LEED-ing the industry

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how Elevate products can contribute to key LEED v5 categories, from energy efficiency and water management to responsible material selection. 

Long before sustainability was a buzz words, Elevate was developing commercial construction products that have improved building performance and reduced energy consumption. And today they carry that legacy forward as a member of the Amrize family of brands through their dedication to supporting LEED® goals.  

What is LEED? 

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environment Design, is a building program created by and managed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). It is one of the world’s leading benchmarks for sustainable design and construction, aiming specifically to create carbon-conscious, energy-saving and water-efficient buildings.  

How does it work? LEED certification is awarded based on points. Buildings can earn different points based on their performance in a variety of categories, ranging from carbon modeling and reduction of material global warming potential to climate resilience planning, quality of life improvement and ecological stewardship.  

There are four levels of LEED certification, each corresponding to different amounts of points earned:  

1. Platinum: 80+ points earned 
2. Gold: 60-79 points earned 
3. Silver: 50-59 points earned 
4. Certified: 40-49 points earned 

Elevate is ready 

It might seem like you need a lot of points to get LEED certified, but Elevate has products that can help! As LEED’s requirements have shifted over the years, Elevate has remained committed to creating products that help create more resilient, smarter and sustainable buildings that align with LEED priorities. 

Teams address LEED v5 categories such as:  

• Energy and Atmosphere: This category focuses on creating low-carbon buildings, meaning buildings that reduce the amount of missions released into our atmosphere. Elevate has a variety of reflective membranes and high R-value insulation that can help improve energy efficiency in buildings and reduce long-term carbon emissions.  
• Materials and Resources: As the name suggests, this category focuses on things like eco-conscious product selection and supply chain decarbonization. Elevate supports this goal through “through products with EPDs, durable systems that extend replacement cycles, and solutions that can contribute to strategies around embodied carbon reduction, low-emitting materials and responsible procurement.” 
• Water Efficiency: Fresh water is one of our most valuable, and limited, resources. This category emphasizes a whole-project approach to water management and conservation. Elevate’s vegetative roof systems and advanced drainage solutions support this effort by reducing potable water for irrigation and better managing stormwater. 
• Indoor Environmental Quality: Getting credit in this category is all about building with human wellbeing, health and comfort in mind – specifically related to things like air quality, thermal comfort and light exposure. Elevate products can count towards this as their roofing and envelope solutions are low-emitting and thermally insulating.  
• Sustainable Sites: This category looks at the environment surrounding a building and rewards those who prioritize the relationship between the built environment and natural ecosystem. Systems like Elevate’s vegetative roofing and reflective surfaces are great ways to work towards credits in this category. 

These are just a few examples of the ways Elevate is LEED-ing the way in sustainability. Want to learn more about LEED and how Elevate supports its work? Check out Elevate’s LEED v5 Credit Guide, which dives into the LEED requirements as of the v5 update and the credits you can get from Elevate products and systems!  

Read the guide today.