LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Tubelite Inc. is located in West-central Michigan, an area of great natural beauty including state and national forests, hundreds of small lakes and wetlands, and endless miles of shoreline and dunes along the largest bodies of fresh water in the world. Keeping these treasures in pristine condition is important to us, and Tubelite has joined with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), and its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) program towards that end. We encourage you to consider energy efficiency and sustainable design in all of your projects. Please visit the USGBC website to familiarize yourself with its goals and resources, and consider becoming a member if you have not already joined.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
USGBC is a community of leaders working to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated. USGBC supports an environmentally responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. >> click here to learn more
Tubelite can offer assistance with the following LEED program points:
| LEED Credit* | Description | Tubelite Energy and Environmental Efforts |
|---|---|---|
| MR4.1 Recycled Content | Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. | Specify recycled aluminum for extruded products. A minimum of 70% recycled content is achieved through combining an average of 15% post-consumer and 55% pre-consumer aluminum. Recycled aluminum content of up to 100% is available for special projects upon request. Extended lead-times may apply. |
| MR4.2 Recycled Content | Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 4.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. | |
| EA Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance | To achieve increasing levels of energy performance beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use. Up to 18 points are available for LEED new construction projects. | Tubelite is continually developing new products with higher thermal performance, and other features that reduce energy consumption. Products include Therml=Block™ doors and 300ES Curtainwall, Max/Block™ Sun Shades, and aLuminate™ Light shelves. |
| IEQ Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort | To provide a comfortable thermal environment that promotes occupant productivity and well being. | Use of natural ventilation products like operable windows can assist with mechanical HVAC systems to achieve optimum comfort levels for occupants as well as reducing the building’s energy consumption. |
| IEQ Credit 8.1 Daylight and Views | To provide for the building occupants with a connection between indoor spaces and the outdoors through the introduction of daylight and views into the regularly occupied areas of the building. 75% of Regularly Occupied Spaces – 1 point (NC & CS) 90% of Regularly Occupied Spaces – 2 points (Schools) | Glass walls allow free, natural sunlight to illuminate interior spaces. Electrical energy used for artificial lighting and handling of the heat by-product accounts for most of the energy use in the U.S. |
| MR5.1 Regional Materials | Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value. | Tubelite is located in west-central Michigan. Major cities within 500 miles of the extrusion facility and shipping point include: Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Lexington, KY; Saint Louis, MO; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chicago, IL; and Milwaukee, WI. Recycled aluminum sources are located in Henderson, KY and Bluffton, IN. |
| MR5.2 Regional Materials | Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 5.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of the material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value | |
| Other Considerations: Finishes | Although not specified in the current version of LEED, beneficial environmental practices can be applied to the application of anodized and painted aluminum finishes. | Tubelite aluminum finishes are applied by Linetec using environmentally friendly processes. Volatile Organic Compounds from the painting operations are captured and neutralized before leaving the facility. By-products from the anodizing tanks are similarly removed from wastewater and re-used where possible. “Alum” is needed by and distributed to paper mills, water treatment facilities, and other businesses. Construction sealants selected for installation of storefront and Curtainwall framing are the responsibility of the glazing sub-contractor and must be approved by the sealant manufacturer with regard to application and compatibility for its intended use. |
| Other Considerations: Resource Reuse MR3.1 | Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these materials constitutes at least 5%, based on cost, of the total value of materials on the project. | Tubelite doors, storefronts and curtainwalls can be easily re-used on other projects after the lifespan of their first installation. Because of their aluminum metal content, they can also be refined and used in many other forms. Mechanical joinery methods permit easy disassembly and re-use. The high value of scrap aluminum makes it a prime target for recycling during building demolition. |
| Resource Reuse MR3.2 | Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these materials constitutes at least 10%, based on cost, of the total value of materials on the project. |
| LEED Credit* | Description | TubeliteEnergy and Environmental Efforts |
|---|---|---|
| MR4.1 Recycled Content | Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. | Tubelite uses all recycled aluminum for extruded products. A minimum of 80% recycled content is achieved through combining an average of 30% post-consumer and 50% pre-consumer aluminum. Recycled aluminum content of up to 100% is available for special projects upon request. Extended lead-times may apply. |
| MR4.2 Recycled Content | Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 4.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. | Tubelite uses all recycled aluminum for extruded products. A minimum of 80% recycled content is achieved through combining an average of 30% post-consumer and 50% pre-consumer aluminum. Recycled aluminum content of up to 100% is available for special projects upon request. Extended lead-times may apply. |
| EA Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance | To achieve increasing levels of energy performance beyond the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use. Up to 18 points are available for LEED new construction projects. | Tubelite is continually developing new products with higher thermal performance, and other features that reduce energy consumption. Products include Therml=Block™ doors and 300ES Curtainwall, Max/Block™ Sun Shades, and aLuminate™ Light shelves. |
| IEQ Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort | To provide a comfortable thermal environment that promotes occupant productivity and well being. | Use of natural ventilation products like operable windows can assist with mechanical HVAC systems to achieve optimum comfort levels for occupants as well as reducing the building’s energy consumption. |
| IEQ Credit 8.1 Daylight and Views | To provide for the building occupants with a connection between indoor spaces and the outdoors through the introduction of daylight and views into the regularly occupied areas of the building. 75% of Regularly Occupied Spaces – 1 point (NC & CS) 90% of Regularly Occupied Spaces – 2 points (Schools) | Glass walls allow free, natural sunlight to illuminate interior spaces. Electrical energy used for artificial lighting and handling of the heat by-product accounts for most of the energy use in the U.S. |
| MR5.1 Regional Materials | Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value. | Tubelite is located in west-central Michigan. Major cities within 500 miles of the extrusion facility and shipping point include: Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Lexington, KY; Saint Louis, MO; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chicago, IL; and Milwaukee, WI. Recycled aluminum sources are located in Henderson, KY and Bluffton, IN. |
| MR5.2 Regional Materials | Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 5.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of the material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value | Tubelite is located in west-central Michigan. Major cities within 500 miles of the extrusion facility and shipping point include: Buffalo, NY; Cleveland, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Lexington, KY; Saint Louis, MO; Cedar Rapids, IA; Chicago, IL; and Milwaukee, WI. Recycled aluminum sources are located in Henderson, KY and Bluffton, IN. |
| Other Considerations: Finishes | Description:Although not specified in the current version of LEED, beneficial environmental practices can be applied to the application of anodized and painted aluminum finishes. | Tubelite Energy and Environmental Efforts:Tubelite aluminum finishes are applied by Linetec using environmentally friendly processes. Volatile Organic Compounds from the painting operations are captured and neutralized before leaving the facility. By-products from the anodizing tanks are similarly removed from wastewater and re-used where possible. “Alum” is needed by and distributed to paper mills, water treatment facilities, and other businesses. Construction sealants selected for installation of storefront and Curtainwall framing are the responsibility of the glazing sub-contractor and must be approved by the sealant manufacturer with regard to application and compatibility for its intended use. |
| Other Considerations: Resource Reuse MR3.1 | Description:Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these materials constitutes at least 5%, based on cost, of the total value of materials on the project. | Tubelite Energy and Environmental Efforts:Tubelite doors, storefronts and curtainwalls can be easily re-used on other projects after the lifespan of their first installation. Because of their aluminum metal content, they can also be refined and used in many other forms. Mechanical joinery methods permit easy disassembly and re-use. The high value of scrap aluminum makes it a prime target for recycling during building demolition. |
| Resource Reuse MR3.2 | Description:Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these materials constitutes at least 10%, based on cost, of the total value of materials on the project. | Tubelite Energy and Environmental Efforts:Tubelite doors, storefronts, and curtainwalls can be easily re-used on other projects after the lifespan of their first installation. Because of their aluminum metal content, they can also be refined and used in many other forms. Mechanical joinery methods permit easy disassembly and re-use. The high value of scrap aluminum makes it a prime target for recycling during building demolition. |
*LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design & Construction – 2009 Edition