Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Innovation Credit Inquiry for Life Cycle Analysis/Database Development. Intent: The intent of this innovation is to develop a process for the evaluation of the economic and environmental life-cycle impacts of materials. This process was used on this project and will continue to be used on all projects at the Pentagon as it is developed. Description: The Pentagon Renovation Program has developed in-house tools to evaluate the life-cycle impacts of materials. The tools are described below. 1. Sustainable Questionnaire. An interdisciplinary team, with representation from the designers, facilities staff, and the Pentagon Renovation Office, developed a detailed questionnaire regarding life-cycle impacts of materials. The forms were filled out by the sustainable consultant, with input from manufacturers and were used in the final selection of most materials. Materials used in the highest volume and/or representing the highest cost were a priority. 2. Database. The development of the questionnaire was the first phase of a bigger undertaking, which is the development of a Sustainable Products Database. The database will allow the Pentagon Renovation Office to track all products that were considered; which were selected; submittals; cut sheets; cost data and performance data so that this information can be used on future projects. This is a very important undertaking since the Pentagon will be undergoing renovation at least until 2010, but the database will probably be used for a longer period. Due to the successes of the Pentagon Renovation Office on earlier projects, we have been asked to tackle other projects on the Pentagon Reservation. The MEF is just one example of new construction; i.e., an additional project not included as part of the original Renovation Program. The lessons learned after 9/11 will, undoubtedly, generate new requirements and projects. 3. LEED Comparison to Federal Requirements. A matrix was developed by the team to show the Pentagon Renovation Office where LEED overlapped other Federal Requirements such as the Executive Orders and the Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines. This tool was helpful in showing how LEED complemented, and didn\'t contradict, Federal sustainable requirements. If examples of these tools are submitted with an example of how materials were selected based on these tools, could an innovation credit be achieved?