• Facts - NSF/ANSI 336: Sustainability Assessment for Commercial Furnishings Fabric at any certification level
• USGBC approved program. Other USGBC approved programs meeting the material ingredient reporting criteria.

CONCLUSION

The multifamily housing market has never been more competitive, and expectations have never been higher. Developers and owners who commit to providing healthy, sustainable, long-lasting dwellings will not only enjoy a competitive edge and attract investors committed to ESG principles, they will reap financial rewards by creating long-term value.

Extruded aluminum trim can help impart a desirable aesthetic to both interiors and exteriors of today’s multifamily buildings, while at the same time supporting sustainability goals and contributing to the long-term value of the project. Long-lasting, durable, and 100 percent recyclable, extruded aluminum trim holds up to a life cycle cost analysis and comes out ahead of other common alternatives such as PVC.

From shiny, modern anodized finishes to a rainbow of power coating choices, durable, visually appealing coatings can be used to affordably achieve design goals and make multifamily projects stand out.

When specified for interiors, extruded aluminum trim can be used to meet the challenges particular to multifamily projects, including high turnover rates and every-day wear and tear that comes with having occupied dwelling units. At the same time, these products can contribute to healthy indoor environments and help attract Millennial and Gen-Z residents, who care deeply about health, well-being, and environmental responsibility.

Extruded aluminum products can help achieve the goals of popular green building programs, including LEED, signaling a commitment to sustainability and creating buildings that will stand the test of time.

Juliet Grable is an independent writer and editor focusing on building science, resilient design, and environmental sustainability. She contributes to continuing education courses and publications through Confluence Communications. www.confluencec.com