Reinforced Concrete Pipe and the LEED System
This document is intended to help the reader understand the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) point system and how reinforced concrete pipe (RCP) can help a project obtain LEED points. Concrete pipe is extremely durable and should be the infrastructure pipe material of choice for a sustainable future. RCP has a proven track record of over a century of providing a strong and durable structure and is one of the most versatile green building materials available today. To encourage builders and developers to use natural resources efficiently while creating healthier buildings and sustainable development the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) introduced the LEED rating system. A “sustainable” or “green” building is defined as a structure that is developed, designed, built, renovated, operated, reused or redeveloped in a resource efficient manner. LEED is the USGBC’s effort to create and provide a national standard for what constitutes a green building and sustainable building practices. It’s important to note that the USGBC LEED system does not certify products to be used in LEED projects; rather the system sets forth a design and construction process in which a product can help the project achieve LEED points if the product has specific qualities that are considered sustainable or green.