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BioCel® Outlines LEED Certification Qualifiers
In recent years, demand has grown rapidly for building materials that fulfill the requirements of LEED, the benchmark certification program for green building projects sponsored by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, and buildings that carry its seal of approval are demonstrating advantages not only in public relations appeal, but studies show that energy-efficient LEED buildings cost less to operate, have higher occupancy rates, enhance occupant health and well-being and increase investment returns compared to their non-LEED counterparts. Though desirable, the LEED certification process, with its complex formulas and calculations, takes considerable commitment and planning on the part of architects and designers. Understandably, green product manufacturers strive to provide accurate and concise information to the building community about their products' LEED-worthy attributes.
One common misconception about LEED is that building materials themselves qualify for LEED certification, when in fact it is only a project's total LEED point score that determines whether the project qualifies for LEED, and if so, which of the three levels of certification it will achieve. Out of a possible 69 elective points, buildings that earn 26 qualify for the standard LEED certification. Silver level requires 33 points, 39 are needed for Gold, and Platinum projects must earn at least 52 points.
This document limits itself to credit categories listed in the LEED for New Construction & Major Renovations protocol, version, 2.2. Other LEED protocols, such as LEED CI for Commercial Interiors, and the still developing LEED for Homes differ somewhat in their requirements for credit.
Many flooring manufacturers were early adopters of green technology. A prime example of this environmental initiative is found in BioCel® high-performance polyurethane backing systems for commercial carpets. Developed by Dalton, Georgia-based Universal Textile Technologies, BioCel backings contain Celceram™, a highly-refined mineral compound recovered from electric utility power plants, combined with Agrol® polymers created from domestically grown soybeans, a rapidly renewable resource. BioCel laminate and BioCel attached cushion backings contain recycled, recovered, and renewable materials, and are third-party certified by Scientific Certification Systems to be 60% to 70% green by weight.
 
BioCel backings contribute to totals under LEED NC in the following categories:
MATERIALS & RESOURCES
MR Credit 4.1: Recycled Content -- 1 point
For this credit, the total project must contain 10% (based on cost) recycled content, in a ratio of 2:1 post-consumer to post-industrial recycled content.
MR Credit 4.2: Recycled Content -- 1 point in addition to MR credit 4.1
This credit requires the total project to contain 20% (based on cost) recycled content in a 2:1 ratio of post consumer to post-industrial recycled material.
MR Credit 5.1: Regional Materials -- 1 point
This credit is earned if 10% of the total materials needed for a project are extracted, harvested or recovered, and manufactured within a 500-mile radius. If only a fraction of the material is from the region, that amount by weight will contribute to the regional credit value.
MR Credit 5.2: Regional Materials -- 1 point in addition to MR credit 5.1
This credit is earned if 20% of a project's total materials meet the criteria outlined in section 5.1. BioCel contributes towards regional materials credits only if it is used in a building built within 500 miles of Dalton, Georgia.
MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials -- 1 point
To qualify for this credit, 2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products used in the project (based on cost) must come from materials made from plants that are typically harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
EQ Credit 4.3: Low-Emitting Materials: Carpet Systems -- 1 point
The requirements of this credit are met if all carpet installed in the building interior meets the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program. Additionally, all cushion used must qualify for CRI's Green Label program, and all adhesive must meet the prerequisite standards of EQ Credit 4:1 VOC limit of 50 g/L.
Summary
According to the USGBC, LEED certified buildings represent just 1% of the total U.S. commercial building stock, and the current demand for green buildings is outstripping the available supply. As environmentally responsible building becomes more and more important, not only to the environment, but to the long-term value of commercial property, LEED certification will become more widespread, and the complex vocabulary of codes and credits associated with LEED will work its way into the general contracting lexicon. This document attempts to explain in simple terms BioCel's role in contributing towards LEED project totals. Further information about LEED is available at www.usgbc.org/LEED.
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