Overview

The Materials and Resources category of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) rating system for new construction version 2.2 (LEED-NC 2.2) consists of one prerequisite subcategory and seven credit subcategories which together may earn a possible 13 points (credits) maximum, not including EP points. The notation format for the prerequisites and credits is, for example, MRp1 for Materials and Resources prerequisite 1 and MRc1.1 for Materials and Resources credit 1.1. Also in this chapter, to facilitate easier cross-referencing between this text and the USGBC rating system, the second digit in a section heading, equation, table, or figure number represents the credit subcategory number for sections that deal directly with a USGBC LEED-NC 2.2 credit subcategory.

The Materials and Resources (MR) portion deals with issues that reduce the use of new materials and resources, encourages the use of materials and resources that have a smaller impact on the environment, and promotes the reuse or recycling of materials so that more virgin materials and resources are not used on LEED certified projects. The life cycles of many products and materials are taken into account to reduce the impact on the environment of their use. This may include transportation impacts, harvesting impacts, manufacturing impacts, and the benefit of using recycled materials in the production of the product.

The one prerequisite subcategory is MR Prerequisite 1: Storage and Collection of Recyclables (MRp1). As is typical for prerequisites, there are no points associated with MRp1.

The points for the credits in the Materials...