Paving materials can have a significant impact on the heat island effect often found in urban areas – thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas. Solar reflective coatings minimize urban heat build-up and create cooler, more sustainable micro-climates that are better for people, plants and wildlife. StreetPrint offers a number of coatings that meet the standards of the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.
What Is LEED®?
The LEED® Green Building Rating System™ is the accepted benchmark in North America for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. As part of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED® is a voluntary, consensus-based program for developing sustainable buildings. LEED® promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality.
Based on a system of prerequisites and credits, LEED® projects are rated for sustainable materials and building practices during the certification process. On completion, projects are awarded one of four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Planning for a Cooler Environment
LEED® outlines sustainable approaches for cooling the urban landscape and reducing the heat island effect. By following these guidelines your project can earn LEED® credits.
Option 1
Provide any combination of the following strategies for 50% of the site hardscape, including roads, sidewalks, courtyards and parking lots:
Create shade within five years of occupancy of the building.
Use paving materials with a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI)* of at least 29.
Use an open grid paving system.
Option 2
Place a minimum of 50% of parking spaces under cover: under ground, under a deck, under a roof or under a building.
Use roofing materials with an SRI of at least 29 to shade or cover parking.
* The SRI is a measure of a constructed surface’s ability to reflect solar heat. Standard black (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and standard white (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. Certain StreetPrint colors have an SRI greater than 29 and therefore qualify for the LEED® program under Section SS Credit 7.1 Heat Island Effect: Non-Roof. For more information go to www.usgbc.org/LEED.
StreetPrint for Sustainable Hardscapes
Choose among seven StreetPrint colors with SRI values of 29 or greater. USGBC does not certify, promote or endorse products and services of individual companies as such, but choosing StreetPrint can mean more LEED® credits for your project. StreetPrint colors that qualify for LEED® credits are listed below.
StreetPrint Colors for LEED® Credits
The color samples below may not match exactly their physical equivalents. Always refer to physical samples before making your color choices.
White
Sun Baked Clay
Irish Cream
Khaki
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
Reflectance: 0.60
Reflectance: 0.44
Reflectance: 0.43
Reflectance: 0.33
Emittance: 0.94
Emittance: 0.95
Emittance: 0.94
Emittance: 0.94
SRI: 73*
SRI: 53
SRI: 50*
SRI: 37
Sandstone
Safety Blue
Fawn
Limestone Gray
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
ASTM Method**: E1980
Reflectance: 0.32
Reflectance: 0.30
Reflectance: 0.31
Reflectance: 0.29
Emittance: 0.94
Emittance: 0.93
Emittance: 0.93
Emittance: 0.94
SRI: 36*
SRI: 33*
SRI: 33
SRI: 32
* Color coatings tested after three years on site in Spokane, Washington.
** Reflectance values are measured in accordance with American Standard of Testing Methodology (ASTM) C 1549. Emittance values are measured in accordance with ASTM C 1371. The SRI values of StreetPrint are calculated according to ASTM E 1980-01.
