LEED v5
Core and Shell
Materials and Resources
Building Product Selection and Procurement

CS-v5 MRc4: Building Product Selection and Procurement 1-5 points

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To encourage the use of products and materials that have sustainability information available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable impacts in alignment with industry momentum. To reward project teams for selecting products from manufacturers who have disclosed sustainability information about their products and have optimized their products across multiple criteria areas. 

Requirements

Select nonstructural building products that demonstrate achievement in one or more of five criteria areas:

  • Climate health 
  • Human health 
  • Ecosystem health
  • Social health and equity
  • Circular economy

Products that achieve two or more criteria areas are considered multi-attribute. Products that achieve higher levels of use and/or that are across additional criteria areas will be given a higher value in credit calculations.

Achievement is demonstrated through eligible compliant manufacturer product documentation, which includes third-party product certifications, ecolabels, declarations, and standards. A single product document can demonstrate multiple benefits and/or achievement levels, or the product can earn multi-attribute criteria through a combination of separate eligible product documents.

There are three achievement levels for products:

Level 1: A product in this level achieves a first step toward sustainability for a criteria area. Widespread achievement of these practices drives market transformation toward sustainability outcomes within the criteria area. Products scored at this level earn a 1x multiplier.
Level 2: This level represents a leadership position in the marketplace for a given sustainability attribute. Products at this level are optimized and demonstrate a level of sustainability that peers aspire to achieve. Products scored at this level earn a 2x multiplier.
Level 3: Products that earn this level are elite and represent the forefront of sustainability. Products scored at this level earn a 3x multiplier.

This credit rewards the selection of eligible interior and enclosure materials from the following product categories:

  • Paints and coatings 
  • Adhesives and sealants 
  • Flooring 
  • Walls 
  • Ceilings
  • Insulation 
  • Furniture 
  • Composite wood 
  • Plumbing fixtures

Eligible products meet the achievement levels and are scored as 1, 2, or 3. These scores are added across criteria areas to add up to a maximum score of 5 per product. This cumulative score is called the product multi-attribute score (MAS).

Each individual product’s value (cost, area, volume, or unit) is adjusted based on its multi-attribute score:

Product value × MAS = Adjusted product value for LEED

To determine total compliant product value per category, follow Equation 1.

Equation 1. Calculate the multi-attribute adjusted value of a product category

 

Any product category adjusted value for LEED that exceeds 100% earns 1 point. Points are awarded for achievement of whole product categories up to a maximum of 5 points according to Table 1.

Table 1. Points for Multi-Attribute Achievement of Product Categories

Number of Product Categories 

Points

1 product category 

1

2 product categories

2

3 product categories

3

4 product categories

4

5 product categories

5

 

NOTE: Please see the resources section of the credit library for additional details on this credit.

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To encourage the use of products and materials that have sustainability information available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable impacts in alignment with industry momentum. To reward project teams for selecting products from manufacturers who have disclosed sustainability information about their products and have optimized their products across multiple criteria areas. 

Requirements

Select nonstructural building products that demonstrate achievement in one or more of five criteria areas:

  • Climate health 
  • Human health 
  • Ecosystem health
  • Social health and equity
  • Circular economy

Products that achieve two or more criteria areas are considered multi-attribute. Products that achieve higher levels of use and/or that are across additional criteria areas will be given a higher value in credit calculations.

Achievement is demonstrated through eligible compliant manufacturer product documentation, which includes third-party product certifications, ecolabels, declarations, and standards. A single product document can demonstrate multiple benefits and/or achievement levels, or the product can earn multi-attribute criteria through a combination of separate eligible product documents.

There are three achievement levels for products:

Level 1: A product in this level achieves a first step toward sustainability for a criteria area. Widespread achievement of these practices drives market transformation toward sustainability outcomes within the criteria area. Products scored at this level earn a 1x multiplier.
Level 2: This level represents a leadership position in the marketplace for a given sustainability attribute. Products at this level are optimized and demonstrate a level of sustainability that peers aspire to achieve. Products scored at this level earn a 2x multiplier.
Level 3: Products that earn this level are elite and represent the forefront of sustainability. Products scored at this level earn a 3x multiplier.

This credit rewards the selection of eligible interior and enclosure materials from the following product categories:

  • Paints and coatings 
  • Adhesives and sealants 
  • Flooring 
  • Walls 
  • Ceilings
  • Insulation 
  • Furniture 
  • Composite wood 
  • Plumbing fixtures

Eligible products meet the achievement levels and are scored as 1, 2, or 3. These scores are added across criteria areas to add up to a maximum score of 5 per product. This cumulative score is called the product multi-attribute score (MAS).

Each individual product’s value (cost, area, volume, or unit) is adjusted based on its multi-attribute score:

Product value × MAS = Adjusted product value for LEED

To determine total compliant product value per category, follow Equation 1.

Equation 1. Calculate the multi-attribute adjusted value of a product category

 

Any product category adjusted value for LEED that exceeds 100% earns 1 point. Points are awarded for achievement of whole product categories up to a maximum of 5 points according to Table 1.

Table 1. Points for Multi-Attribute Achievement of Product Categories

Number of Product Categories 

Points

1 product category 

1

2 product categories

2

3 product categories

3

4 product categories

4

5 product categories

5

 

NOTE: Please see the resources section of the credit library for additional details on this credit.

See all forum discussions about this credit »