LEED Flooring Solutions for Your LEED-Certified Building

Many municipalities and states recognize the social and environmental benefits of green buildings and have set standards and incentives for developers to encourage greener construction of commercial buildings, homes and neighborhoods. These include requirements for building design plans to meet specified Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) requirements. LEED is available for virtually all building types, and provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

Sherwin-Williams recognizes the need to be at the forefront in developing products that contribute to sustainability. Sherwin-Williams resinous flooring systems, with few exceptions, will contribute to LEED points.

What Is LEED Flooring?

LEED is a green program administered by the US Green Building Council that promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.

It was established as a method to ensure that new buildings, homes and renovation projects are taking measures to promote healthier and more sustainable practices. Since its inception in 1998, LEED has become the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

Installing LEED flooring helps buildings earn points toward LEED credit to assist in achieving LEED status.

What Are LEED Requirements? 

A complex process is in place to qualify for USGBC’s LEED certification. There are many levels of standards and guidelines, and detailed documentation to navigate through. The USGBC’s website is an excellent repository of information and tools to assist this process. 

Projects can earn credits by providing documentation showing strategies were followed to create a healthy and sustainable building. Examples of this include using low-emitting materials to improve air quality, using long-lasting products to reduce waste and installing systems that reduce water and energy consumption such as solar lighting and high-efficiency toilets.  

There are Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) to determine if a project can pursue LEED. Program credits allow project teams to customize how they pursue LEED. Projects are broken down into the following rating systems:

•  BD+C Building Design and Construction
• ID+C Interior Design and Construction
•  O+M Building Operations and Maintenance
• ND Neighborhood Development
• Homes
• Cities and Communities
• LEED Recertification
• LEED Zero

Within each rating system there are categories to earn points toward the project’s overall LEED certification. Points can be earned in the following areas:

• Integrative Process
• Location and Transportation
• Sustainable Sites
• Water Efficiency
• Energy and Atmosphere
• Materials and Resources
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Innovation
• Regional Priority

Within each category, there are numerous subcategories which indicate how many points can be earned. A project must satisfy all prerequisites and earn a minimum number of points to be certified. The points, once added together, determine a project’s certification level: Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum.

Who Manufactures LEED-Certified Flooring?

There’s no such thing as LEED-certified flooring. LEED certifies buildings, not products or manufacturers. Therefore, you can’t exactly buy and install a floor that is LEED certified. However, LEED flooring options can add credit to your LEED application and help you achieve LEED certification.

Does Resinous Flooring Qualify for LEED Credits?

Yes, Sherwin-Williams resinous floors qualify for LEED credits under the categories of LEED v4 / 4.1 Building Design and Construction and Interior Design and Construction.

LEED for Building Design and Construction 

LEED for Building Design and Construction (LEED BD+C) gives the framework for new construction and major renovations to maximize the benefits of building sustainable green buildings that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consider the impact on human health and well-being.

BD+C also includes applications for: Schools, Retail, Hospitality, Data Centers, Warehouses & Distribution Centers and Healthcare.

Under the LEED BD+C rating system, there are three eligible credits for resinous flooring:

1. Materials and Resources
   Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
2. Materials and Resources
   Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients – Health Product Declaration (HPD)
3. Indoor Environmental Quality  – Low Emitting Materials (CPDH v1.1-2010 / CDPH v1.2-2017)

LEED for Interior Design and Construction 

LEED for Interior Design and Construction (LEED ID+C) awards credits to project teams who are developing indoor spaces that are “better for the planet and for people.” LEED ID+C is for new and existing projects, specifically developed for complete interior fit-out projects for commercial interiors.

ID+C also includes applications for Retail and Hospitality.

Under the LEED ID+C rating system, there are three eligible credits for resinous flooring:

1. Materials and Resources
   Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
2. Materials and Resources
   Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Material Ingredients – Health Product Declaration (HPD)
3. Indoor Environmental Quality  – Low Emitting Materials (CPDH v1.1-2010 / CDPH v1.2-2017)

Sherwin-Williams Dedication to LEED Flooring Solutions 

As a global provider of protective floor coatings, Sherwin-Williams High Performance Flooring is dedicated to meeting standards for various sustainable building programs, including LEED®, set by the U.S. Green Building Council. Through our team of industry experts, we develop commercial flooring systems that are durable and eco-conscious—one feature should not be sacrificed for the other. 

Sherwin-Williams offers commercial flooring solutions that earn more points toward LEED credit than any other coatings manufacturer. We provide the widest range of systems that contribute to the Low-Emitting Materials credit. Our investment in establishing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which contribute to LEED’s Materials & Resources credit, is unmatched in the industry. In total, commercial flooring systems from Sherwin-Williams can contribute up to five points in LEED credit.

Our mission at Sherwin-Williams is to create products that protect and preserve our customers’ most valued assets. Our commercial flooring solutions are engineered to reduce maintenance and environmental impact. They deliver the high-performance level architects and specifiers demand and are competitively priced to keep material costs controlled.

Looking for LEED flooring? Sherwin-Williams Offers Flooring Solutions That Earn More Points Toward LEED Credit Than Any Other Coatings Manufacturer! 

At Sherwin-Williams, our mission is to provide you with the best possible LEED flooring solution to meet your facility’s needs. Our team of experts understands the ins and outs of LEED flooring credit and its contribution to achieving LEED status. Sherwin-Williams is continuously updating our documentation to current standards. Contact a Sherwin-Williams representative  for specifics on your system or you can browse here to learn more about our LEED flooring systems.