The Stromberg GFRS™ LEED Advantages

Building Green with Stromberg Glass Fiber Reinforced Stone (GFRS)

• GFRS is durable. Using longer lasting materials means fewer resources for maintenance and replacement.
• Lightweight panels use 90% less material than dimensional and carved stone.
• Lightweight panel reduces fuel and costs of transportation
• Lighter weight minimizes structural load on building allowing for lighter, more efficient use of construction materials.
• Stromberg provides a closed-loop recycling program which redirects recovered Stromberg GFRS back to the manufacturing process.
• GFRS minimizes the need for site finishing, virtually eliminating VOCs from exterior painting.
• Stromberg GFRS is hurricane and earthquake resistant. It can be installed to achieve MIAMI-DADE Large and Small Missile Impact Rating and be class A fire rated.

LEED and GFRS™

The internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of green buildings is the LEED™ Green Building rating system. If you're designing towards obtaining the maximum number of LEED credits on your building project, it's important to understand the sections, credits and products that are impacted by materials choices.

EA 1, 2 - Energy Performance

Intent: To maximize energy performance.

Requirement:

• EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Performance. Mandatory. "Design the building envelope, HVAC, lighting, and other systems to maximize energy performance."
• EA Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance "Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use."

GFRS: GFRS™ naturally reduces energy needs of your building project. GFRS™ is a low conductor of heat. The relatively thin fiberglass skin allows designers to maximize the amount of insulation used.

MR 2.1, 2.2 - Construction Waste Management

Intent: To minimize construction debris and divert the debris from construction away from disposal in landfills or incinerators. The goal is to redirect recovered resources back to the manufacturing process and direct reusable materials to the appropriate sites.

Requirement:

Attain at least 50% or 75% (by weight or volume) recycle and/or salvage of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris. Develop and implement a construction waste management plan quantifying material diversion goals.

GFRS: We address this credit in two ways:

MR 4.1, 4.2 - Recycled Content

Intent: The goal here is to use products that incorporate recycled materials.

Requirement:

To obtain this credit, use recycled materials so that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes 10% or 20% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. "The value of the recycled content is determined by dividing the weight of the recycled content in the item by the total weight of all materials in the item, then multiplying the resulting percentage by the total value of the item."

Stromberg GFRS : Stromberg GFRS contains approximately 10% to 60% recycled content. Since Stromberg GFRS is an engineered material, recycled content varies depending upon the application.

MR 5.1 and 5.2: Regional Materials

Intent: Promote the use of materials which are extracted, harvested and manufactured locally.

Requirement:

The goal here is to use materials that are sourced: extracted, harvested and manufactured within 500 miles of the project location.

Stromberg GFRP: The regional materials credit may be available to your project depending upon where the raw materials are extracted, harvested and manufactured. This varies depending upon the material selected and which plant our materials are manufactured at. When you provide us project details, we can assist you in determining whether this credit may apply.

1.1 - Innovation in Design

Intent: Points are awarded for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories that are not specifically addressed by LEED.

Requirement:

Identify the intent of the proposed innovation credit, the proposed requirement for compliance, the proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the requirements.

Stromberg GFRS: GFRS offers unique opportunities for creative applications. We welcome the opportunity to work with you on submitting for innovative design uses.

Other possible areas for LEED contribution include:

ID2.1 Durability:

Stromberg GFRS is a durable and long lasting material. This reduces the need for replacement, repair and repainting. The durable nature of GFRS makes it earth friendly. Durable products reduce the environmental impact of their production. By doubling the useful lifespan of a product, you halve the environmental impact of its production and construction.

ID2.2 Indoor Moisture Control:

GFRS is waterproof and can be designed and installed to be part of a system of moisture control.

SSc5 Pest Control:

GFRS is unaffected by termites and its use as a replacement for wood reduces or eliminates the need for toxic pesticides. Every year termites and other insects are responsible for over $2.5 billion in damages to U.S. buildings, according to the National Pest Management Association. Using insect resistant materials like GFRS makes good environmental and economic sense.

5.3.2 Moisture Management:

GFRS is impervious to water and depending upon the application can be part of a system of moisture control.

For more information on the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and LEED certification, visit the (USGBC) web site at: www.usgbc.org

At Stromberg our staff can help you develop the right solutions for your LEED projects. We welcome the opportunity to work with you and build green together.