Earning LEED credits using Solar Gard® window film
As you pursue LEED certification through the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), you will be exploring many options to meet your goals. Solar Gard window film is a proven energy saving product that can directly help you achieve LEED Credits. Below are six categories within the standard where solar control window film can be applied towards meeting the criteria for earning LEED credits.
All buildings, new and existing, applying for LEED certification must meet the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating of at least 60. Certification for minimum energy performance requires that building electricity bills, cost, and usage be provided before improvements are made and that for a given building type and function, specific energy reduction goals must be met according to the guidelines for the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating.
The energy saving benefits of window film can help companies to achieve the initial rating of 60, and it also can provide additional LEED credits once the baselines are met. Solar energy saving window film is covered by the LEED for Existing Buildings Certification. Details can be found in the USGBC LEED for Existing Buildings Reference Guide, version 2.0, available through the USGBC website.
How Window Film Earns LEED Credits
1. Energy Performance Credits
Buildings that exceed the EPA ENERGY STAR® rating of 60 required for certification can receive up to 10 LEED credits through additional energy efficiency improvements (LEED E&A Credit #1). The table below shows the LEED points that can be earned for an existing building based on additional energy efficiency improvements. Window film alone can provide from one to four LEED points in energy efficiency improvements, depending on the environment and the film installed.
2. Credit for Light Pollution Reduction
Light pollution reduction, also known as “Light Trespass”, is covered by Credit #7 under the “Sustainable Sites&
