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MARKETSINFORMATIONNorlite, LLC |
MasonryLEED
Norlite Lightweight Concrete Masonry Units contribute to sustainable development by conserving energy, lowering transportation requirements, maximizing structural efficiency and increasing concrete service life. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) system was designed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the influence of building design and construction on the environment. The use of Norlite in building designs contributes toward LEED Green Building certification credits. The LEED rating system has six areas of concentration; Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovation and Design Process. Projects obtain credits in these areas to achieve certification. A building becomes certified after receiving a minimum of 26 credits from the USGBC. The varied applications of Norlite lightweight concrete masonry units apply to diverse areas of the LEED System. The following LEED credits are areas where Norlite can contribute to achieving LEED credits.
Note: 1-10 points can be awarded for energy cost savings of 15%-60% for new buildings and 5%-50% for existing buildings. Norlite will improve the thermal performance of building materials and contribute toward obtaining these credits. Norlite LEED CreditsSustainable Site | Energy & Atmosphere | Materials & Resources | Indoor Environmental Quality | Innovation & Design Sustainable Site Credit 6.1 Pervious concrete pavers can be used in to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff. The use of pervious concrete pavers will allow access by heavy emergency vehicles while still allowing for free drainage of stormwater. Energy & Atmosphere Prerequisite 2 The thermal efficiency of LWCMU's manufactured with Norlite can maximize the energy performance of the building by decreasing u-values of concrete masonry. This improvement in thermal performance will help the building design to meet the ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1- 1999 requirements. Energy & Atmosphere Credit 1 Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental impacts associated with excessive energy use. 1-10 points can be awarded for energy cost savings of 15%-60% for new buildings and 5%-50% for existing buildings. Norlite will improve the thermal performance of concrete masonry units and contribute toward obtaining these credits. Lightweight concrete masonry units provide higher insulating values while still having the benefits of a thermal mass. Norlite concrete masonry units optimize the combination of R-values, thermal mass, and low thermal bridging. The higher thermal resistance provided by substituting Norlite in place of normal weight aggregates will improve the insulating capabilities of the masonry by decreasing the density of the concrete. The optimized density will provide a structural thermally efficient wall that helps to shift the peak cooling and heating loads to off-peak times. Materials & Resources Credits 1.1,
1.2, & 1.3 Extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural resources, reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as they relate to materials manufacturing and transport. Norlite blocks have been utilized in the reuse of numerous buildings. Norlite building components have lighter weight while still being structural. These lightweight components allow buildings to be redesigned while still using existing foundations and structural members. Materials & Resources Credit 4.1 & 4.2 Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, therefore reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of new virgin materials. Norlite is manufactured with two raw materials, heat and shale. The heat source is provided with recycled fuels that come from both post-consumer and post-industrial sources. Norlite has also received a Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) from the Environmental Protection Agency. Materials & Resources Credit 5.1 Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the regional economy and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation. Norlite lightweight concrete masonry units are manufactured at numerous facilities in close proximity to almost every building site. These block producers are close to most jobsites. Materials & Resources Credit 5.2 Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the regional economy and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation. Norlite is manufactured in Cohoes, New York. The 500-mile radius from our manufacturing location encompasses most major markets along the East Coast of the United States. Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 7.1 Provide a thermally comfortable environment that supports the productivity and well being of building occupants. Improving the thermal performance of the building components used to construct a structure will help to contribute to a comfortable environment to live and work in. Innovation & Design Process Credit
1 To provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the LEED Green Building Rating System. The use of building components manufactured with Norlite will allow more building products to be carried on the same truck when compared to heavy building products. The increased load volumes will decrease the number of trips that a truck will have to make to deliver the same amount of product. This will reduce the air pollutants emitted, reduce the noise pollution, and reduce traffic congestion associated with the transportation of goods to the construction site. Switching from heavyweight concrete masonry units to lightweight concrete masonry units saves truck miles as illustrated below. Truck Mile Savings from Norlite Lightweight Concrete Masonry Units
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