Total of 5 categories:
This page focuses on Materials & Resources and the corresponding credits.
Based on the environmental mantra: "The most environmentally benign material is the one that you don't use".
Focus on recycled material, reclaim and reuse. In many cases it makes sense to keep the building
structure and rehabilitate the building as opposed to building new.
The impact of construction waste is addressed by attempting to divert it from landfills and to recycle construction waste.
Fast growing and rapidly renewable agricultural based building products are encouraged as a viable option
to avoid using non renewable or materials that diminish difficult to replace resources like old growth forest.
Encourages the use of Forest Stewartship Certified wood in an attempt to stop poaching and or poor forest management practices.
LEED NC has 13 possible points in the Materials & Resources category, whereas LEED CS has 11 points.
Materials & Resources:
1 prerequisite, 7 credits = 13 possible points
MR Storage & Collection of Recyclables:
Provide separation/collection/storage area for recyclable material like glass, paper, plastics, corrugated cardboard, metals etc
MR Credit 1.1 Building Reuse, Maintain 75% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof:
MR Credit 1.2 Building Reuse, Maintain 100% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof:
MR Credit 1.3 Building Reuse, Maintain 50% of Interior Non-Structural Elements:
It is assumed that window assemblies and non-structural roofing material will be
replaced with new more energy efficient materials.
MR Credit 2.1 Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Disposal:
Waste management plan that recycles, reuses and or diverts 50% of construction waste.
MR Credit 2.2 Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Disposal:
Same as above but with a higher percentage.
MR Credit 3.1 Materials Reuse, 5%:
Use salvaged/refurbished/reused materials.
MR Credit 3.2 Materials Reuse,10%:
Similar to above but for 10% of total costs of materials.
MR Credit 4.1 Recycled Content, 10% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer):
Use materials with recycled content materials for 5% of total value of materials in project
MR Credit 4.2 Recycled Content, 20% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer):
Same as above but with a higher percentage.
MR Credit 5.1 Regional Materials, 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally:
use materials that are harvested, extracted, recovered and manufactured within 500 miles of the project.
This helps reduce pollution and energy useage by using local resources.
MR Credit 5.2 Regional Materials, 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally:
Same as above but with a higher percentage.
MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials:
Use rapidly renewable materials for 2.5% of total value of all building materials utilized in the building.
Rapidly renewable refers to materials harvested from plants within a 10 year or shorter cycle.
MR Credit 7 Certified Wood:
use a minimum of 50% wood products that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Go to page:
1 (LEED introduction)
2 (Sustainable Sites)
3 (Water Efficiency)
4 (Energy & Atmosphere)
5 (Materials & Resources)
6 (Indoor Environmental Quality)
Other FAQs in our sustainable series: