Anticipating a Spring launch for LEED v5, the U.S. Green Building Council’s membership ratification process is underway through March 28. We’ve detailed new features and enhancements expected for LEED v5’s compliance paths. Now, let’s dig into the specifics regarding aluminum fenestration products.

Selection is everything

As we explained earlier, the mindful Materials database will be essential to selecting products and systems that offer the biggest sustainability benefit with respect to the project’s scope and LEED v5 criteria.

Conceived and built in tandem with the anticipated launch of LEED v5, mindful Materials provides a library of products with supporting documentation. Each listing indicates a product’s alignment with its five Impact Categories and LEED credit compliance pathways.

  • Human Health
  • Climate Health
  • Ecosystem Health
  • Social Health and Equity
  • Circular Economy

Aluminum-framed curtain wall, storefront, entrance, window and daylight control systems will correspond to Human Health or Climate Health Impact Categories, and LEED Materials and Resources (MR) credits. LEED v5 combines all MR credits into one compliance category.

Sample application

Let’s envision a best-case scenario for LEED v5 MR compliance. Consider a mid-rise office building planned for an urban area trying to maintain harmony with an adjoining wooded area.

  • The project team may select colors for the exterior building envelope to blends with the natural surroundings. These could include a curtain wall system with aluminum framing painted green and bird-safe, blue-tinted glass.
  • Low- or no-VOC finishes, sealant and gasket may be prioritized.
  • Secondary (recycled) aluminum billet may be specified.
  • Local manufacturers and suppliers may be preferred to minimize transportation to within 50 miles of the job site.

These are all good fenestration choices to support a sustainable, low-carbon footprint project. The next step will be to document the product selections and put the plan into action.

Using the LEED v5 MR multi-attribute compliance path option, the project team might:

  • Chose products with a Health Product Declaration (HPD), Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) or Declare label; and ideally, all of these. Remember that an EPD only can be applied to one Impact Category.
  • Ensure compliance documents are available and similar across multiple products, such as storefront, curtain wall and entrance systems.
  • Select products with documented secondary or recycled material wherever possible. Remember to review the product’s material lifespan and recyclability after its use on the building.
  • Source and purchase materials and products that are manufactured within 100 miles of the project site. With supporting documentation, LEED v5 MR values these products at 200% of their base cost.

LEED v5MR’s Building Product Selection and Procurement credit (updated from Building Product Disclosure and Optimization) can award up to five points based on the following calculation.

In summary, LEED v5 has undertaken a much more streamlined process to align future building design with sustainable goals. As a result, the compliance path and required documentation toward LEED certification should be an easier undertaking moving forward. Customers and LEED project teams working with Tubelite aluminum framing and fenestration will continue to benefit from our sustainable product choices, supporting documentation and knowledgeable team.