LEED v3: LEED points Summary for ICF’s
August 27th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Alas after a couple weeks of going Topic by Topic of the LEED v3 we now come to the summary of all that you have learned in one simplified chart to see where your possibilities may be. It’s obvious that the biggest contributing factor with and Reward ICF are their inherent energy efficient properties, however there are opportunities for more points, as we gone over.
Here is the complete summary of Reward ICF’s MAXIMUM contribution points to LEEDv3
ICF Construction
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sustainable Sites | |||||
| SS Credit 5.2 | Site Development- Maximize Open Space | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Energy Efficiency | |||||
| EA Prerequisite 2 | Minimum Energy Performance | R | R | R | |
| EA Credit 1 | Optimized Energy Performance | 19 | 19 | 19 | |
| Material and Resources | |||||
| MR Credit 2 | Construction Waste Management | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| MR Credit 4 | Recycled Content | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| MR Credit 5 | Regional Materials | 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| Indoor Environmental Quality | |||||
| IEQ Credit 4.6 | Low-Emitting Materials- Ceilings and Walls | NA | 1 | NA | |
| IEQ Credit 7.1 | Thermal Comfort – Design | 1 | 1 | NA | |
| IEQ Credit 7 | Thermal Comfort – Design | NA | NA | 1 | |
| IEQ Credit 9 | Enhanced Acoustical Performance | NA | 1 | NA | |
| Innovative Design | |||||
| ID Credit 1 | Innovation in Design | 5 | 4 | 5 | |
| Regional Priority (Bonus) | |||||
| MRc 2 | Material & Resources: Recycle/Salvage 75% | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| MRc5 | Material & Resources: 20% Regional | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Total Maximum* | Contribution of ICFs towards LEED v3 | 34 | 35 | 36 |
We are the first ICF company to honestly and accurately show you per section what you can contribute toward using insulating concrete forms. The full LEED v3 ICF Summary is available for you as well.
Don’t expect it to be easy to build to these standards. Don’t expect the points ot be given out either. Each design or structure is unique so its impossible for us to give you specific points for your project. Please consult a LEED AP when designing your project and they will be able to guide you during the early phases of design.
*The total LEED point contribution posted on this website and supporting documents, is a best estimate of maxium point totals based on given public information. The actual LEED contribution may change based on project specifics and should be verified by a LEED Accredited Professional for each project seeking certification.
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LEED v3: Innovation and Design with ICFs
August 20th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Innovation & Design Process (ID): This LEED topic covers credits available for innovation and exceptional performance above and beyond the requirements of the program.
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ID Credit 1 | Innovation in Design | 1-5 | 1-4 | 1-5 |
Areas where the Reward walls can contribute to Innovation in Design credit include:
- Long life cycle of concrete structures
- Enhanced mold growth control
- Use of fly ash, silica fume or slag cement as a substitute for cement in the concrete mix
This is an area that will push architects and designers to a new level. Is the building designed to maximize the life cycles? Is it designed to utilize the benefits of the ICFs? ICFs are the easy part. They offer the versatility needed to do anything you want them to do. Form shapes of walls to thicknesses to accommodating different mixes and substitutes for cement.
Reward is doing the best to give designers and architects the tools they need to design with innovation in mind. We have had recent product releases of the 17 inch iForm, the NoricF4 Custom Metal ICF Frames, and publishing our ICF products as Revit objects, ready for download as BIM objects. These are things in addition to our comprehensive product manual, and on-site training to make sure the structure is designed to the specifications demanded by the owner.
All of these things can help you contribute to this LEED topic.
For Tuesday: LEED v3 Regional Materials, get bonus points for this topic.
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LEED v3: Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ) ICF Summary
August 18th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ): This LEED topic covers indoor air quality requirements for projects
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEQ Credit 4.6 | Low-Emitting Materials – Ceiling and Wall Systems | NA | 1 | NA |
| IEQ Credit 7.1 | Thermal Comfort – Design | 1 | 1 | NA |
| IEQ Credit 7 | Thermal Comfort – Design | NA | NA | 1 |
| IEQ Credit 9 | Enhanced Acoustical Performance | NA | 1 | NA |
Under the credit of Low Emitting Materials, the Reward product does not provide any VOCs, HCFCs or formaldehyde off gassing. All insulation installed in the building interior must meet the testing and product requirements of the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda.
Reward ICF walls can contribute to the Thermal Comfort – Design credit as the virtually air tight and thermal mass wall moderates the transfer of temperature to keep a uniform temperature without temperature swings in the interior conditioned space. This property also increases the energy efficiency of the wall as well.
Contribution to the Enhanced Acoustical Performance credit is possible with the superior STC values that can be achieved with the Reward ICF wall. The wall’s acoustical benefits can be realized in various commercial building applications, including hotels, multi-family condominiums, schools, theaters or structures near airports or interstates.
This section really hits on the importance of a building envelope. Reward insulated concrete form walls will perform exceptionally well based on its solid monolithic properties controlling the Air Changes an Hour (ACH), as witnessed recently in Pennsylvania Parade of Homes such as Reduced allergens, consistent indoor climate, no hot spots or cold spots, no drafts (remember to caulk around your windows!!) All of those benefits come from Insulating Concrete Forms.
For Thursday: LEED v3 Innovation and Design
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LEED v3: ICFs and Materials & Resources
August 13th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Materials and Resources (MR): This LEED topic covers recycling building materials, and reducing construction waste and using regional materials within a 500 mile radius.
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MR Credit 2 | Construction Waste Management | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| MR Credit 4 | Recycled Content | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| MR Credit 5 | Regional Materials | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
Under the credit Construction Waste Management, Reward’s ICF product is designed so that the form reduces waste during construction. The amount of waste that is produced is often possible to recycle as the expanded polystyrene foam and the plastic ties along with the concrete and rebar are recyclable materials. Any waste that is generated is 100% recyclable. See website below for a list of all EPS recycling facilities for every state.
www.epspackaging.org/info.html
Reward’s insulating concrete form products contain recycled content and can contribute to the Recycled Content credit. The Reward plastic tie inserts are manufactured from 100% pre-consumer recycled first generation polypropylene plastic. One half (50%) of the calculated pre-consumer amount is included in the total value of recycled content for a project. The calculations and amount of recycled content that the iForm contributes is shown below.
For example, the 11” iForm tie weight is 188 grams
- 100%, (188 grams) is pre-consumer recycled content
- 1.5 ties per square foot
- 282 grams per square foot recycled content
- Foam Weight: 288 grams/square foot
- Total System: 570 grams/square foot
- Cost of System: $3.18/square foot
- Value of Recycled Content per Square Foot (282/570)($3.18)(50%) = 0.79
- % of product value recycled content $0.79/$3.18
Recycled Content of Reward Forms
| Form | Tie weight/sq ft | Foam weight/sq ft | Total Form weight/sq ft | Cost/sq ft | Value of recycled content/sq ft | % of product value recycled content |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9″ iForm | 272g | 287.6g | 560g | $3.12 | $0.76 | 24% |
| 11″ iForm | 282g | 287.6g | 570g | $3.18 | $0.79 | 25% |
| 13″ iForm | 292g | 287.6g | 580g | $3.25 | $0.82 | 25% |
| 15″ iForm | 303g | 287.6g | 591g | $3.44 | $0.88 | 26% |
| 17″ iForm | 348g | 287.6g | 636g | $3.60 | $0.98 | 27% |
The Reward ICF walls can also contribute under the Regional Materials credit. The wall consists of formwork made from expanded polystyrene foam and plastic ties filled with concrete. Reward’s formwork products are manufactured in several plants around the country. Most areas will be within a 500 mile radius. Concrete consists of cement, water, fine and course aggregates and air. The water, air and aggregates are derived locally. The total value of materials that have been extracted and manufactured within a 500 mile radius has to equal 10% for one point and 20% for 2 points.
Reward will qualify as a regional material for projects located within a 500 mile radius of each of Rewards six manufacturing locations - Post Falls, ID; Colorado Springs, CO; Nixa, MO; Becker, MN; New Brighton, PA; Orlando, FL. Depending upon the location of the project relative to the manufacturing plant, projects located in the following states covered by the circles below should qualify.
For Tuesday: Indoor Environmental Qualtiy (EQ) LEED v3 ICF Summary
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LEED v3: ICFs & Energy and Atmosphere
August 11th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Energy and Atmosphere (EA): This LEED topic covers measures to improve the energy efficiency and reductions in use of ozone depleting refrigerants and green house gases. If you give thought to your building envelope and design with Reward ICFs, it can be incredibly easier to achieve up to the maximum 21 point value.
Building the exterior walls with Reward ICFs contributes to this requirement and credit by providing superior air tightness, insulating value and thermal massing. Use of Reward Wall Systems will result in a better insulated, energy efficient exterior wall system. The continuous solid insulated concrete wall created by Reward will reduce air infiltration and provide thermal mass benefits.
Green
Combined with other components like energy efficient glazing and window units, well insulated roof assemblies, and design strategies like effective solar orientation, Reward can contribute to a project qualifying for minimum energy performance under EA Prerequisite 2, and for additional credits for energy performance beyond the minimum ASHRAE energy code requirements, under the Optimized Energy Performance credit.
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS |
| EA Prerequisite 2 | Minimum Energy Performance | R | R | R |
| EA Credit 1 | Optimize Energy Performance | 1 – 19 | 1 – 19 | 3 – 21 |
Optimized Energy Performance
| New Buildings | Existing Renovation | Points (NC & Schools) | Points (CS) |
| 12% | 8% | 1 | 3 |
| 14% | 10% | 2 | 4 |
| 16% | 12% | 3 | 5 |
| 18% | 14% | 4 | 6 |
| 0% | 16% | 5 | 7 |
| 22% | 18% | 6 | 8 |
| 24% | 20% | 7 | 9 |
| 46% | 42% | 18 | 20 |
| 48% | 44% | 19 | 21 |
EA Prerequisite 2: Reward can contribute to the required prerequisite compliance with meeting the minimum performance standards of ASHRAE 90.1-2007 energy code
Credit is obtained for performance improvements beyond the minimum ASRAE 90.1 energy code requirements (up to 19 points).
For Thursday: Materials and Resources (MR) LEED v3 ICF Summary
Here we will talk about the recycled content of our forms and their ties as well as showing you our Regional Materials Map.
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LEED v3: ICFs Sustainable Sites Summary
August 6th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Sustainable Sites (SS): This LEED topic covers Site Development issues.
Credits are obtained for:
- Proper site selection
- Use of an urban site
- A Brownfield site
- Providing alternative transportation to reduce dependence on single passenger vehicles
- Reducing amount of site disturbed with structure and roads
- Effective storm water management or treatment
- Impact of parking areas and roof areas to heat island effect
- Light pollution reduction.
| Credit | Title | NC | Schools | CS |
| SS Credit 5.2 | Site Development – Maximize Open Space | 1 | 1 | 1 |
By utilizing the Reward ICF walls below grade it provides a basement that can be occupied to maximize open space, and limiting the disturbance of the surrounding area. This will allow contribution to the credit Site Development.
Reward Wall System can contribute towards 1 credit and 1 point toward LEED certification within this topic.
This was quick post, as the decision in the building design, when using ICFs, can contribute to this section, the use of ICF’s does not directly mean this credit will be attained. This will be a potential point based on the design from the architect.
For Tuesday: Energy and Atmosphere LEED v3 ICF Summary
This is where your potential for massive points come in.
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USGBC and LEED v3: ICF series
August 4th, 2009 | Lets Get Technical!
Hello everyone – Reward has worked diligently to summarize the LEED requirements for the new LEED v3 which is in effect. I will be rolling out each of the 7 topics per post, giving you a quick summary of what the topic is as a whole and where Reward Insulating Concrete Forms can contribute.
When Reward Wall Systems’ ICF products are incorporated into the exterior envelope of a building the energy efficiency, material properties and the inherent characteristics of concrete of insulated concrete forms can help contribute in 6 of the 7 topics for LEED v3—New Construction, Schools or Core and Shell categories. Summarized in the next few blogs are the topics and how Reward Wall Systems’ ICFs can contribute towards a LEED certified building.
LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a green building rating system created by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). This system is designed to incorporate energy efficient, sustainable and environmental friendly buildings from the design to the construction and occupancy stages. LEED-NC is used for new construction of offices, institutional buildings (libraries, museums, churches, etc.), hotels and multi-family (4 or more stories). LEED-Schools is used for all types of educational facilities. LEED-Core and Shell is used for commercial office buildings, medical office buildings, retail, warehouse, and lab facilities.
The Seven Topics are
| Sustainable Sites |
| Water Efficiency |
| Energy & Atmosphere |
| Materials & Resource |
| Indoor Environmental Quality |
| Innovation & Design |
| Regional Priority |
| Total Points |
Insulated concrete forms are a sure-fire way to reach your LEED goal because they offer so much in the energy component of the structure, and the new version of LEED made the energy requirements a heavier weight so your potential is even greater! As you see below these are the new breakdowns for certification.
LEED v3 Levels of Certification
| Level | LEED |
| Certified | 40-49 |
| Silver | 50-59 |
| Gold | 60-79 |
| Platinum | 80+ |
Reward Insulating Concrete Forms can Contribute up to 36 points in 6 of the 7 topics!
green
For Thursday- Reward ICFs and Sustainable Sites LEED v3 Summary
Green
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