For architects, building owners, and contractors, building interiors present unique challenges. It's not just about aesthetics; it's about creating spaces that prioritize occupant well-being. This is of paramount importance, especially when considering vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with health conditions. Sustainable construction is on the rise. Within this context, there is a growing emphasis on products that ensure low chemical emissions and help enhance the occupant experience. But how to know what products meet these criteria?
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) stands as a beacon for green building practices in Canada and beyond. The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI) uses a performance-based system to measure, certify, and monitor a built environment’s impact on human health. GREENGUARD certification is a highly desired affirmation when it comes to knowing which products are best suited to sustainable construction. Using products that are GREENGUARD Gold Certified can help architects, contractors, and building owners achieve LEED and WELL certifications for efficient, cost-saving buildings that enhance occupant experience.
What is Greenguard Gold Certification?
GREENGUARD Gold Certified reflects a high standard achieved only after rigorous and extensive testing. In short, it identifies products that help improve indoor air quality. Only those products meeting the most stringent emission standards for low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) achieve certification.
The Role of LEED in Modern Canadian Construction
Developed by the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC), LEED provides a framework for creating efficient, cost-effective green buildings. For architects, building owners, and contractors, aligning with LEED standards signifies a commitment to sustainable construction and the enhanced comfort of building occupants.
The CaGBC empowers the building sector with education, training, and verification of innovative standards with the intent of accelerating climate-friendly, zero-carbon buildings and retrofits.
The Role of WELL in Modern Canadian Construction
The WELL Building Standard considers seven Core Concepts that impact occupant well-being: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. By achieving a defined score in each of those categories, a space can be WELL-certified with either a silver, gold, or platinum standard.
Benefits of Using CertainTeed’s Greenguard Gold Certified Interior Products in LEED Projects
- Enhanced Occupant Experience: Using certified products ensures a healthier indoor environment, directly contributing to the well-being and comfort of building occupants, especially sensitive groups.
- Meeting LEED Standards: These products can help projects meet and even exceed LEED requirements, streamlining the certification process.
- Market Differentiation: In Canada's competitive construction market, advertising a project as LEED certified with top-tier products can provide a significant edge.
- Value Addition: Buildings with a focus on occupant health and sustainability often command higher property values.
Canadian Finishing products are GREENGUARD Gold Certified
CertainTeed offers a full portfolio of interior solutions certified GREENGUARD Gold
A New Era in Building Interiors
The materials and products that Canadian construction professionals choose will reflect their commitment to excellence, to sustainability, and most importantly, to the well-being of building occupants.
By using CertainTeed’s GREENGUARD Gold Certified products, they’re championing the sustainable construction of spaces that are not only beautiful but also beneficial, especially to the most sensitive among us.
Building a Sustainable Future
Together with and for our customers, we design, manufacture, and distribute materials and solutions that have a positive impact on everyone's life and provide well-being, quality of life, and performance, while caring for the planet. We are both an international and multi-local company, fully integrated into the territories where we operate to support their vitality and help build a fairer and more sustainable, open, and engaging world.
This is the profound ambition of our purpose: to act every day to make the world a more beautiful and sustainable place to live.
FAQs on Greenguard Gold Certification and CertainTeed’s Interior Products
- What does it mean when a product is GREENGUARD Gold Certified?
- Only products that meet the most stringent emission standards for low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) achieve certification. VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that easily become vapors or gases. So low VOCs are highly desirable for builders and occupants alike.
- How do CertainTeed products enhance the occupant experience?
- Our Greenguard Gold Certified products, including joint compounds, insulation, drywall, and architectural ceilings and walls, are designed to help improve indoor air quality, ensuring a more comfortable environment for occupants, especially sensitive groups.
- What role does indoor air quality play in LEED certification?
- Indoor air quality is a pivotal component of LEED's Indoor Environmental Quality category. Using products that prioritize air quality can contribute significantly to achieving LEED points.
- Why should contractors prioritize certified products?
- Products with low VOCs benefit building occupants—but also contractors and builders. Using certified products can simplify the LEED certification process, add value to the project, and enhance the contractor's reputation for quality and sustainability.
- What is the difference between WELL and LEED?
- WELL reflects factors that may impact occupants’ physical well-being; LEED considers a building’s impact regarding energy sustainability.
- WELL reflects factors that may impact occupants’ physical well-being; LEED considers a building’s impact regarding energy sustainability.
How else does CertainTeed support LEED?
CertainTeed publishes Health Product Declarations (HPDs) and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), which provide scientifically robust and transparent information about environmental performance and third-party verification to assure the sustainability of a product. The declarations also allow products to contribute toward LEED points in building projects.