The construction industry had the chance to gather for all things sustainable at Greenbuild, Nov. 2-3 in San Francisco. At the annual event, leaders from a variety of construction segments come together to learn about and discuss products, services and technology that impact the sustainable built environment.
The Inflation Reduction Act signed in August undoubtedly was discussed at the event as it invests $369 billion in climate solutions and environmental initiatives. Experts believe it will take two to three years to see the impact of the act. As the construction industry keeps striving toward greener goals and waits to see the outcome of the act’s financial investment, we can look at green rating systems and Flex-Ability Concepts’ role in sustainable construction.
Rating Systems
In the construction industry, there are many sustainable rating systems. There are three that are well-known: LEED, Green Globes and the National Green Building Standard.
LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is the most used third-party verification system for sustainable buildings.
USGBC reports, of all LEED credits:
· 35% are related to climate change
· 20% directly impact human health
· 15% impact water resources
· 10% affect biodiversity
· 10% relate to the green economy
· 5% influence community
· 5% affect natural resources
LEED applies to all buildings—residential, commercial and industrial—and new construction and renovations. Certification levels are (lowest to highest): Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. With a LEED certification, building owners know they have an energy-efficient structure that has lower water and energy consumptions with fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The latest generation is LEED v4.1, and you can discover more at www.usgbc.org.
Green Globes is designed for commercial buildings and differentiates itself by offering customized guidance in building design, construction and operation. It is an online rating and certification tool used primarily in the United States and Canada. Each certification is verified by the Green Building Initiative to ensure the plans meet the criteria.
The partnership offers real-times customer support, comprehensive assessment roadmaps, onsite third-party building assessment, and best practices guidance for green construction and operations. For Green Globes, 1,000 points are available, and a project must get 35% of them (350 points equals certification of One Green Globe). Projects can certify at higher tiers by earning more points. Find more at www.greenglobes.com.
The National Green Building Standard is the first residential green building standard to undergo the full consensus process and receive approval from the American National Standards Institute. The standard debuted in 2009, and the latest version is from 2020. Certification levels are Bronze, Silver, Gold or Emerald, and they are point-based with a total of 1,100 points available. Learn more at www.ngbs.com.
Add It Up
Selecting a metal product is a solid sustainable choice because it is a natural material made with recycled content. Metal products also can be recycled at the end of their lifespan. All Flex-Ability Concept’s products are made with steel from American mills.
Flex-Ability Concepts’ products can contribute to LEED credits in the materials and resources area:
• Material Credit #4.1, Recycled Content (5%). Flex-Ability Concepts’ products exceed this criterion.
• Material Credit #4.2, Recycled Content (10%). Flex-Ability Concepts’ products exceed this criterion.
If you are working on a LEED project that has a curved detail, consider selecting light-gauge steel framing from Flex-Ability Concepts. Just like everyone who gathered at Greenbuild, we recognize the importance of green construction and are eager to contribute to more sustainable projects.