Section 3: Synergistic Credits
Courthouse: Credit SN-4
Two LEED credits are earned by implementing
the measures in item SN-4.
Basis for Cost Assumption
Combines:
Credit MR-7
For this synergistic credit, all casework substrates
are assumed to be a wood-based mdf that is not
Certified Wood
certified, but is free of urea formaldehyde binders
Credit EQ-4.4
(meeting credit EQ-4.4). The hardwood and wood
Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood
veneers in the millwork are assumed to be FSC-
certified. In order to achieve the 50 percent
certified wood criteria of credit MR-7, a
combination of millwork items, doors, and solid
Description
wood base are included. Doors meeting both
credits MR-7 and EQ-4.4 criteria are assumed to
Credit SN-4 reflects the cost synergies, and
be solid stave-core doors with an additional
potential product purchasing complications, that
premium paid to use non-urea formaldehyde
can arise when projects simultaneously pursue
crossbanding layers. Additional wood doors (that
credit MR-7 (at least 50 percent of wood-based
are not FSC-certified) are specified with
materials are certified using Forest Stewardship
formaldehyde-free cores and crossbanding layers
Council [FSC] criteria) and credit EQ-4.4
(see credit EQ-4.4).
(composite wood and agrifiber products contain
Table SN4C-1 lists all of the wood items required
no added urea formaldehyde resins). The
to achieve the credits.
synergistic credit reflects the specific impacts of
the two credit requirements on wood casework and
Summary of First Cost Impacts
wood doors in the Courthouse model.
For wood casework, the two credit requirements
primarily impact the selection of engineered-fiber
Individual Credit Costs
substrate boards. It is currently very difficult to
obtain plywood, particleboard, or medium density
Credit MR-7...............................................6,597
fiberboard (mdf) that is both FSC certified and
Credit EQ-4.4............................................5,308
manufactured without urea formaldehyde binders.
In most projects, it is more likely that a substrate
Synergistic Credit SN-4
board will be selected that is not FSC certified, but
is free urea-formaldehyde resins. The hardwoods
Total Credit Cost ...................................... 5,007
and veneers of the casework can be obtained from
Cost Impact ($/GSF)............................68/GSF
FSC-certified sources; their costs must be broken
Cost Impact (%) ............................................1.68%
out for the LEED certified wood calculations.
For wood doors to earn FSC certification, at least
70 percent (by weight) of the door must consist of
Applicable Scenarios
certified wood material. This typically means that
FSC certified doors will have stave-cores instead of
Credit SN-4 is used in the Courthouse scenarios
particleboard cores. In addition, to meet the EQ-
4A (Silver) and 6A (Gold).
4.4 criteria, any engineered wood components in
the doors (potentially frames, rails, stiles, or
crossbanding layers, depending on the product and
manufacturer) cannot contain urea formaldehyde
resins. Currently, a limited number of
manufacturers offer both the certified wood and
formaldehyde-free options.
GSA LEED COST STUDY
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