Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Our project is a hotel in Manhattan. The hotel is committed to using rapidly renewable materials in the form of wool carpeting and PLA fabrics. PLA (polylactic acid) fabrics are biodegradable polyesters derived from renewable resources such as corn starch and sugarcane. The hotel is also planning to use leather on the headboards in all guestrooms and would like to determine if leather products should be included in the calculations. The LEED-NCv2.2 reference guide defines rapidly renewable materials as an \'agricultural product, both fiber and animal, that takes 10 years or less to grow or raise, and to harvest in an ongoing fashion\'. Can the leather be considered a rapidly renewable material? How does the USGBC determine which animal agricultural products are included? Are there established standards or restrictions that must be met by the industry (i.e. humane treatment, use of by-products of other industries, etc.)?