As an advocate of sustainable design, NDS® offers a number of products that may significantly contribute to LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) credits earned.

As described in the LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations Rating System, the following products can earn a project LEED credits:

• EZ Roll Grass Paver
• EZ Roll Gravel Paver
• Tufftrack Grass Paver
• Flo-Well
• EZflow
• Drip Irrigation
• StormChambers®

NDS products can be used in a number of categories described by LEED v3, as detailed below.

Category: Sustainable Sites

Credit 5.1 Site Development — Protect or Restore Habitat (1 credit): Conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity

NDS product application (option 1):

• To attain this credit, all site disturbances during construction must be limited to within a certain distance from the building perimeter. Use of EZ Roll Grass Paver, EZ Roll Gravel Paver, or Tufftrack Grass Paver e xtends the allowed area of site disturbance from 10 ft to 25 ft, thus providing more area to work during construction. The used of StormChambers under parking lots and other areas that would have been disturbed anyway during constructions prevents the need of disturbing additional site areas to install retention ponds or other surface level stormwater capture options.

NDS product application (option 2):

• EZ Roll Grass Paver or Tufftrack Grass Paver seeded with native plants in place of asphalt or other non-pervious surfaces will contribute to the overall percentage of habitat restored. Using StormChambers, which are hidden below ground, frees up more surface space for native plants compared to other stormwater methods.
• For projects that qualify for Sustainable Sites Credit 2, use of EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, EZflow, and Drip Irrigation on a vegetated roof with native or adapted plants can contribute to overall percentage of habitat restored or protected.

Credit 5.2 Site Development — Maximize Open Space (1 credit): Provide a high ratio of open space to development footprint to promote biodiversity

NDS product application (option 1, 2, & 3):

• EZ Roll Grass Paver or Tufftrack Grass Paver provides vegetated open space that will contribute to the open space requirements. StormChambers are hidden below the surface, allowing for more vegetated open space on site.
• For projects that qualify for Sustainable Sites Credit 2, use of EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, EZflow, and Drip Irrigation on a vegetated roof can contribute to credit compliance.

Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design — Quantity Control (1 credit): Limit disruption of natural water hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration, reducing or eliminating pollution from stormwater runoff, and eliminating contaminants

NDS product application (case 1 & 2):

• EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, EZ Roll Gravel Paver,   Flo-Well  and StormChambers can be utilized as part of a stormwater management plan as they reduce impervious cover, increase on-site infiltration, and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.
• EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, EZflow and Drip Irrigation can be used to maintain a vegetated roof, which will minimize impervious surface area on the site.

Credit 6.2 Stormwater Design — Quality Control (1 credit): To limit disruption and pollution of natural water flows by managing stormwater runoff

NDS product application:

• EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver and EZ Roll Gravel Paver can be utilized as part of a stormwater management plan as they reduce impervious cover, increase on-site infiltration, and reduce pollution from stormwater runoff.
• Both Flo-Well, EZflow and StormChambers can be utilized as part of a stormwater management plan – both products collect surface water and allow it to filter through the subsurface, increasing on-site infiltration and reducing pollution contained in stormwater runoff.

Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect — Nonroof (1 credit): To reduce heat islands to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats

NDS product application (option 1):

• As open grid pavement systems, the use of EZ Roll Grass Paver and Tufftrack Grass Paver reduces heat absorption and contributes to the overall hardscaped area calculation for this credit.
• EZ Roll Grass Paver will also reduce heat absorption when filled with aggregate with a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI²) of at least 29, and contributes to the overall hardscaped area calculation for this credit.

Credit 7.2 Heat Island Effect — Roof (1 credit): To reduce heat islands to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats

NDS product application (option 2):

• EZ Roll Grass Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, EZflow and Efficient Irrigation can be utilized on a vegetated roof to reduce heat absorption.

Category: Water Efficiency

Credit 1.1 Water Efficient Landscaping — Reduce by 50% (1 credit): Limit or eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on or near the project site, for landscape irrigation

NDS product application:

• Efficient Irrigation equipment can reduce the proportion of potable water used for landscape irrigation.
• StormChambers can be used to capture rainwater for reuse

Credit 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping — No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation(1 credit): Eliminate the use of potable water, or other natural surface or subsurface water resources available on or near the project site, for landscape irrigation

NDS product application:

• EZ Roll Grass Paver does not require an irrigation system and will eliminate the need for the use of potable water for irrigation of a landscaped area.
• StormChambers can capture rainwater for reuse. A large enough system could capture enough for all irrigation needs.

Credit 2.0 Innovative Wastewater Technologies – (2 credits): Reduce wastewater generation and potable water demands while increasing the local aquifer recharge.

NDS product application:

• StormChambers can be used to capture rainwater to reduce water potable use and to recharge local aquifers.

Category: Materials & Resources

Credit 4.1 Recycled Content: 10% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) (1 credit): Increase demand for the building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials.

NDS product application:

• NDS manufacture products that are made from 100% recycled HDPE (approximate blend is 50% post-consumer, 50% pre-consumer material), including EZ Roll Grass Paver, EZ Roll Gravel Paver, Tufftrack Grass Paver, Flo-Well and StormChambers . Utilization of these products will increase the proportion of materials used on site that are recycled, and can contribute towards attainment of this credit.
• The aggregate in EZflow is 100% recycled material, so will also increase the proportion of recycled materials used on site, and can contribute to attainment of this credit.

Credit 4.2 Recycled Content: 20% (post-consumer + ½ pre-consumer) (1 credit): Increase demand for the building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials

NDS product application:

• The same products cited in credit 4.2 (above) can contribute to the attainment of this credit, if used in a larger proportion on site relative to the proportion of materials that are not recycled.

Credit 5.1 Regional Materials: 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured (1 Credit): Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.

NDS product application:

• StormChambers systems require the use of crushed, angular stone, which can be obtained locally, thereby contributing towards acquiring this credit.

Credit 5.2 Regional Materials: 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured (1 Credit): Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.

NDS product application:

• StormChambers systems require the use of crushed, angular stone, which can be obtained locally, thereby contributing towards acquiring this credit.

Category: Innovation in Design

Credit 1 Innovation in Design (1-5 credits): achieve exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the LEED Green Building Rating System.

NDS product application:

• StormChambers systems can help contribute torwards the following:
• Reduction of thermal loading
• Reduction of salt water intrucion
• Mimic pre-Development Hydrology
• Help maintain base flow to stream & wetlands
• Provides land for higher and better use
• Bio-Remediation of Pollutants
• Exceeding requirements of 6.1 and 6.2
• Save significant transportation energy compared to pipe
• Save signification transportation energy compared to RCP for conveyance
• Significant environmental benefits over conveyance pipe

The addition of a green roof to a development qualifies for LEED credits as it reduces the heat island effect and increases the area of pervious surfaces.

EZ-Roll Gravel Paver contributed to LEED credits on this certified parking lot.

NDS offers products that utilize recycled plastics in a blend of 50% pre-consumer and 50% post-consumer materials and can qualify a project for LEED credits.