How Decorative Concrete Scores Points for
LEED Green Building Certification

Decorative concrete's impact on green building

By Chris Sullivan, ConcreteNetwork.com Columnist

It is widely recognized that concrete is a sustainable building material and contributes toward achieving certification for most types of construction projects under the LEED green building rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). What is less recognized, and virtually undocumented, is how decorative concrete impacts the process of obtaining LEED certification.

Concrete itself can be a large contributor to obtaining LEED certification, but so can the decorative finishes used to give concrete its endless color and design options. The growth in the popularity of sustainable building has driven the decorative concrete industry to develop products that not only fit the "green" building trend, but also give designers, architects and homeowners more ways to incorporate colorful and artistic elements into their designs while earning LEED credits. Here we discuss how specific decorative concrete finishes can contribute, directly or indirectly, toward obtaining LEED certification.

How does LEED work?

How decorative concrete qualifies for LEED credits

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