Getting Green Building Certification Points

Will using recycled industrial materials help my project receive points for green building certification? How?


Many green building certifications give points for using materials with recycled content or post-consumer recycled content. Industrial materials fall into both of these categories. Contact the relevant certification body for necessary proof and qualifications.

RESOURCES

Green Buildings

  • EPA's Green Buildings Website
    Brings together a collection of EPA programs that relate to green building.
  • Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG)
    The WBDG is a web-based portal providing government and industry practitioners with one-stop access to up-to-date information on a wide range of building-related guidance, criteria and technology from a 'whole buildings' perspective. Currently organized into three major categories—Design Guidance, Project Management and Operations and Maintenance—at the heart of the WBDG are resource pages, and brief summaries on particular topics.
  • DOE High Performance Buildings
    Link to information about whole-building design, including costs and benefits; tools such as design guidelines, software, and brochures; and information about high performance building technologies such as methods, materials and equipment.
  • LEED
    Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED provides building owners and operators a framework for identifying and implementing green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions.

Other Green Programs

  • Green Highways Partnership
    The Green Highways Partnership (GHP) is a voluntary, public/private initiative intended to revolutionize the nation's transportation infrastructure. Through concepts such as integrated planning, regulatory flexibility, and market-based rewards, GHP seeks to incorporate environmental streamlining and stewardship into all aspects of the highway lifecycle.
  • Sustainable Sites Initiative
    The Sustainable Sites Initiative is an interdisciplinary partnership between the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, the United States Botanic Garden and a diverse group of stakeholder organizations to develop guidelines and standards for landscape sustainability. The motivation behind this initiative stems from the desire to protect and enhance the ability of landscapes to provide services such as climate regulation, clean air and water, and improved quality of life. Sustainable Sites™ is a cooperative effort with the intention of supplementing existing green building and landscape guidelines as well as becoming a stand-alone tool for site sustainability.