Often overlooked in green building, the exterior door is a mechanically functional structural element with an influence on the sustainability of a project disproportionate to its initial cost in the development of a facility. With both a direct and indirect impact on credits in the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Green Building Rating System, the least obvious contributions are the most important.
Direct Impact on LEED Version 3
Credits
LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC)
LEED for Core and Shell (LEED-CS)
MR Credit 3 Material Reuse 5 percent – 10 percent†
MR Credit 4 Recycled Content 10 percent - 20 percent
MR Credit 5 Regional Materials 10 percent - 20 percent Extracted, Processed and Manufactured Regionally
MR Credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials† (MR Cr6 in LEED-CS)
MR Credit 7 Certified Wood† (LEED-NC Only)
IEQ Credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials-Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products‡
IEQ Credit 8.1 Daylight and Views, Daylight 75 percent of Space*
IEQ Credit 8.2 Daylight and Views, Views for 90 percent of Space*
† A high-performance exterior door that contributes to the higher weighted Energy & Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality credits will in most situations negatively impact these Materials & Resources Credits.
‡ Wood and agrifiber materials are not recommended as face or core material for high-performance exterior doors.
* The use of entrance systems to meet this credit must be measured against its direct negative affect on thermal efficiency. IEQ Cr 8.1 is worth 1 point in LEED-NC and LEED-CS, but 2 to 3 points in the LEED for Schools version of LEED-NC.
LEED for Existing Buildings +
MR Prerequisite 1 Sustainable Purchasing Policy
MR Prerequisite 2 Solid Waste Management Policy
MR Credit 3 Sustainable Purchasing—Facility Alterations and Additions
MR Credit 6 Solid Waste Management—Waste Stream Audit
MR Credit 9 Solid Waste Management—Facility Alterations and Additions
IEQ Credit 8.1 Daylight and Views, Daylight 50 percent of Space 3
+ With the exception of IEQ Cr 8.1, these credits come into play for LEED-EB, which concerns facility management, only if less than sustainable choices are initially made in the specification of exterior doors. There should not be a need to regularly purchase or dispose of exterior doors.
Indirect Impact on LEEDS Version 3 CREDITS
LEED-NC, LEED-CS and LEED for Commercial Interiors (LEED-CI)±
EA Prerequisite 1 Fundamental/Enhanced Conditioning¹
EA Prerequisite 2 Minimum Energy Performance¹
EA Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance (Credit 1.2 HVAC in LEED-CI) ¹
IEQ Credit 5 Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control²
IEQ 7.1 Thermal Comfort-Design¹
IEQ 7.2 Thermal Comfort-Verification¹
LEED for Existing Buildings
EA Prerequisite 2 Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance¹
EA Credit 2.2 Existing Building Commissioning, Implementation ¹
Prerequisite 3 Green Cleaning Policy³
IEQ Credit 3 Green Cleaning³
± For obvious reasons, exterior doors are not generally considered when employing LEED-CI. However, the quality of the entrance will impact these LEED-CI credits.
¹ Although only a small portion of a structure’s surface area, exterior doors are a functional part of the building envelope and can play an important role in the overall energy efficiency of a building. As with windows or walls, care should be taken to specify components that limit thermal exchange (the transfer of heat from one side of the door to the other).
² The only requirement that does directly mention exterior entrance systems has generally been met with regularly changed roll-out mats. When selecting a door, it is wise to be aware of this credit, but understand that it will only affect the door itself in rare situations.
³ The durability of a door will have an impact on what cleaning supplies and processes are needed to clean and maintain it.
Other concerns
SS Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect, Non Roof: This credit does not affect exterior doors, but its intent suggests that selecting a lighter color will benefit the sustainable attributes of a facility.
IEQ Low Emitting Materials 4.1 Adhesives & Sealants; IEQ Low Emitting Materials 4.2 Paints & Coatings: These credits will not be a specification concern, but could be an installation concern.
IEQ Credit 10 Mold Prevention: This credit in LEED-Schools is achieved by meeting a trio of prescriptive requirements that do not involve exterior doors. Be aware that an exterior door that is not tightly sealed creates all the conditions required for mold.
ID Innovation in Design/Regional Priority: It is conceivable that an entrance system could be used to earn some of these credits under the right circumstances. There are also now bonus points available for various credits determined to be regional priorities, a recent addition to LEED as part of the 2009 update.
Dan Depta is manager of marketing at Decatur, Mich.-based Special-Lite Inc., which manufactures complete entrance systems consisting of flush, monumental, wood grain and colonial doors, panels and framing for new construction and replacement installations in commercial, institutional, and municipal applications. Special-Lite entrance products were the first to earn GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification, including the stringent Children & Schools Standard. For more information, visit www.special-lite.com.
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