Our new Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) Optimization Report for ClarkDietrich low embodied carbon (LEC) cold-formed steel products offers significant advantages for architects and builders seeking LEED v4.1 certification. With this EPD Optimization Report, ClarkDietrich now helps teams achieve an additional point under LEED v4.1’s “Material and Resources Credit: EPDs.”
What is the EPD Optimization Report?
The EPD Optimization Report is an independent-party–verified comparative analysis on ClarkDietrich’s LEC steel framing systems. The assessment provides a Cradle-to-Gate comparison of our LEC EPD against our standard EPD as a baseline. The report concludes that our LEC cold-formed steel framing systems offer more than a 10% reduction in global warming potential (GWP), otherwise known as the Carbon Footprint, meeting the criteria to count as 1.5 products under Option 2 of the LEED v4.1 MR Credit: EPDs. In fact, the Optimization Report shows a 30.3% reduction in GWP!
How does ClarkDietrich contribute to LEED v4.1?
Under LEED v4.1, building teams can earn up to 2 points for the MR Credit: EPDs. To earn these points, teams must achieve one or more of the following options:
- Option 1: Environmental Product Declaration (1 point)
- Option 2: Embodied Carbon/LCA Optimization (1 point)
Option 1 requires that a project include at least 20 different products from at least five different manufacturers that meet certain disclosure criteria. Because our LEC EPD is a product-specific Type III EPD, our LEC steel products count as 1.5 products toward the required 20 for Option 1.
Option 2 requires that projects include at least five products from at least three manufacturers that have a compliant embodied carbon optimization report. With our new EPD Optimization Report, ClarkDietrich LEC steel products now count as 1.5 products toward the required five for Option 2. While Option 2 requires fewer products than Option 1, there are only a handful of products on the market that meet the criteria for Option 2. In fact, ClarkDietrich is the first steel framing manufacturer to have the data available to help achieve credit for Option 2.
An ongoing commitment to innovation
By having a product that’s backed by the data and documentation necessary for achieving both Option 1 and 2, ClarkDietrich is making it easier for teams to earn LEED v4.1 certification on their building projects. It’s this collective commitment to sustainable building practices that inspires us to continue on this vital journey.
Our data informs our next steps, from optimizing production processes to exploring innovative low embodied carbon materials. Our LEC EPD paves the way for deeper collaboration with architects and engineers, designing and building structures that minimize their environmental impact.
Together, we can transform the built environment one steel stud at a time.
New to any of these sustainability terms? Check out our new Sustainability Glossary for a comprehensive guide on key terms and concepts.