PRECAST CONCRETE HELPS ATTAIN LEED CERTIFICATION

The LEED rating system divides credits and prerequisites into five categories: Sustainable Sites; Water Efficiency; Energy & Atmosphere; Indoor Environmental Quality; and Innovation and Design Process. Prerequisites and credits are based mostly on established governmental or trade group standards. The number of points a project earns by satisfying the environmental performance criteria of the various LEED credits determines the level at which a project can be certified. Precast concrete manufacturers and contractors can be called upon by the client to provide documentation of a given product's environmental attributes to be submitted with the bid specifications.

Environmental attributes of precast concrete: Precast concrete has environmental attributes that can make it preferable to cast-in-place concrete. Plant casting is more resource-efficient in the use of formwork and reduces waste generated at the construction site. Also, standardized precast elements can be installed more quickly and efficiently, resulting in faster construction times and less on-site equipment noise and emissions. Gaining additional recognition is precast/prestressed concrete, which uses less material to achieve similar load bearing capacity. These types of environmental attributes are important in terms of environmental excellence and contribute to the material's embodied energy.

Review each category below and see how many other attributes precast concrete has for your next building project.