LEED 2.0

Materials & Resources Credit 6 – Rapidly Renewable Materials

Intent:Reduce the use and depletion of finite raw, and long-cycle renewable materials by

replacing them with rapidly renewable materials.

Requirements:

Specify rapidly renewable building materials for 5% of total

building materials.

Submittals:

  • Provide written documentation from the manufacturer,declaring the rapidly renewable materials contained in thecandidate products.
  • Provide specifications and contractor submittals highlightingrapidly renewable materials installed.
  • Provide a spreadsheet of all materials used on the projecthighlighting rapidly renewable materials. Include manufacturerinformation, the costs of all materials for theproject, and calculations demonstrating that 5% of buildingmaterials are rapidly renewable.

Notes:

  • Conventional building materials requirelarge inputs of natural resources, capital,and time.
  • Rapidly renewable resources are thosematerials that substantially replenish themselvesfaster than traditional extractiondemand (i.e., planted and harvested in lessthan a 10 year cycle) and do not result insignificant biodiversity loss, increase erosion,air quality impacts, and that aresustainably managed.
  • Bamboo flooring
  • Wheatgrass cabinetry
  • Sunflower seed board
  • Poplar OSB
  • Wool carpet
  • Linoleum flooring
  • Cotton batt insulation
  • Because rapidly renewable resources maybe harvested more quickly, they requireless land to produce the same quantityof material, which equates to lower landcosts.
  • The land saved from the production requirementsof rapidly renewable resourcesmay be used for a variety of otheruses including open space and other agriculturalproducts.
  • Because many products made from rapidlyrenewable resources are relatively new,their long-term performance characteristicsmay be unknown.

Standards:

There is no standard referenced for this credit.

Definitions:

None Provided

Sample Questions:

  1. Which of the following is NOT a required part of the submittal package for Rapidly Renewable Materials?
  2. Documentation from the manufacturer declaring the materials are rapidly renewable
  3. Specifications highlighting the rapidly renewable materials installed in the project
  4. A spreadsheet showing the cost of all materials used along with a calculation of the renewable content %
  5. Installation guides for proper application of rapidly renewable materials in the project
  1. How many years’ life cycle generally defines whether a material is a rapidly renewable material?
  2. 10 Years
  3. 8 Years
  4. 5 Years
  5. 15 Years
  1. Which of the following materials is not rapidly renewable?
  2. Poplar OSB
  3. Southern pine
  4. Wool Carpet
  5. Linoleum
  1. Which of the following is not a component of the equation used in calculating rapidly renewable content for a project?
  2. Rapidly renewable materials weight
  3. Total Materials cost
  4. Total Recycled Materials weight
  5. Rapidly renewable materials cost
  6. A and C above
  7. B and D above

Answer Key:

1 – D, 2 – A, 3 – B, 4 - A