Interiorscape Project Paves Way, Securing LEED Credits

LEED awards credits for the inclusion interior plantscapes via the Innovation in Upgrades, Operations & Maintenance (IUOM) Credit 1.2  

Biophilic Connection.

Since 2002 Green Plants for Green Buildings (formerly known as Plants at Work), has continuously engaged the USGBC through numerous channels to share awareness of the environmental and human-centered benefits of indoor plants. A few of those efforts have included:

·      Detailed submissions during open public comment periods

·      Submissions and approvals to present the facts to the Greenbuild attendees in 2005

·      Submission and a USGBC approval to offer the GPGB Continuing Education Message as CEU's available to all green builders and required by LEED AP's.

·      Formation of a formal LEED Advocacy Board Position and Committee lead by LEED AP, Joseph Zazzera

·      An organized  call for industry members to offer online petitions for LEED credit suggestions.

·      Extensive networking and exhibiting at the 2009 Greenbuild Expo

In turn, the USGBC's green building certification program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has demonstrated a growing understanding and appreciation of the human health and well being  quotient in the credit arena.

Today, while consultations and conversations are ablaze around the topic of augmenting certification criteria to include credits for the inclusion of interior plants, innovative and inspired project managers have moved along.  Project coordinator, Linda Thomas for E &E (The Ecology and Environment) Headquarters building in Lancaster, NY submitted and was awarded the first known case in which LEED credits have been awarded specifically for  interior plants.

The project submission positioned the interior plant designs in the Innovation in Operation and Maintenance credit category under LEED for Existing Buildings 2.0. More specifically, the credit was awarded for the Biophilic connection.

E & E’s Headquarter Building provides a connection to the natural world through the use of indoor plantings, the use of natural and local materials, proximity to animals, and other biophilic design attributes.

Presenting this news to the interior plant and professional building industries is particularly rewarding for GPGB. Not only did the project coordinator glean elements of her research from the Green Plants for Green Buildings website, she even quoted the group (under it's former name) in the body of the submittal!