LiveWall Can Help You Earn LEED Points

LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a green building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). The intent is to provide a standard certification process that promotes five key areas of human and environmental health, and it provides a roadmap to measuring and documenting success for every building type and phase of building lifecycle. To receive LEED certification, building projects meet defined prerequisites and earn points by attempting a variety of credits.

Our advanced vertical garden system can help you earn LEED points in several credit categories – above and beyond that of just any green wall system. LiveWall green walls have been used on several LEED certified projects, including indoor and outdoor living walls at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, the first LEED-certified market in North America.

Our products can contribute to stormwater control, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce cooling loads, and provide many other benefits. Below is a comprehensive list of the credits from LEEDv2009 Rating System that can be influenced by the LiveWall system. Other Rating Systems, including O+M, ID+C and HOMES may be applicable.

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 Contribution: SS 6.1, Stormwater Design, Quantity Control, SS 6.2, Stormwater Design, Quality Control

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 Contribution: WE 1, Water Efficient Landscaping, Option 1 | Option 2
WE 2, Innovative Wastewater Technologies, Option 1 or 2

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 Contribution: EA 1, Optimize Energy Performance, Option 1, 2 or 3

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 Contribution: MR 4.1 – 4.2, Recycled Content

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.  Upon request, we will produce a custom LEED materials report for each project that we furnish.
Potential Contribution: MR 5.1 – 5.2, Recycled Content

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.