| LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental | | | | projects. |
| Design) Certification was created by the U.S. Green | | | | The goal of both the FSC and the MRc7 credit is to |
| Building Council (USGBC) in order to provide the | | | | encourage and promote environmentally responsible |
| building and construction industry with a verifiable | | | | forestry practices and management. In order to |
| system to measure and define eco-friendly and | | | | qualify for the LEED MRc7 credit, your green building |
| green buildings. LEED certification can be achieved | | | | must use a percentage of FSC certified wood, and |
| through gaining a specified number of points. The | | | | the percentages vary depending on your type of |
| accumulation of these points can lead to anyone one | | | | build. However, the minimum amount of FSC wood |
| of the following LEED certifications: | | | | based materials that are required in order to be |
| - LEED Platinum - 80 points & over | | | | qualified is 50%. To get an exemplary performance |
| - LEED Gold - 60-79 points | | | | Innovation in Design credit, the project must contain |
| - LEED Silver - 50-59 points | | | | at least 95% FSC lumber. |
| - LEED Certified - 40-49 points Getting a building or | | | | Clearly, when every point counts, the use of FSC |
| remodel project to be LEED certified can be quite a | | | | certified wood can be a great help. There are quite a |
| task. The USGBC has a certain set of policies and | | | | number of wonderful woods to choose from |
| procedures that must be strictly adhered to or a | | | | including: |
| building cannot acquire LEED Certification. There are | | | | - FSC Certified Ipe |
| quite a number of different ways that a project can | | | | - FSC Certified Garapa |
| get LEED certified. One specific credit that many | | | | - FSC Certified Tigerwood |
| projects can benefit from is the Materials Resource | | | | - FSC Certified Cumaru This leads to the question, |
| Credit 7 (MRc7). The Materials Resource Credit 7 | | | | where can you find wood that has been certified by |
| (MRc7) is the credit that specifically deals with | | | | the FSC? When checking their website, make sure to |
| eco-friendly wood. The Forest Stewardship Council | | | | look for "Chain of Custody" certified vendors who |
| offers FSC certified wood and has been specifically | | | | are familiar with the LEED point system. One such |
| chosen as the wood of choice by the USGBC and | | | | company is Advantage Trim and Lumber Company. |
| LEED. Because the Forest Stewardship Council has | | | | They are an international direct importer of |
| stringent guidelines as to how certain woods are to | | | | eco-friendly hardwoods and have a full selection of |
| be managed and cultivated, FSC wood products have | | | | quality FSC Certified wood ready to ship to |
| become a key component for inclusion in LEED | | | | anywhere in the United States, or the world. |