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What is LEED?


LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building tool that is revolutionizing the way buildings and communities are designed, built, maintained and operated. LEED was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED products, philosophies and techniques address the entire building lifecycle to incorporate best practices in green building. The LEED program provides certification of green building projects in which projects meet certain prerequisites and earn points to meet varying levels of certification.

LEED can be used in all types of construction projects - residential, commercial, industrial, and developed communities.

Advantages of LEED Certification

LEED certification lowers the operating and maintenance costs of a completed project. The project is reviewed prior to commencement to identify long-term solutions to operate more efficiently with respect to energy, water and resources in which LEED credits may be earned. LEED strategies can be incorporated as early as the onset of a project, starting with sustainable site development. Completed projects and buildings are constructed and performed with a focus on indoor environment quality; therefore, they are healthier and safer for the people using them. Achieving LEED certification for a project has shown increases in property values over standard construction and design. Additionally, there may be tax or local incentives - in the form of tax rebates or exemptions and zoning allowances - to use LEED strategies and earn certification on a project. LEED certification is recognized both domestically and internationally; therefore, a LEED certified project gains recognition in the marketplace.

How can Barger Precast products contribute to LEED certification?

Barger Precast offers a complete line of precast concrete products, many of which can directly contribute to LEED certification requirements to meet prerequisites and earn credits if installed within the site boundaries. Most often, precast concrete products contribute to the LEED rating systems including new construction and major renovation, retails construction, residential construction and developed neighborhoods. Below are the credit categories in which Barger Precast products may apply toward LEED credits.

  • Sustainable Sites (SS) - Underground traffic-rated precast concrete stormwater management products not only contain and divert stormwater but also limit site disturbances and free up space for additional parks, greenways, and allows sites to use space for multiple purposes. In addition, underground precast concrete stormwater management systems effectively release stormwater to control the quantity and the effect of pollutants in the runoff by controlling the rate of discharge. Precast box culvert can be used to convey stormwater and sewage or for short span bridges to protect existing waterways and provide access to multiple site areas. Precast box culvert with headwalls and wingwalls help to control stormwater to prevent erosion. Additionally, precast products are manufactured in a controlled plant atmosphere which minimizes site laborers, construction schedule, and construction waste and eliminates formwork equipment and space for a staging area on site; therefore, this results in less site disturbance by minimizing construction area and excavation areas. Precast concrete rainwater harvesting products and precast wastewater products capture runoff which can be later used for landscape irrigation or treated to eliminate the need for potable water for building sewage. Precast concrete wastewater products capture graywater from non-sewage water sources (laundry, sinks, showers, etc.) for reuse. Precast products are manufactured in a controlled plant atmosphere which minimizes site laborers, construction schedule, and construction waste and eliminates formwork equipment and space for a staging area on site; therefore, this results in less site disturbance by minimizing construction area and excavation areas. Precast concrete is insect resistant and qualifies as pest proof. Precast retaining walls help with soil erosion control by reducing steep slope runoff, reduce the amount of site grading required and increase usable site area. Precast concrete products use recycled materials in the form of fly ash incorporated into the mix design and wire and rebar that may be manufactured from recycled steel.

  • Water Efficiency (WE) - Precast concrete rainwater harvesting products and precast wastewater products capture runoff which can be later used for landscape irrigation or treated to eliminate the need for potable water for building sewage. Precast concrete wastewater products capture graywater from non-sewage water sources (laundry, sinks, showers, etc.) for reuse.

  • Materials and Resources (MR) - Precast concrete products use recycled materials in the form of fly ash incorporated into the mix design and wire and rebar that may be manufactured from recycled steel. Precast concrete products use regional materials that have been extracted, harvested, and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site, and we have a wide delivery area. Delivering to customers in the area also minimizes transportation distances, which reduces carbon emissions. Precast concrete products are manufactured in a controlled plant atmosphere, which reduces construction waste on the jobsite.

  • Green Infrastructure and Building (GIB) - Precast products are manufactured in a controlled plant atmosphere which minimizes site laborers, construction schedule, and construction waste and eliminates formwork equipment and space for a staging area on site; therefore, this results in less site disturbance by minimizing construction area and excavation areas. Precast concrete products can be installed immediately upon delivery to the site. Underground traffic-rated precast concrete stormwater management products help minimize site disturbance for construction and retention ponds and maximize vegetated open space. In addition, underground precast concrete stormwater management systems effectively control the quantity of runoff by controlling the rate of discharge. Precast concrete products use recycled materials in the form of fly ash incorporated into the mix design and wire and rebar that may be manufactured from recycled steel. Precast concrete rainwater harvesting and wastewater products capture runoff and graywater which can be later used for landscape irrigation. Precast concrete tanks are watertight and provide storage for wastewater prior to on-site treatment.

  • Energy and Atmosphere (EA) - Precast products are manufactured in a controlled plant atmosphere which minimizes site laborers, construction schedule, and construction waste and eliminates formwork equipment and space for a staging area on site; therefore, this results in less site disturbance by minimizing construction area and excavation areas. Precast concrete panels can be insulated to meet R-value requirements to minimize heat transfer. Precast concrete can be used in building to increase the air-tightness and water-tightness of the structure to improve the efficiency of the mechanical systems.