LEED CERTIFICATION

Greentorch Recycleability Properties

Building designers and operators seeking to adopt the best practices for energy conservation and proactive environmental diligence should consider reviewing the LEED program, and more specifically how GreenTorch™ exit signs may help earn LEED points. The LEED program is a points system developed by the U.S Green Bulding Council designed to promote the benefits of utilizing eco-friendly methodologies throughout all phases of the life cycle of the building process, and the system components installed. The ultimate goal is to obtain enough points for a LEED certification which signifies that the utmost commitment to being a "green" building and carries many benefits.

The LEED certification is obtained through accumulation of credits. Credits can earned during new commercial construction, major renovation projects, as well as through maintenance practices. New and existing building can qualify. LEED credits are assigned in relation to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and wastes created both by the processes of building and by the performance of the facility's system components operating on an ongoing basis. In doing so you have the opportunity of qualifying for tax rebates and zoning allowances in addition to lower operating costs and increased asset value.

Exit signs powered by electricity have improved over the years in the areas of energy conservation with the introduction of LED, and LEC lighting sources; however, nothing beats using no electricity, which is possible when you use GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical exit signs, a technology designed to utilize ambient lighting as a charging source. Exitsigns.com is devoted to providing you with the highest quality eco-friendly products including GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical exit signs. Also, our products are all made in America.

GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs and LEED Points

EA Credit #1 – Energy and Atmosphere: Optimizing Energy Performance.
To qualify for this LEED V2.2 Credit [worth up to 10 points] a building project must demonstrate improvement in the proposed building energy performance compared to a baseline criteria specified in ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1, or comply with prescriptive measures of ASHRAE ‘Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings’, or comply with the ‘Basis Criteria and Prescriptive Measures’ of the Advanced Buildings Benchmark.
More points are awarded to building projects using less energy than “baseline” guidelines prescribed by ASHRAE or the Advanced Buildings Benchmark.
With respect to exit signs, these guidelines are formulated on the basis of installing modern LED exit signs which use about 5 watts of power. Although the impact of a few exit signs using 5 watts is not significant, larger facilities can employ thousands of exit signs in high and low applications. Recognizing that electrically powered exit signs must be energized 24 hours/day x 365 days/year, a typical large building project with 500 LED exit signs, each using 5 watts of power, burns nearly 22,000 kwh of electricity annually, costing about $3000 at $.14/kwh.
Since GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs are charged from nearby area lighting and require no direct power, there is no related electricity cost. Consequently, GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs will positively contribute to the calculations that determine the energy efficiency of a building project. Depending upon the number of exit signs in your building, this additional energy savings can be significant in obtaining points toward EA Credit #1

MR Credit #4 – Materials and Resources

MR Credit #4 requires that 10% of the dollar value of permanently installed project materials consist of recycled content. The recycled content value of a material is determined by its adjusted recycled weight [=100% post consumer component weight + 50% pre-consumer component weight] multiplied by the total dollar value of the assembly. Since several GreenTorch™ exit signs are made primarily of metal with a high recycled content, these exit signs will contribute greatly toward this credit.
As an example, for a typical $95 aluminum wall mount Photoluminescent Exit Sign that weighs 12.8 ounces:

• Post-consumer recycled content component weight = 5.9 ounces
• Pre-consumer recycled content component weight = 2.5 ounces
• Non-recycled component weight = 4.4 ounces
• Recycled content value = [100% x [5.9/12.8 + .5 x 2.5/12.8]] x $95 Of one exit sign = $53

D Credit #1 – Innovation in Design: Significant Environmental Benefits

There are two avenues available to obtain Innovation in Design points. Using GreenTorch™ Exit Signs works best with the avenue whereby the project team demonstrates a comprehensive approach toward employing a product or technology that has significant environmental benefits not addressed or credited in other LEED categories. The comprehensive approach targets optimizing the benefits and tradeoffs of an innovation proposal throughout its lifecycle phases: design, procurement, construction, operational and decommissioning. The advantages of GreenTorch™ exit signs span all the lifecycle phases with the following environmental benefits:

• Fewer Building Materials Required – Reducing activities that pollute air and water, destroy natural habitats and deplete natural resources. Photoluminescent exit signs are not electrically powered and therefore do not require the associated metal conduit, wiring and switching equipment that LED exit signs need.
• Energy Efficient – Reducing Emissions of Global Warming ingredients. GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs operate on nearby ambient light and are not direct users of electricity like LED exit signs. Therefore, the project will enjoy energy savings, and depending upon the generation source, a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, acid rain and radioactive waste.

There are two avenues available to obtain Innovation in Design points. GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs work best when the project team demonstrates a comprehensive approach toward employing a product or technology that has significant environmental benefits not addressed or credited in other LEED categories. The comprehensive approach targets optimizing the benefits and tradeoffs of an innovation proposal throughout its lifecycle phases: design, procurement, construction, operational and decommissioning. The advantages of GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit signs span all the lifecycle phases with the following environmental benefits:

• Fewer Building Materials Required: Reducing activities that pollute air and water, destroy natural habitats and deplete natural resources. GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs are not electrically powered and therefore do not require the associated metal conduit, wiring and switching equipment that LED exit signs need.
• Energy Efficient: Reducing Emissions of Global Warming Ingredients. GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs operate on nearby ambient light and are not direct users of electricity. Therefore, the project will enjoy energy savings and depending on the generation source, a corresponding reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, acid rain and radioactive waste.
• High Percentage of Recycled and Recyclable Materials: Many of GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit signs are made of recycled aluminum or steel which can be recycled again at decommissioning/disposal.
• No Hazardous Materials or Wastes: GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs contain no toxic or hazardous materials and are not regulated in any way.
• Longer Lifespan: High quality GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical exit signs are rated for a minimum 25 year life span.
• Less Maintenance: GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical Exit Signs require far less maintenance attention than your typical exit sign. Most building codes require electrical exit signs and their backup power supplies to be tested monthly and annually - a manpower intensive activity periodically requiring change-out of parts. GreenTorch™ Non-Electrical exit signs have no parts to replace, maintenance consists only of dusting and verifying proper operation of nearby charging lights.

LEED-Certified Buildings

• are leaders in tranforming built environments
• are built as designed and perform as expected.
• have lower operating costs and increased asset value
• are healthy and comfortable for their occupants
• reduce waste sent to landfills
• conserve energy and water
• reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions
• qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances, and other incentives in hundreds of cities
• demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility

GreenTorch and LEED Points:

Installing GreenTorch may help you earn points in several categories:

• EA Credit #1 – Energy and Atmosphere: Optimizing Energy Performance.
• MR Credit #4 – Materials and Resources: Recycled Content.
• ID Credit #1.1 – Innovation in Design: Exceptional Performance