Following the LEED Standard

In order to achieve the LEED points with waste water management, the property must be able to successfully manage all of the required storm water. As for the heat island effect, a certain percentage of hardscape or paving doesn’t have to be compliant with the SRI threshold as long as the overall area or a percentage of compliant materials outweigh the non-compliant materials.

Another opportunity for contractors to obtain LEED points is through the innovation category. “The innovation category is if a contractor uses a strategy on a project and the services or product isn’t covered in the other categories it may be covered under the innovation category,” Backhus says. “The innovation section gives you the opportunity to propose strategies that are innovative. For example, that would work if you have a certain application of material that would provide environmental benefits.”

When completing LEED projects contractors must also be aware that some information may be required to verify credits. “Contractors may be asked to track a portion of their work via logs or some other sort of data,” Backhus says. “The information will track the products they are using. They may also be asked to work more closely with designers.”

While pavement maintenance contractors may not encounter many LEED projects, it is worth becoming familiar with the aspects of LEED. “Since the beginning of LEED it has been on a growth trajectory,” Backhus says. “There has been consistent growth even when the economy dipped.”

To become more familiar with LEED, contractors can become accredited in several different areas of LEED. “Being accredited is helpful to have a better understanding of the requirements, and it is also required to have a LEED AP on projects,” Backhus says.

Another opportunity is to join a local chapter. “Whether or not you are a member company or a LEED AP you can get involved with your local chapter,” she says. “Your chapter can provide you with a network of professionals already working on LEED projects in your area. It’s a great way to get familiar with projects and get familiar with contractors working with LEED.”