Learn how specifying low-emitting materials can help create healthier indoor work environments and contribute to LEED certification for office interiors.
Table of Contents
Question
An owner is looking to update the interior materials of the office while promoting a healthier indoor work environment using LEED strategies. During the materials specification, which of the following strategies can the owner take in order to achieve this goal?
A. Specify salvaged materials
B. Specify low-cost materials
C. Specify low-emitting materials
D. Specify high solar reflectance materials
Answer
C. Specify low-emitting materials
Explanation
An owner who wants to update the interior materials of the office while promoting a healthier indoor work environment using LEED strategies can specify low-emitting materials as one of the strategies to achieve this goal.
Low-emitting materials are materials that have low or no emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) or other pollutants into the indoor air. VOCs are organic chemicals that can evaporate or vaporize at room temperature and can adversely affect the indoor air quality (IAQ) of a building and the health, comfort, and productivity of the occupants.
Some sources of VOCs in buildings are paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, furniture, and cleaning products. Specifying low-emitting materials can reduce the exposure and risk of VOCs for the occupants and improve IAQ.
When updating office interior materials with the goal of promoting a healthier indoor environment, specifying low-emitting materials is the most effective LEED strategy among the options provided.
Low-emitting materials are interior building materials and finishes that release minimal amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other potentially harmful substances into the air. Examples include low-VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring, composite wood products, ceiling tiles, and furniture.
By selecting products that meet strict emissions limits, such as those established by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2-2017 or GREENGUARD Gold, project teams can significantly reduce indoor air contaminants and create healthier, more comfortable spaces for occupants. This aligns with the intent of the LEED Indoor Environmental Quality category.
The other options, while potentially valuable from a materials perspective, do not directly address indoor air quality and occupant health:
A. Salvaged materials can reduce environmental impacts but don’t necessarily improve air quality.
B. Low-cost materials may be economical but are not inherently healthier.
D. High solar reflectance materials can mitigate heat island effects and cooling loads in some cases but are more relevant to the building envelope than the interior.
Therefore, specifying low-emitting materials (C) is the most appropriate strategy for the owner to promote healthier indoor environments in the office using LEED principles.
USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the USGBC LEED Green Associate exam and earn USGBC LEED Green Associate certification.