LiveWall® is product that it contributes energy credits in each of the five certification categories of LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). LEED is the green building rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED provides a standard certification process that registers and quantifies buildings for design and construction methods that promote five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality.
LEED provides a roadmap for measuring and documenting success of every building type and phase of building lifecycle. The LiveWall® System can help you achieve LEED certification in all five categories. Below are the major categories of the USGBC rating system and potential credits that can be influenced by making LiveWall’s living wall a part of your architectural landscape design.
Sustainable Sites
STORM WATER DESIGN
In combination with a roof-water collecting cistern, LiveWall’s living wall system can help to prevent excess storm water discharge. Our vertical gardens also can help to filter and detoxify storm water by removing suspended solids and other pollutants.
Potential Credits: SS 6.1, Stormwater Design, Quantity Control, 1 point
SS 6.2, Stormwater Design, Quality Control, 1 point
HEAT ISLAND EFFECT
LiveWall systems can reduce solar reflectance of a structure and significantly lower a building’s temperature and mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Potential Credits: SS 7.1, Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof, 1 point
Water Efficiency
WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPING
When vegetated with drought resistant plants, a LiveWall living wall installation requires very little irrigation. Harvested rainwater, air-conditioning condensate, and/or foundation drain water can be used to eliminate potable water use and reduce site runoff and wastewater usage. Under no circumstances should irrigation be eliminated for the LiveWall System.
Potential Credits: WE 1, Water Efficient Landscaping, Option 1, 2 points | Option 2, 4 points
WE 2, Innovative Wastewater Technologies, Option 1 or 2, 2 points
Energy and Atmosphere
OPTIMIZE ENERGY PERFORMANCE
LiveWall systems offer substantial energy saving to green homes and green buildings. The benefits will vary with local climate. For example, in the northern temperate zone the savings of energy expended on air conditioning is expected to range from 25 to 50 percent after a living wall installation. In warmer climates, the energy savings contribution from our vertical gardens will last for a higher percentage of the year. In either case, the exact savings will be based on the site, exposure, atmospheric conditions, foliar coverage/density, percentage of wall greened, and moisture content of the LiveWall soil.
Potential Credits: EA 1, Optimize Energy Performance, Option 1, 2 or 3, 1 to 19 points
Materials and Resources
RECYCLED CONTENT
LiveWall WallTer® planters are composed of 100% postindustrial high impact plastic, the aluminum components contain recycled content. To deliver enhanced nutrients, the LiveWall soil contains recycled materials such as compost or reclaimed mineral aggregate. By using recycled and reclaimed components, LiveWall helps to make good use of resources that otherwise might go to the landfill.
Potential Credits: MR 4.1 – 4.2, Recycled Content, 1 to 2 points
REGIONAL MATERIALS
LiveWall modules and aluminum components are manufactured in Michigan, and LiveWall plants are grown at local nurseries. Contact us to determine which components in your living wall will contribute toward this credit.
Potential Credits: MR 5.1 – 5.2, Recycled Content, 1 to 2 points
Innovation in Design
LiveWall® systems may contribute to eco-friendly innovation and design credits in a number of ways. LiveWall installations create beauty and sustainable energy savings. And our living wall design also contributes significant mental and physical health benefits, including fewer sick days, a sense of community pride, a focus on nutrition and preservation of the natural world, and increased positive social interaction.
A living wall from LiveWall also brings the benefits of quicker healing to patients who benefit from interacting with nature and create opportunity for disabled individuals to participate in gardening when provided with the LiveScreen Access System.
LiveWall vertical gardens may be integrated with patios, decks and outdoor kitchens, and may be used to grow herbs and vegetables, farm honeybees, reduce exterior sound, sequester carbon, and to increase the overall green, environmentally friendly footprint of the neighborhood.
Environmentally friendly features of LiveWall include wildlife friendly design, plant preservation, restorative use of vegetative waste (e.g. compost and compost tea), non-chemical water treatment and increased soil buffering capacity to help offset acid rain.
As another innovative living contribution, LiveWall plants may be grown using Integrated Pest Management and in some cases Natural Predator Pest Management and organic growing methods. Likewise, once installed, LiveWall may be maintained using Organic Landscape Management, Biological Controls, or Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The environmental and health benefits of the LiveWall system are compelling features of any architectural or landscape design.
Financial Savings
The LiveWall system savings on utility costs can help to underwrite other sustainable building methods in your project to help create a truly green building or home.
Regional Priority Credits
Depending on geographic region, additional points may be available for including a planted living wall from LiveWall. Please email us at sales@liveroof.com or call 877-554-4065 for more information.
LiveWall and LEED Download
