What is a green home?
LEED for Homes is a third party-certified rating system that
promotes the design and construction of high-performance
green homes. Simply stated, a ‘green’ home uses less
energy, water, and natural resources; creates less waste;
and is healthier for the people living inside.
As individual components among a long list of building
materials, Shaw flooring products can contribute towards
the design and certification of a structure being built
according to LEED standards. However, it is important to
remember that individual products cannot be LEED certified;
only building projects.
This document is intended to assist in determining those
areas where Shaw flooring products may be additive to the
pursuit of credits required for LEED certification.
The LEED Rating System was
developed by the United States Green
Building Council (USGBC) and has
become the accepted standard for
what constitutes a “green building”.
Through its eight measurement
categories, LEED for Homes provides
definitive guidelines for designing and
building environmentally responsible
residential structures.
Green.
It’s something we never forget.
®
Overview of LEED® for Homes
Shaw and LEED for Homes
The LEED for Homes Rating System measures the overall performance of a home
in eight categories:
Shaw flooring products can earn LEED credit under the following Materials &
Resources (MR) categories:
(LL) Location & Linkages The placement of homes in
socially and environmentally
responsible ways in relation to
the larger community.
(SS) Sustainable Sites
The use of the entire property
so as to minimize the project’s
impact on the site.
(ID) Innovation & Design Process
Special design methods, unique
regional credits, measures
not currently addressed in the
Rating System and exemplary
performance levels.
(WE) Water Efficiency
Water efficient practices, both
indoor and outdoor.
(EA) Energy & Atmosphere
Energy efficiency, particularly in
the building envelope and heating
and cooling design.
(MR) Materials & Resources
Efficient utilization of materials,
selection of environmentally
preferable materials and
minimization of waste during
construction.
(EQ) Indoor Environmental
Quality
Improvement of indoor air quality
by reducing the creation of and
exposure to pollutants.
(AE) Awareness & Education
The education of homeowner,
tenant and/or building manager
about the operation and maintenance of the green features of a
LEED home.
There are five basic steps for a builder to follow in participating in LEED for Homes:
program: http://www.usgbc.org/leed/homes
2. Identify a project team and select the green features to
be incorporated in the home.
3. B
uild the home to the stated goals. (A Green Rater
will typically perform 2 on site inspections during the
construction phase)
4. Certify the project as a LEED home by submitting all
required documents to USGBC.
LEED for Homes Certification Levels
to CradleCM certified
˚Cradle
products are now approved
as EPP.
All Shaw Anso® and Type 6
Nylon carpet styles are C2C
Certified. Epic® Hardwood
styles and many other Shaw
hardwood products have also
earned this certification.
Number of LEED for Homes
Points Required
˚Linoleum, cork, bamboo, FSC
certified and reclaimed wood
products are considered EPP.
Shaw’s bamboo styles have
earned EPP status.
Certified
45-59
Silver
60-74
Gold
75-89
Platinum
90-136
Total Available Points
• If a minimum of 45% of a home’s
flooring is EPP, the project is
awarded 1/2 point. If 90% is EPP,
an additional 1/2 point is earned.
NOTE: Additional credit is not
granted for being C2C and also
meeting other EPP criteria (e.g.
rapidly renewable, FSC Certified,
reclaimed wood, recycled content).
How to participate in LEED for Homes
1. Contact a LEED for Homes Provider and join the
MR 2.2 a – Environmentally
Preferable Products (EPP)
136
5. Market and sell the LEED home.
For Questions or more
information about LEED for
Homes go to: USGBC.org
Look under LEED for Homes
Provider and Join the program:
http://www.usgbc.org/leed/homes
˚Products with recycled content
(25% post consumer or 50% preconsumer) are approved as EPP.
Shaw’s Epic Hardwood
collection and our 3/4” solid
product, Appalachia, meet
this EPP definition. However,
since these products are
already considered EPP due
to their Cradle to Cradle
certification, no additional
credit may be claimed.
MR 2.2 b – Low Emissions
• If carpet used in an interior
flooring area meets LEED for
Homes’ Low Emission criteria,
the project is awarded 1/2 point.
If hard surface flooring also
meets the requirements then an
additional 1/2 point is earned.
˚All carpet must achieve CRI
Green Label Plus Certification.
All carpet pad must achieve CRI
Green Label certification.
All Shaw carpet and carpet pad
styles have achieved the required
Green Label certifications. Our
carpet adhesives have also
earned CRI's Green Label Plus
certification.
˚Hard surface products must be
certified under the FloorScore
or GREENGUARD Children &
Schools IAQ testing program.
All Shaw hardwood and laminate
styles are being tested by Air
Quality Sciences (AQS) under
the GREENGUARD Children &
Schools certification criteria.
Contact Shaw’s technical
services group for specific style
certification details.
• Hard surface flooring earns
an additional 1/2 point credit if at
least 90% of the flooring area is
covered. Shaw hardwood, laminate
and tile & stone styles provide a
pathway to earn this credit.
• If all adhesives and sealants used
in the home meet South Coast Air
Quality Management District Rule
#1168 requirements, an additional
1/2 pointmay be awarded.
Shaw’s Eco Made Hardwood
Adhesive and Eco Made
Urethane Hardwood Adhesive
meet this guideline.
MR 2.2 c – Local Production
• Products that were extracted,
processed and manufactured
within 500 miles of the home site
qualify as EPP. At least 90% of a
given product must have its entire
life cycle within 500 miles to be
awarded credit. For example, the
petroleum used to make carpet
fiber must be verified as being
sourced within 500 miles of the
project address to qualify for
this credit.
Shaw carpet styles do not
qualify for this credit. Certain
Shaw hardwood, ceramic and
laminate styles may be eligible
depending on the location of
the building site.
Illustrative Examples – Potential Point Opportunities
When Installing Shaw Products
Example 1
A home has Anso® carpet installed in 90% of interior flooring area.
Award 1 point for C2C Certified product and 1/2 point for Green
Label Plus certification.
Total of 1.5 Points.
= 1.5 Points
Example 2
A home has 45% of floor with Shaw Nylon 6 carpet and 45% of floor
with Epic® Hardwood that is glued to subfloor using Shaw Eco Made
Hardwood Adhesive.
Award 1/2 point for C2C on carpet, 1/2 point for Epic EPP (C2C or recycled
content), 1/2 point for Green Label Plus certification on carpet and 1/2
point for GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification on Epic.
Also add 1/2 point for use of Eco Made Adhesive (assumes any other
adhesives and sealants used in home meet SCAQMDR 1168 criteria).
= 2.5 Points
Total of 2.5 Points.
Example 3
A home has 10% Shaw Ceramic and 90% Epic hardwood that is glued
to subfloor using Shaw Eco Made Hardwood Adhesive.
Award 1 point for Epic (EPP due to C2C or recycled content), and 1/2
point for use of Eco Made Adhesive (assumes any other adhesives
and sealants used in home meet SCAQMDR 1168 criteria). Add 1/2
point for GREENGUARD Children & Schools certification on hardwood
and another 1/2 point for 90% hard surface bonus.
= 2.5 Points
Total of 2.5 Points.
We are committed to sustainability as the business model which
positions Shaw as the industry leader today and for the future in
driving business performance, growth, innovation, and productivity
across our value chain and that of our customers and partners.
Shaw Industries, Inc. | P.O. Drawer 2128 | Dalton, Georgia 30722-2128
Carpet I Area Rugs I Tile & Stone I Hardwood I Laminate | shawfloors.com
©2009 Shaw
7/09 C063 BP
USGBC®, LEED ® and related logos are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and
are used by permission.
Green.
It’s something we never forget.®