The primary job of an entrance floor mat is to keep your facility clean, safe, and beautiful while stopping footprints in their tracks. Beyond eliminating footprints, entrance mats can also have an overlooked environmental impact. The choices that you make regarding your entrance matting system can have long term consequences on the earth; everything from materials used, to type of entrance mat, and even being a LEED certified building or not can leave a permanent mark globally for years to come.
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Requirements are an important set of guidelines created/implemented to increase your building’s environmental health performance and function, it is the most widely used green building rating in the world. LEED includes construction, design, and operation of all building types for both new construction and existing projects. Becoming LEED Certified means you have a globally recognized emblem of sustainability leadership and triumph. The basic principles of LEED design are low-impact materials - non-toxic, sustainability produced or recycled materials which require minimal energy to produce. Quality and durability – longer-lasting and better functioning products that are replaced less frequently.
Did you know? Buildings with higher LEED ratings can also lead to high property values as well as qualify for additional tax breaks.
Entrance floor mats can play an integral role in your facilities LEED rating, performance, and environmental footprint being left behind. Carpet runner style mats or rental mat programs have a greater environmental impact than permanent entrance matting systems. The fuel being used to transport entrance mats for laundering along with the water and chemicals being used to clean your mat has a significantly larger global influence/ carbon footprint vs. aluminum entrance mats that are onsite all the time and don’t require special laundering. Aluminum entrance mats last on average 10-15+ years and are environmentally friendly while also maximizing dirt retention. The inserts can either be replaced or recycled when they get worn out; reducing the environmental footprints left on the planet.
Ronick Matting Systems proudly offers a variety of entrance mat types and insert choices to meet sustainable and ethical demands of the market.
Entrance mats are part of LEED requirements for credits in the certification process. One of the most important points for entrance systems is IEQ Credit 5 -- providing a PERMANENT entrance system of at least 10 feet in all major entrances.
Below are possible LEED Credit point categories that can be earned for using specific materials that fulfill the guidelines listed.
To fulfill this requirement, the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the post-industrial content constitutes at least 4% of the total value of the materials in the project. Aluminum for Pedimats, PediTreds, and Pedigrids is 30% post-consumer, 46% post-industrial. Consider using Recycled Rubber Inserts for options on adding additional post-consumer content to your commercial project.
Low VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) refer to organic chemical compounds that have significant vapor pressures. These man-made and naturally occurring chemical compounds can affect the environment and human health. Many of our products meet the standards for low VOCs.
This credit requires compliance with a varied group of items that cumulatively help keep pollutants out of the indoor air. One basic requirement for this guideline is to install a permanent entrance system (grilles, grates, etc.) at least 10 feet long in all major entrance areas of the building to prevent dirt, water, and particulate matter from entering the building. Find an economical solution with a Pedimat entrance system.
2.5% of the total value of all building materials and products must be made with rapidly renewable materials and products. Typically these are plants harvested within a ten-year cycle or shorter. We offer wood inserts such as bamboo and cork treads, which rapidly add renewable content to any project.
Here at Ronick we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, providing high-quality products with sustainable choices for every project. We are committed to eliminating footprints in your facility while also reducing our footprint on the earth. Committing to making a positive global impact on the planet starts with you… it can be as simple as, making a conscious effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle, or riding your bike to work, or even choosing an aluminum entrance mat for your facility.
There are so many little things that each of us can do to make a huge difference on the planet!
