Going Beyond LEED

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Going Beyond LEED

Posted by Neil Gordon on Sun, Nov 14, 2010 @ 06:09 AM

What is LEED^®?

The LEED green building certification program encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance.

LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. 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.

Who uses LEED?

Architects, real estate professionals, facility managers, engineers, interior designers, landscape architects, construction managers, lenders and government officials all use LEED to help transform the built environment to sustainability. State and local governments across the country are adopting LEED for public-owned and public-funded buildings; there are LEED initiatives in federal agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Agriculture, Energy, and State; and LEED projects are in countries worldwide, including Canada, Brazil, Mexico and India.

LEED and Window Coverings

LEED also addresses several applications for the use of Window Coverings. LEED points may be awarded for Window Coverings in the following areas:

Daylighting LEED NC 2.2 – EA 1.0

Daylighting Shading Systems work through redirecting the natural light to reduce the usage of artificial lighting and thereby reduce the energy used for powering electric lights and energy used cooling the heat generate by the electric lights.

Energy Reduction LEED NC 2.2 – EA 1.0

Energy reduction through window coverings may be quantified in two primary categories; reduction of solar energy entering a space and thereby reducing the amount energy used for cooling and reduction of thermal energy leaving the space and thereby reducing the energy required for heating.

Recycled Content LEED NC 2.2 – MR 4.1, 4.2

Recycled content can be defined as materials used in the production of products that have been redirected from the waste stream. Usually these materials are associated into two categories, pre-consumer and post-consumer.

Automation LEED NC 2.2 – EA 1.0

Maximum indoor comfort can be achieved through building and automation systems which regulate and allow users discrete management over thermal control and light levels to suit individual needs or those of groups in shared spaces.

Indoor Environmental Quality LEED NC 2.2 – EQ 4.2

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are air pollutants produced from off gassing of materials that can cause respiratory and other health problems. Decorating with Fabric has a full line of low VOC products that pass the GreenGuard® Air Quality Certified® and GreenGuard® for Children and Schools SM standards. All GreenGuard Certified Products have been tested for their chemical emissions performance including for formaldehyde, volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), respirable particles, ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and carbon dioxide.

What LEED doesn't address:

1.      Solar Shade Fabric Performance such as Fabric Content (PVC Free), Glare Control, Openness of Weave, Color of Fabric.

2.      Window covering options for reducing energy leaving the space.

3.      Fabrics and materials used for window treatments and upholstery.

Solar Shade Performance

While Solar Shades play a key role in daylighting concerns with LEED, the USGBC does not address fabric content, glare control performance, the differences in the openess of the various weaves available or the color choices of the fabrics.

Fabric Content:

Let's take a look at the back of the fabric card for Mermet's M-Screen.

Across the top of the chart are codes: Ts, Rs, As and Tv. These codes are interpreted as:

Ts = Solar Transmittance is the energy that passes through the fabric

Rs = Solar Reflectance is the percentage of solar energy reflected

As = Solar Absorption is the amount absorbed by the shade fabric.

Ts + Rs + As = 100%

Tv = Visual Transmittance is the measure of Glare

Visual Transmittance

The number is a ratio of the amount of total solar energy which passes through the glass and screen combined.

M-Screen 5% White/White = 15
This fabric reduces glare by 85%

M-Screen 5% Charcoal/Sky = 5
This fabric reduces glare by 95%

As you can see, the darker the color, the better the performance for reducing glare.

Shading Coefficient

Shading Coefficient is the percentage of solar heat gain through a combination of glass and screen. Light colors have lower shading coefficients and darker colors have higher shading coefficients. Lower shading coefficients means lower heat gain and better thermal performance.

M-Screen 5% White/White = .36
This fabric allows 36% heat gain

M-Screen 5% Charcoal/Sky = .65
This fabric allows 65% heat gain

In terms of reducing heat gain, the lighter the color, the better the performance.

Openness

The most common weaves in solar shades are 1%, 3%, 5% and 10%. You can also look at it as the 3% open weave is also 97% closed. To determine which weave is the appropriate percentage, I usually recommend 1% for areas where light and privacy are needed such as bathrooms. 3% and 5% are great for intense sun exposure such as south and west orientations. For northern exposures, 10% is adequate. Eastern facing windows will get morning sun, so 5% works well.

Fabric Options

We offer a wide range of fabric options from several weavers such as Verosol, Hunter Douglas Contract, Draper, Mermet, Rockland and Phifer. In addition we also have several PVC free fabrics and blackout fabrics. 

Drapery & Window Covering Blog

http://www.dwfcontract.com/Drapery--Window-Covering-Blog/bid/49692/Going-Beyond LEED ___________________________________________________________
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