Using materials recovered from the waste stream typically results in less waste, pollution, and energy use than using virgin materials. From an environmental standpoint, post-consumer is typically considered preferable to pre-consumer recycled content because post-consumer recycled materials are more likely to have been diverted from landfills.
In some cases, we consider products with recycled content green but with some caveats regarding where they should be used. For example, rubber flooring made from recycled automobile tires should not be used in most fully enclosed indoor spaces due to the likelihood of VOC emissions.
Recycling can have downsides. For example, some studies show that curbside collection programs and some recycling processes use more energy than they save. Closed-loop recycling is generally preferable to “down-cycling,” in which a lower-grade material is produced—but due to contamination of waste streams and the difficulty of extracting high-value ingredients, down-cycling may be as good as it gets. At times recycling can re-introduce hazardous components. Some products, like copper and aluminum, include a high level of recycled content as a matter of course—which we applaud, but don’t consider justification for listing in GreenSpec. As more complete life-cycle information on recycled materials and processes becomes available, we use that to increase our scrutiny of recycled products.
ASM Access Floor Systems
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Pre-consumer (also called “post-industrial”) recycling refers to the reuse of industrial by-products, as distinguished from material that has been in consumer use. The iron-ore slag used to make mineral wool insulation and the fly ash used to make concrete are examples of post-industrial recycled materials. While post-consumer recycled content is preferable, a product that uses pre-consumer content or recycles a seldom-used waste product, especially in an area where recycled products are hard to find, can be considered green.
Excluded from this category, by FTC definitions, is the use of scrap within the same manufacturing process from which it was generated—material that would typically have gone back into the manufacturing process anyway. -
Before specifying efficient heating and cooling equipment, it’s important to do what we can to reduce heating and cooling loads. Insulation is one of the key products to consider here, but because there are so many insulation products on the market, we look for additional benefits. Examples include cellulose insulation with recycled content, mineral wool insulation with no flame retardants, and fiberglass insulation with no formaldehyde binders. Other products in this area are high-performance windows and glazings, products that contribute to building airtight envelopes, products that reduce thermal bridging, and window-retrofit products.
With products in this area under constant development, we are always refining our approach. For example, as we have learned about insulation products with hazardous flame retardants and blowing agents that have high global warming potential, we have removed those products from GreenSpec, pending manufacturing changes. We encourage building professionals to pressure manufacturers for those changes through specification language and purchasing decisions. -
Once we’ve considered low-emitting products and those that prevent moisture problems, we also consider green ventilation products, filters, radon mitigation equipment, and other equipment and devices that help to remove pollutants or introduce fresh air. Because ventilation equipment is standard, we only recognize products that are particularly efficient or quiet or which have other benefits, such as heat recovery.
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Included here are various erosion-control products, foundation products that eliminate the need for excavation, and exterior stains that result in lower VOC emissions into the atmosphere. Fluorescent lamp and ballast recyclers and low-mercury fluorescent lamps reduce environmental impacts during maintenance and disposal of luminaires.
ASM offers several recycled-content access floor systems appropriate for a broad range of uses, including offices, schools, and retail spaces. The most popular systems are steel panels with cementitious fill, though ASM also offers panels that are entirely steel as well as wood composite core panels with steel shells. The cementitious fill panels range in recycled content from 43%–46%, with post-consumer making up 11%–15% and pre-consumer making up 28%–33%. The all-steel panels range from 42%–45% total recycled content, including 27%–29% post-consumer and 15% pre-consumer. The Woodcore system has a total recycled content of 78%, including 13% post-consumer and 65% pre-consumer recycled content. An aluminum air grate offers 100% post-consumer recycled content.
Access flooring greatly simplifies renovation or reconfiguration of office spaces, dramatically reducing "churn" costs.
In addition to providing a plenum for electrical and communications cabling, access flooring with appropriate height can be used for underfloor air delivery (UFAD)—an economically and environmentally attractive combination of floor and air duct.
Compared to conventional ceiling-located air-supplies, displacement ventilation from access flooring systems more effectively diffuses conditioned air into the occupied space to displace stale air, which leaves via ceiling-mounted return ducts.
More effective air distribution leads to other efficiencies as well: air handlers can be downsized, and conditioned air does not have to be chilled as much to provide the same levels of comfort. Often, ceiling height can also be increased, improving daylighting potential.
LEED Credits
EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance
EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance
EQc2: Increased Ventilation
EQp1: Minimum IAQ Performance
IEQc2: Increased Ventilation
IEQc2: Increased Ventlilation
IEQp1: Minimum IAQ Performance
MRc3: Materials Reuse
MRc3.1: Materials Reuse
MRc4: Recycled Content
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