A LEED accredited professional from Graniterock of California analyzed the use of Perco-Crete and the LEED (SS) (EA) (MR) (ID) credits that it can qualify for.

LEED® Credits
When concrete is used, it can facilitate the process of qualifying for LEED Green Building Rating System® credits. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) is a rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. The LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution. Graniterock is a USGBC Member. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building. This is done through a comprehensive system which offers project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources. Many products Graniterock sells and manufactures can qualify for LEED credits.

LEED provides a framework for evaluating building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies. The LEED rating system has five main credit categories: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Each category is divided into credits. Further detailed information is available on the USGBC website. Credits are broken into points and additional points can be earned for innovation and becoming a LEED-accredited professional.

Perco-Crete
Perco-Crete is a type of concrete that soaks up water like a sponge. It can be used on roads, driveways, or patios to reduce water runoff. It has all of the strength, durability, and stability qualities of traditional concrete, and also has the ability to absorb surface water. Perco-Crete finishes like traditional concrete without the use of pavers. The environmental advantages are the same as with pervious concrete, except that it recharges the ground water at a slower rate. Perco-Crete offers several environmental advantages that include: groundwater recharge, water resources preservation, storm water runoff reduction, and storm water quality improvement. Perco-Crete is considered a green product and can qualify for LEED credits.
   
Perco-Crete can qualify for the following credits:

(SS) – 3, 6.1, 6.2, & 7.1
(EA) – Prerequisite 2, 1
(MR) – 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
(ID) – 1, 2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Perco-Crete qualifies.

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Credit 3
Brownfield Redevelopment
Requirements: Develop on a site that is documented as contaminated (by means of an ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment) OR on a site classified as a Brownfield by a local, states, or federal government agency. Effectively remediate site contamination.
Points = 1

Credit 6.1
Storm Water Management, Rate and Quantity – Runoff Reduction
Requirements: Runoff rate and quality is reduced by a minimum of 25% for building sites where the existing impervious area is greater than 50%.
Points = 1

Credit 6.2
Storm Water Management: Clean-up Runoff / Treatment
Requirements: Treatment systems designed to remove 80% of the average annual post development total suspended solids (TSS) and 40% of the average annual post development total phosphorus (TP).
Points = 1

Credit 7.1
Reduce Heat Islands - Heat Island Effect: Non-roof
Requirements: Use light-colored / high-albedo materials (reflectance of at least 0.3) and/or open grid pavement for a minimum of 30% of the site's non-roof impervious surfaces. These surfaces include: parking lots, walkways, plazas, etc. Or use an open-grid pavement system (less than 50% impervious) for a minimum of 50% of the parking lot area.
Points = 1

Energy and Atmosphere (EA)

Prerequisite 2
Minimum Energy Performance
Requirements: Design the building to comply with ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1 – 1999 (without amendments) or the local energy code, whichever is more stringent. Required

Credit 1
Optimize Energy Performance, 15 to 60% (New) or 5 to 50% (Old).
Requirements: Reduce design energy cost compared to the energy cost budget for energy systems regulated by ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1 – 1999 (without amendments).
Points = 2 – 10

Materials and Resources (MR)

Credit 1.1
Building Reuse, Maintain 75% of existing Shell*
Requirements: Maintain at least 75% of the existing building structure and shell, (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing materials.)
Points = 1

Credit 1.2
Building Reuse, Maintain 100% of Existing Shell*
Requirements: Maintain an additional 25% (100% total) of existing building structure and shell, (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing materials.) One point in addition to MR Credit 1.1.
Points = 1

Credit 2.1
Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Landfill
Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage at least 50% of construction, demolition and land clearing waste.
Points = 1


 

Credit 2.2
Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Landfill
Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage an additional 25% (75% total) of construction, demolition and land clearing waste. One point in addition to MR Credit 2.1.
Points = 1

Credit 4.1
Recycled Content, Use 5% Post-Consumer or 10% Other
Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the post-industrial content constitutes at least 5% of the total value of the materials in the project.
Points = 1

Credit 4.2
Recycled Content, Use 10% Post-Consumer or 20% Other
Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the post-industrial content constitutes at least 10% of the total value of the materials in the project. One point in addition to Credit 4.1.
Points = 1

Credit 5.1
Local / Regional Materials, 20% Manufactured Locally
Requirements: A minimum of 20% of building materials that are manufactured regionally, within a radius of 500 miles of the project site must be used.
Points = 1

Credit 5.2
Local / Regional Materials, 50% Harvested Locally
Requirements: Of the regionally manufactured materials used in Credit 5.1, a minimum of 50% of building materials that are extracted and harvested locally, must also be used.
Points = 1

* Points for Building Reuse cannot be obtained on the same project as those for new construction.

Innovation and Design Process (ID)

Credit 1
Innovation in Design, Use of High Volume Supplementary Cementitious Materials
Requirements: In writing, identify the intent of the propose innovation credit, the proposed requirement for compliance, the proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the requirements.
Points = 1

Credit 2
LEED Accredited Professional
Requirements: At least one principal participant of the project team has successfully completed the LEED Accredited Professional exam.
Points = 1

 

Credit Category              Points Available
Sustainable Sites                       14   
Water Efficiency                          5    
Energy and Atmosphere              17   
Materials and Resources             13   
Indoor Environmental Quality        15   
                          ______________     
Total Core Points                      64   
Innovation and Design                    5   
                               _______________
Total Points                               69   

LEED Certification Levels   
Certified      16 – 32 Points   
Silver          33 – 38 Points   
Gold           39 – 51 Points   
Platinum     52 – 69 Points