Looking for materials to build your LEED home? Check out the new tool at Home Depot (Photo: Jeremy Levine Design on Flickr)
Looking for a material to meet LEED specs? There is a site for that. Ok ok, maybe this isn’t particularly a hotbed for wasted legal fees. But green building contractors constantly ask me about whether their materials will yield them more LEED points. Well now you can see whether the USGBC says so.
For a long time, material, fixture and appliance manufacturers have tried to get a LEED stamp of approval on their goods. The USGBC has, for the most part, avoided reviewing and approving products. Instead, the organization suggests that manufacturers go to Green Seal, Greenguard or SMaRT.
Perhaps it was for lack of resources that the USGBC decided not to provide a product approval service. Well, when Home Depot came calling it probably made the task much simpler.
The Home Depot and the USGBC have forged a partnership to launch the LEED for Homes Store at LEEDHomeDepot.com. Here, you will find a staggering quantity of materials, appliances and other goods that will help you reach your LEED goal. The store includes a nifty product finder that allows you to focus on particular aspects of the building project in finding your items. Items are even marked with potential LEED credits that might be available if integrated properly.
So, if you are worried that your material selections might not pass the muster of third-party certification reviewers, fear no more. The Home Depot store should provide home builders and remodeling contractors with a good idea of what they need to get their LEED project rolling.
