Specify  and  Use  COMPOST  for  LEED  &  Sustainable  Sites  Projects:  A  Natural  Connection  ATTENTION:  Landscape  Architects,  Builders,  Engineers,  Architects,  Planners  &  Consultants  

 LEED  -­‐  Use  COMPOST  and  Specify  COMPOST  for  LEED  credits  –  Where  can  COMPOST  apply?  

LEED/Sustainable  Sites  –  1  point  each  • Credit  5.1    Site  Development:  Protect  and  Restore  Habitat  -­‐  COMPOST  has  been  widely  used  for  land  and  

ecosystem  restoration  projects.  • Credit  6.1    Storm  Water  Design:  Quantity  Control  –  COMPOST  based  Low  Impact  Development  management  

practices  have  been  widely  used.        • Credit  6.2    Storm  Water  Design:  Quality  Control  –  COMPOST  technologies  have  been  successfully  used  to  

reduce  runoff  volume  and  annual  total  suspended  solids  (TSS)  load.  • Credit  7.2    Heat  Island  Effect:  Non-­‐Roof  –  COMPOST  can  assist  in  rapid,  healthy  site  vegetation  used  to  share  

area  landscapes.  • Credit  7.2    Heat  Island  Effect:  Roof  –Use  COMPOST  in  green  roof  growing  media.  

LEED/Water  Efficiency  -­‐  1  point  each  • Credit  1.1  &  1.2    Water  Efficient  Landscape:  Reduce  50%  &  Reduce  100%  -­‐  COMPOST  can  hold  3  to  5  times  its  

weight  in  water.  Research  has  shown  that  COMPOST  can  decrease  irrigation  needs  by  30%  • Credit  2    Innovative  Wastewater  Technologies  –  COMPOST  is  widely  used  for  biofiltration  systems  and  

constructed  wetlands  to  treat  wastewater  LEED/Materials  and  Resources-­‐  1  point  each  

• Credit  4.1  &  4.2    Recycled  Content  10%  &  20%  -­‐  COMPOST  is  100%  recycled  • Credit  5.1  &  5.2    Regional  Materials  –  COMPOST  is  typically  a  local  product,  usually  originating  within  50  miles  

of  the  project  site  • Credit  6.0    Rapidly  Renewable  Materials  –  COMPOST  is  a  rapidly  renewable  resource  that  is  locally  produced  

from  recycled  organic  residuals  LEED/Innovation  in  Design  –  1  to  5  points  –  The  intent  in  this  section  is  to  encourage  projects  to  achieve  exceptional  or  innovative  performance  using  any  combination  of  innovation,  pilot  and  exemplary  strategies.  COMPOST  can  be  used  in  a  variety  of  innovative  applications  within  this  section.  **************************************************************************************************  SITES  –  Specify  COMPOST  and  Use  COMPOST  for  Sustainable  Sites  credits  –  Where  can  COMPOST  apply?  • Prerequisite  1  .1    Limit  development  of  farmland  soil  -­‐  COMPOST  converts  subsoil  to  topsoil,  eliminating  the  

stripping  of  farmland.  • Prerequisite  7.1    Control  and  retain  construction  pollutants  -­‐  COMPOST  is  a  proven  pollutant  bioremediation  

product  (EPA-­‐530-­‐F-­‐97-­‐042)  when  used  as  a  soil  blanket  or  berm.  • Prerequisite  7.2  &  Credit  7.3    Restore  soils  disturbed  during  construction  &  Restore  soils  disturbed  by  previous  

development  -­‐  COMPOST  does  this  with  less  material,  better  results  and  lower  costs.  • Credit  7.5    Reuse  or  recycle  vegetation,  rocks,  and  soil  generated  during  construction  –  Recycle  existing  

vegetation  into  COMPOST,  for  future  use.  • Credit  8.3    Recycle  organic  matter  generated  during  site  operations  and  maintenance  -­‐  Recycle  existing  

vegetation  into  COMPOST,  for  future  use.  • Credit  5.7    Use  regional  materials  –  Use  LOCALLY  produced  COMPOST  to  achieve  all  of  the  above!  

 Learn  more  about  compost;  its  many  benefits,  how  to  use  it  and  where  to  buy  it  at:  

www.compostingcouncil.org  US  Composting  Council  ·∙  5400  Grosvenor  Lane  ·∙  Bethesda,  MD  20814  ·∙  301-­‐897-­‐2715  

COMPOST AND LEED/SITES: A Natural Connection

USE COMPOST FOR CREDITS IN:

Materials and Resources • COMPOST is a 100% Recycled Product• COMPOST is produced locally• COMPOST is a rapidly renewable resource

Water Efficiency • COMPOST Reduces Landscape Water Demands• Use COMPOST in Biofiltration and Constructed Wetlands

Sustainable Sites & COMPOST• Pollution Prevention• Habitat Protection & Restoration• Site Water Runoff Reduction and Quality Improvement• Heat Island Effect; both Roof and Non-Roof

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