Green Leed Certification
Using our LEED V3 Certification Guide
The LEED rating criteria varies based on the type of project. Each rating system has categories such as Materials and Resources or Indoor Environmental Quality. For ease of using this guide we have outlined our green product initiatives by rating category. No single product can, by itself, obtain LEED credit. Products can, in aggregate, contribute to attaining credit. This guide identifies our products that can favorably contribute to your certification.
We have included LEED requirement excerpts for your reference, indicated with the U.S. Green Building Council insignia.
Indoor Environmental Quality
Adhesives and Sealants – 1 point
- Grothouse wood-to-wood adhesives are formaldehyde free and comply with VOC requirements. The glue is less than 11 g/l.
- Grothouse offers two types of finishes. Durata Permanent Finish provided exclusively by Grothouse is waterproof, scratch resistant, Green Guard Certified and Formaldehyde free.
- Our food-grade mineral oil is hypoallergenic, formaldehyde and VOC free. It requires ongoing maintenance, darkens the wood and develops a rich patina over time.
All adhesives and sealants used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site) must comply with the following requirements as applicable to the project scope 1: Adhesives, Sealants and Sealant Primers must comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168. Volatile organic compound (VOC) limits listed in the table below correspond to an effective date of July 1, 2005 and rule amendment date of January 7, 2005.
| Substrate Specific Applications | VOC Limit (g/L less water) |
| Wood | 30 |
Materials and Resources
Regional Materials – 2 points
Use products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% or 20%, based on cost, of the total materials value. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted, harvested, or recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) can contribute to the regional value. The minimum percentage of regional materials for each point threshold is as follows: Regional Materials Points 10% – 1 point: 20% -2 points Include only materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may
- Grothouse can supply select species of wood products that are harvested and manufactured within 500 miles.
Certified Wood – 1 point
Use a minimum of 50% (based on cost) of wood-based materials and products that are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s principles and criteria, for wood building components. These components include flooring, wood doors and finishes. Include only materials permanently installed in the project. Wood products purchased for temporary use on the project (e.g., formwork, bracing, scaffolding, sidewalk protection, and guard rails) may be included in the calculation at the project team’s discretion. If any such materials are included, all such materials must be included in the calculation. If such materials are purchased for use on multiple projects, the applicant may include these materials for only one project, at its discretion. Furniture may be included if it is included consistently in MR Credits 3, Materials Reuse, through MR Credit 7, Certified Wood.
- Grothouse provides FSC certified wood upon request. Chain of custody certification is supplied upon request at time of order placement.
- We also have in stock at all times a plantation grade Teak that meets our high standards. This plantation grade Teak is FSC/Smartwood Certified and also meets the rigid standards of the esteemed Rainforest Coalition.
Rapidly Renewable Materials – 1 point
Use rapidly renewable building materials and products for 2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products used in the project, based on cost. Rapidly renewable building materials and products are made from plants that are typically harvested within a 10-year or shorter cycle.
