Photo: Trendway Corp, Product: TrendwallGreen design practices have become increasingly important recently. One way to provide documentation of green practices is through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System. The LEED project certification process encourages adherence to widely accepted green design criteria. Here are some other benefits offered by the LEED rating system: “LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.”
Source: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222
There are many reasons why LEED project certification can be an asset:
- Be recognized for your commitment to environmental issues in your community, your organization (including stockholders), and your industry;
- Receive third party validation of achievement;
- Qualify for a growing array of state & local government initiatives;
- Receive marketing exposure through USGBC Web site, Greenbuild conference, case studies, and media announcements
Source: http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=684
ACI designers encourage clients to use Green Design practices in any project whether they are seeking LEED project certification or not. Most furniture and finishes manufacturers are moving toward greener manufacturing processes; and are offering product options that reduce environmental impact. For example, many fabric and wall covering manufacturers use recycled content in certain products. The designers at ACI are continually learning about the green practices and products provided by their preferred manufacturers. We are able to assist clients in achieving LEED points in the Materials and Resources, and Indoor Air Quality categories by selecting interior finishes, materials and furniture that help meet the requirements.
There are a number of ways to achieve LEED points through the selection of finishes and furniture. A single type of finish like carpet can help achieve points in two different categories; if there is recycled nylon in the fibers and backing of the selected product, it can help achieve a point under the Materials & Resources category. The same carpet may also be considered a low-emitting material, if it has passed the appropriate tests, thus allowing it to help gain a point in the Indoor Air Quality category. Whether or not the use of this carpet goes toward these points also depends on the quantity of the carpet that is used in the building compared to the overall square footage. More information about LEED credits for Commercial Interiors can be found at this link: http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=684. Below are links to information about Green Design and LEED provided by various finish and furniture manufacturers.
Photo: Sherwin Williams
Products: Harmony Interior LatexPaint: Sherwin Williams has made strides in lowering VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content as well as using certain sustainable materials in many products. Sherwin Williams has developed the GreenSure designation which labels products that reduce environmental impact. Some commercial products include Harmony® Interior Latex Coating and ProgreenTM 200 coating.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/.../green_specifications/
Wall Covering: Koroseal offers products that could meet a number of LEED criteria. Some wall covering products contain recycled content; some products contain materials that are manufactured 
Photo: Versa Wallcovering
Product: Second Look
Pattern: Marseilles regionally. Koroseal also offers adhesives that qualify as low-emitting materials. http://www.koroseal.com/leed_points.php. Additionally, Koroseal’s wall covering reclamation program can give credit towards the management of construction waste on renovation projects. Koroseal will take back vinyl wall covering that is to be removed and recycle that material into new products. http://www.koroseal.com/environment.php Other wall covering manufacturers are offering similar reclamation programs, as well as products that meet LEED criteria for recycled content and regional materials. Versa and Cirqa Wall covering produce the Second Look product which is low in VOCs. Second Look Wall coverings contains recycled materials, and it can be repeatedly recycled into new products. http://versawallcovering.com/environment.
Photo: ShawCarpet
Product: Ecoworx backing & Eco Solution Q
Pattern: SurfFloor Covering: Carpet manufacturers have been making efforts in reducing the environmental impact of their products and manufacturing process for many years. Shaw Contract offers carpet products that can help earn credits in any of four categories: including recycled content, local/regional materials, low-emitting materials, and innovation in design. To learn more about Shaw’s green products, follow this link: http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/.../ cap_sustain_products.shtml. More information about the LEED credits that can be earned by using Shaw carpet, follow this link: http://www.shawcontractgroup.com/.../cap_leed.shtml. Crossville Inc. offers some porcelain and ceramic tile products that contain recycled and low-emitting materials. Many of Crossville’s products are made in Crossville, Tennessee; which may allow for a credit for regional materials. http://crossvilleinc.com/resources_LEED.cfm.
Acoustical Ceiling Systems: Often dropped ceilings are used in commercial spaces for a number of reasons that are not all environmental. However, the environmental aspects of mineral fiber ceiling tiles are considerable. These products contain a large amount of recycled materials. Mineral fiber tiles may also help gain credits for Indoor Air Quality, since they contain low-emitting materials. Armstrong offers tools to generate LEED credit information on their ceiling products: http://www.armstrong.com/.../article50807.html.
A LEED credit can be earned if all systems furniture and seating meets requirements for Indoor Air Quality. This requirement specifies that this furniture earns either Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certification or meets certain emissions criteria.
Seating: The following manufacturers offer seating that has been Greenguard Certified.
All Seating: http://www.allseating.com/.../index.asp
Humanscale: http://www.humanscale.com/.../environmental.cfm
Sit On It Seating: http://www.sitonit.net/.../aboutus-sustainability.asp
Systems Furniture: Trendway Choices and Contrada series furniture is SCS Indoor Advantage Certified, which qualifies for the same Low-Emitting Materials credit. http://www.trendway.com/.../ChoicesContrada_LEED.pdf.
Photo: Trendway, Choices Systems
Case Goods: Even though case goods are not required to meet Greenguard or equivalent standards under the same credit as systems furniture and seating, a credit can be earned through the use of low-emitting composite wood materials and laminate adhesives. This credit can be applied with the use of case goods made with low-emitting materials. Below are a few links to case goods that can qualify.
First Office, Pulse Series: http://www.firstoffice.com/products/casegoods/pulse/pulse.php
Indiana Furniture: http://www.indianafurniture.com/new_furniture/index.html