Documentation for LEED - Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design  (Points) What is LEED? LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by the US Green Building Council. LEED provides a complete framework for assessing building performance and meeting sustainability goals. This framework helps define "Green Building" by establishing a common standard of measurement. Based on well-founded scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. No building products can be LEED-certified but rather the products contribute points towards the LEED rating of a commercial or residential building or interior. To support architects, builders, building owners and designers in their efforts to achieve LEED certification, we've highlighted the LEED Credits that apply for Globus Cork Inc. products. Why does Green Building Matter? The statistics from USGBC are very telling and in brief, here they are. For more research, review the USGBC website (www.usgbc.org). In the US, buildings account for: 36% of total energy use / 65% of electricity consumption 30% of greenhouse gas emissions 30% of raw materials use 30% of waste output / 136 million tons annually 12% of potable water consumption How does Green Building Help? Environmental Benefits Economic Benefits Health & Community Benefits Enhance & protect ecosystems and biodiversity Improve air and water quality Reduce solid waste Conserve natural resources Reduce operating costs Enhance asset value and profits Improve employee productivity & satisfaction Optimize life-cycle economic performance Improve air, thermal and acoustic environments Enhance occupant comfort and health Minimize strain on local infrastructure Contribute to overall quality of life How does Globus Cork Flooring Contribute to Green Building? Globus Cork glue-down cork tiles are the most environmentally-friendly product in the cork flooring line. To make any cork product the cork oak tree is never cut down. Rather the bark of the cork oak tree is harvested from the tree every 9 years, leaving the forest undamaged. The tree rapidly regrows new bark and is not harmed by the bark removal. Globus Cork flooring products are made from the waste pieces of the wine cork stopper manufacturing process. All additives used to make the glue-down tiles are water-based which produce no off-gassing and contain no VOCs. This includes the adhesive, stains and finishes. LEED Points Based upon the LEED framework, Globus Cork Inc cork tiles contribute points toward achieving the following credits: MR -Materials and Resources In the Materials & Resources category, Credit 4.1 and 4.2, Recycled Content of either 10% or 20%. This credit supports the use of recycled materials. 97% of the cork content in Globus Cork tiles is recycled from other cork manufacturing processes which is pre-consumer. Globus Cork will contribute to the recycled content points of the project. In the Materials & Resources category, Credit 5 Local/Regional Materials promotes the use of local or regionally manufactured materials which supports the regional economy and reduces the environmental impacts from transportation. Regional is defined as within a 500 mile radius. Globus Cork manufactures in New York City so the 500 mile radius stretches from Maine through mid-Ohio and down through Raleigh, North Carolina. In the Materials & Resources category, Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials aims to reduce the depletion of raw materials through the use of rapidly renewable materials. Cork is a material that is continually harvested every 9 years for a couple hundred years. Cork is ideal for this credit and our cork tiles can be used for flooring, walls or ceilings. EQ -Indoor Environmental Quality Under the Indoor Environmental Quality category, Credit 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials: Adhesives and Sealant category supports the reduction of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, potentially irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installer and occupants. The adhesives and finishes Globus Cork uses and sells have no VOCs. Under the Indoor Environmental Quality category, Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood and Agrifiber products, the goal again is to reduce the indoor air contaminants. Globus Cork Inc.'s glue-down tiles contain no added urea-formaldehyde as stated under this credit. ID -Innovation and Design Process The final category is the Innovation and Design Process category which provides for the awarding of additional points for exceptional performance above the LEED requirements. Cork's natural cellular structure reduces sound and noise transmission which is particularly helpful in large open spaces. The transmission of vibrations from mechanical equipment is reduced through the use of cork flooring. The insulative qualities of cork improve the effective use of heating and cooling energy better than any other flooring except for carpeting. These are just some ideas that might possibly serve as an innovation credit. Contact us for more information regarding products, designs, sales, distribution and installation. Globus Cork Phone: (718) 742-7264 Fax: (718) 742-7265 Email: info@corkfloor.com