Sustainability Table

NOTE: USG uses more recaptured (FGD or flue gas desulfurization) gypsum than any other competitive supplier, over 3 million tons in 2003. However, this content changes from plant to plant and even day to day at any one plant due to availability. The recycled contents above are approximants based on the plants’ average. Most of the power plants, which produce this by-product or recaptured gypsum, are east of the Mississippi River. While this by-product gypsum is not available everywhere in North America, we do have plants strategically located to meet your needs. Evaluation should be made per job on the benefits of the use of this material over natural gypsum in the production of LEVELROCK® used in your project. Using locally produced LEVELROCK® may be more environmentally friendly than shipping LEVELROCK® Green Floor Underlayment across the country for high recycled content.

LEED is a guideline for building solutions established by the USGBC -- Products are NOT LEED certified, however they assist on obtaining points for the project. For example:

1. EA Credit 1 – Optimize Energy Performance
   1. High Light Reflectance (LR) of ceiling materials can reduce required luminaries of design space as required per ASHRAE (1 Point)
2. MR Credit 2 - Construction Waste Management
   1. 2.1 -- Divert 50% of project waste (by weight) from landfill (1 Point)
   2. 2.2 -- Divert another 25% of project waste (by weight) from landfill (1 Point)
3. MR Credit 4 - Recycled Content
   1. 4.1 -- 5% of project materials’ value (Post-Consumer + 1⁄2 Post-Industrial) (1 Point)
   2. 4.2 -- 10% of project materials’ value (Post-Consumer + 1⁄2 Post-Industrial) (1 Point)
4. MR Credit 5 - Local/Regional Materials
   1. 5.1 -- If 20% of project materials are manufactured within 500miles (1 Point)
   2. 5.2 -- If raw materials for above products are obtained within 500 miles (1 Point)
5. MR Credit 6 – Rapidly Renewable Materials
6. EQ Credit 4 - Low-Emitting Materials
   1. 4.1 -- Architectural Sealants have VOC less than 250g/L per Reg. 8, Rule 51 (1 Point)
   2. 4.2 -- Drywall Installation less than 200g/L and Ceiling Tile installation less than 250g/L per Green Seal, Table 5 (1 Point)

General Note: * under VOCs, means this product passed the Section 01350 of the Material Specifications adopted by the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) for VOC emissions.

Embodied Energy calculations are based on 'Cradle to Market' and averages for all plants within North America. Values published above may vary from their values due to less shipping distances and efficiencies here in the U.S. as compared with New Zealand.

** Embodied Energy of Aluminum is low due to recycled aluminum does not counting transportation from job to manufacturing or energy to separate from waste.