Reclaimed and Sustainably-Sourced Wood Paneling & Flooring Can Work for Your Next LEED Building Project

What is LEED?

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program that evaluates the environmental performance of buildings, including the design, constructions, operation and maintenance. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, this standard includes a set of prerequisites measured by earning enough credits in six different categories.

“LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings” - USGBC website

LEED buildings can help reduce carbon emissions and move towards a greener future of construction. A 2014 study done at UC Berkeley found that LEED buildings contributed 50% fewer greenhouse gases than conventionally built structures due to water consumption and 48% fewer greenhouse gases due to solid waste.

LEED buildings emphasize using green building materials, energy efficiency, waste reduction and water conservation. Reclaimed wood and sustainably-harvested wood are ideal materials to use in LEED projects and offer a variety of LEED credit options.

LEED v4 Credits for Reclaimed & Sustainable Wood

Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials: Possible 2 Points

This credit encourages the use of materials with lifecycle transparency and preferable lifecycle impacts. Products with HPDs, Declare labels, and/or product ingredient disclosure are eligible for this credit. Many of our products have HPD documentation as well as a Declare label for our solid unfinished and pre-finished wood flooring and paneling.

Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction (Option 1): Possible 5 points

This credit encourages the adaptive reuse of materials, including reclaimed or salvaged wood, for structural or non-structural elements of a building. This is the perfect opportunity to include reclaimed or salvaged wood to a project.

Environmentally Preferable Products (Option 2): Possible 4 Points

The intent for this credit involves increasing demand for products that reduce waste and minimize consumption, including reclaimed and recycled materials. This credit incentives using reclaimed, salvaged and/or FSC Certified wood in a project to minimize material consumption and support responsible materials-sourcing. All of our wood flooring and paneling is FSC Certified, reclaimed or salvaged.

Material Ingredients (Option 1): Material Ingredients Reporting: Possible 1 Point

This credit emphasizes ingredient transparency for building materials used in LEED projects. Transparency documentation such as a Declare label and Health Product Declarations (HPDs) are both suitable for providing information about the life cycle impact of the material. Many of our products have published HPDs as well as a Declare label for our solid unfinished and pre-finished wood flooring and paneling.

LEED v4 Credits for Low-VOC Materials

Low-Emitting Materials: Possible 3 Points

This credit includes volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions for indoor air quality and emissions from materials. Using materials that are naturally low-VOC or that use low or zero-VOC finishes and coatings ensures a healthy indoor air environment. All of the wood finishes we use are either zero or low-VOC, making them a healthy choice for interior spaces.

LEED v4 Credits for Regional Materials

Regional Priority: Possible 4 Points

This credit offers an incentive for addressing a geographically specific priority. Using regional materials in a project may qualify for a certain number of credits. Inquire with us about sourcing reclaimed and/or sustainably-sourced wood nearby, specifically for your project.

There may be other LEED credits available for using reclaimed, salvaged and sustainably-harvested wood. Using recycled and salvaged materials is a sustainable and beneficial strategy for new construction projects. Contact us here at Anthology Woods for more information on how our wood paneling and flooring can work for your next LEED certified project.