Green Products

Graniterock is proud to offer green products, sustainable products, recycled and environmentally acceptable products to its customers. These products include: Pervious Concrete, High-Fly Ash Content Concrete, Interlocking Pavers, Recycled Baserock, Aggregates such as Sand, Rock and Gravel, Concrete and Asphalt Products, Parking Bumpers, Turfstone, ECO-Block, and Erosion Control. Many of these products are manufactured locally with recycled materials. We also offer products that qualify for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) credits. Additionally, when concrete is used it can create sustainable sites.

Graniterock is committed to protecting and maintaining environmental standards. Many of our concrete products are manufactured from a large percentage of recycled materials and post-industrial consumer waste. We continue to develop new products with recycled materials, which are also environmentally friendly. Graniterock currently has four LEED accredited professionals on staff.

Local Requirements

All four cities in Santa Cruz County have green building rules on the books, and the county recently implemented similar voluntary measures in the unincorporated areas.

LEED® Credits

When concrete is used, it can facilitate the process of qualifying for LEED Green Building Rating System® credits. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) is a rating system developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. The LEED is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. Members of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) developed LEED and continue to contribute to its evolution. Graniterock is a USGBC Member. LEED recognizes achievements and promotes expertise in green building. This is done through a comprehensive system which offers project certification, professional accreditation, training and practical resources. Many products Graniterock sells and manufactures can qualify for LEED credits.

LEED provides a framework for evaluating building performance and meeting sustainability goals. Based on scientific standards, LEED emphasizes state of the art strategies. The LEED rating system has five main credit categories: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Each category is divided into credits. Further detailed information is available on the USGBC website. Credits are broken into points and additional points can be earned for innovation and becoming a LEED-accredited professional.

www.usgbc.org

Pervious Concrete

Pervious Concrete is a special type of concrete that allows water to pass through it, reducing the runoff from a site and surrounding areas. It is made with little or no fine aggregate, and is mainly used for pavements to allow the penetration of surface water through the concrete. A large void content, approximately 15%, allows rain and runoff to penetrate through the pavement directly into the soil. This process recharges the water table and reduces storm runoff, which might otherwise contaminate the ocean and impact storm water systems. Pervious Concrete also reduces the chances of flooding, by dispersing surface water into the ground. Placing this type of concrete is very laborious and can require compaction. Most of the interest in this product comes from areas where building codes allow incentives for using a permeable pavement. Pervious Concrete offers several advantages: groundwater is recharged, water resources are preserved, storm water runoff is reduced, and storm water quality is improved. Pervious Concrete is considered a green product and can qualify for LEED credits.

View or download the Pervious Concrete Brochure (requires Adobe Reader).

Pervious Concrete can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 3, 6.1, 6.2, & 7.1
  • (EA) Prerequisite 2, 1
  • (MR) 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
  • (ID) 1, 2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Pervious Concrete qualifies.

High-Fly Ash Content Concrete

High-fly ash content concrete usually contains 30% or higher (by weight) fly ash and Graniterock creates mixes from 30% to 50% fly ash. Fly ash is a by-product of burning powdered coal in an electric generating power plant. It is finer than Portland cement and consists mostly of small spheres. It is considered a post-industrial consumer waste product. Graniterock uses fly ash to improve the placement of concrete because of the fineness of the material, spherical shape, and improvements in quality. Additionally, Graniterock uses fly ash as a replacement for water to improve workability and pumpability of concrete. Fly ash also lowers the heat of hydration due to its slower rate of hydration. A lower heat of hydration is also important in mass concrete structures, such as large foundations, bridges, and piers. Finally, mixes with high fly ash concrete show less bleeding and shrinkage than straight cement mixes. Since High-Fly Ash Content Concrete contains a large amount of by-products, it is considered to be a “green” product and can qualify for LEED credits.

High-Fly Ash Content Concrete can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 3
  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
  • (ID) 1, 2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of High-Fly Ash Content Concrete qualifies.

Slag Concrete

Slag is a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), and is considered a pre-consumer waste product under the LEED program. Slag content concrete usually contains 30% slag or higher (by cementitous weight), and Graniterock has specially created LEED compliant mixes with substantial quantities of slag to meet the demands of today’s green building initiatives. Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag is a byproduct of iron blast furnaces. The slag is ground into granules finer than Portland cement.

Using slag has a number of benefits, all of which help to make a higher strength and more durable concrete. Slag in plastic cement lowers the heat of hydration, increases mix workability and reduces segregation. This reduction in the rate of hydration is particularly useful when paving major structures such as large foundations, bridges, and piers. Hardened concrete made with slag also has a reduced amount of alkali-silica reactivity, a property that can cause serious expansion and cracking. Mixes with high slag concrete typically show less bleeding and shrinkage than straight cement mixes.

Graniterock uses slag to improve concrete because of the fineness of the material, spherical shape, and improved compressive strength. Slag is used as a replacement for water to improve workability and pumpability of concrete. Because of slag’s byproduct nature, high slag concrete is considered a “green” product and can qualify for LEED credits.

High Slag Content Concrete can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 3
  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2
  • (ID) 1, 2

View or download the Slag Concrete Flyer (requires Adobe Reader).

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Interlocking Pavers qualifies.

Interlocking Pavers

Graniterock sells a wide variety of Interlocking Pavers. These Interlocking concrete pavements are appropriate for any application that requires paving. Pavers can be used for patios, driveways, pool decks, sidewalks, parking lots, pedestrian plazas, roof plaza decks medians, streets and industrial pavement. Interlocking concrete pavers are composed of cement and fine and course aggregates. Pavers are made in factory-controlled conditions that apply pressure and vibration. The joints between pavers eliminate cracking normal to conventional asphalt and concrete pavements. Pavers can do the job whether you are a landscape architect, developer, contractor, or homeowner.

Interlocking Pavers can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 6.1, 7.1
  • (MR) 4.1, 5.1

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Interlocking Pavers qualifies.

Recycled Baserock

Graniterock sells a recycled baserock that can be used as a construction aggregate. This baserock is re-crushed locally at various Graniterock locations in the Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay Areas. This baserock comes in class II and class IV grades. It also comes in ¼″ and 1 ½″ inch sizes. This recycled rock is considered to be “green” and can qualify for LEED credits.

Wilson Baserock can qualify for the following credits:

  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Wilson Baserock qualifies.

Rock, Sand and Gravel

For all of your aggregate needs, Graniterock has a product to meet your applications. Graniterock produces and imports the finest aggregates to meet exacting specifications for projects that include road construction, site development, bank stabilization, utility work, commercial projects, residential and home improvement finishes. Because the aggregates that Graniterock harvests in its regional quarries are considered locally harvested products they can qualify for LEED credits.

Rock, Sand and Gravel can qualify for the following credits:

  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2, 5.1, 5.2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Rock, Sand and Gravel qualifies.

Concrete and Asphalt

All the concrete and asphalt Graniterock sells is manufactured locally in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas of California. Whether you need the finest quality ready-mix concrete delivered to your job site or a trowel to finish the patio, Graniterock can meet your needs. Our modern ready-mix facilities, with their advanced computer controls, gives Graniterock customers quality ready-mix they can count on, load after load. Because these products are manufactured locally they can qualify for LEED credits.

Concrete and Asphalt can qualify for the following credits:

  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2, 5.1

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Concrete and Asphalt qualifies.

Parking Bumpers

Graniterock sells parking bumpers and speed bumps manufactured by GNR Technologies. Since these parking bumpers and speed bumps are made from recycled materials, they may qualify for LEED credits. The parking bumpers are one-tenth the weight of a standard concrete curb and will not warp, chip, crack or rot under normal use. The parking bumpers are highly visible, painted with glass beaded reflective paint, and designed for safety. These innovations are manufactured from 100% recycled tires and are resistant to UV, moisture, oil and extreme temperature variations. They also have a 1 ½″ channeled bottom to facilitate water drainage.

Parking bumpers and speed bumps can qualify for the following credits:

  • (MR) 4.1, 4.2

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of parking bumpers and speed bumps qualifies.

Turfstone

Turfstone can provide the beauty of lawn with the structural performance of pavement for emergency access roads, overflow parking areas and auxiliary driveways. Turfstone allows for water permeability and eliminates water runoff. Also Turfstone is ideal pavement for drip line areas around old growth trees. Because of Turfstone’s water permeability and storm water management, it can quality for LEED credits.

Turfstone can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 6.1, 6.2, 7.1

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of Turfstone qualifies.

ECO-Block

Graniterock supplies a concrete form system called ECO-Block. These Insulated Concrete Forms (ICFs) are one of the fastest growing sectors in the construction industry. These forms, which are made of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS), are used to build reinforced concrete walls for both residential and commercial buildings. Once the ECO-Block forms are erected, concrete is poured in. After the concrete has hardened, the forms stay in place and become the insulation for the walls. Eco-Block protects the environment in many ways: Reduces energy costs, Uses recycled materials, Uses no CFCs or HCFCs, Emits no fumes or gasses, Qualifies for an Energy Star Home Rating, Qualifies for Energy-Efficient Mortgages, Improves indoor air quality (IAQ), Reduces mold problems, Minimizes construction wastes to less than three percent, and ECO-Block is a member of the U.S. Green Building Coalition and contributes to its LEED program. ECO-Block can help you receive credit toward seven different LEED® certification areas.

ECO-Block can qualify for the following credits:

  • (SS) 3
  • (EA) Prerequisite 2, 1
  • (MR) 2.1, 2.2, 4.1, 4.2
  • (ID) 1

Please see the following description of LEED credits to clarify whether or not your specific use of ECO-Block qualifies.

www.eco-block.com

Erosion Control

Graniterock supplies erosion control products to meet the requirements of the NPDES Clean Water Act. These erosion control products include blankets, wattles, silt fencing, DI protection and Geosynthetics. Major erosion control considerations are sheet water run off from any hardscape and raindrops striking exposed soil. The purpose of erosion control is to reduce the velocity of the water from all sources. Other benefits of erosion control include reducing slope length, preventing construction sedimentation, promotes re-vegetation and controls storm runoff.

Fireclay Debris Series Tile

Fireclay Tile is currently manufacturing a terra cotta tile containing 50% post-consumer and post-industrial recycled materials. During the last ten years they have worked to incorporate many different post-industrial recycled products into their clay body in order to reduce landfill. They have used granite dust from sandblasted electronic parts, recycled glass, and for a short while, yeast cakes from a large brewer.

The glazed tiles are available in 44 standard colors in 2×2, 3×6, 4×4, and 6×6, with surface bullnose, quarter rounds, cove base and sink caps also available. The terra cotta body is made up of 50% recycled materials which include granite dust, recycled brown and green glass bottles, and windowpanes.

Fire Clay Tile Debris Series

Points
Sustainable Sites (SS)
Credit 3
Brownfield Redevelopment

Requirements: Develop on a site that is documented as contaminated (by means of an ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment) OR on a site classified as a Brownfield by a local, states, or federal government agency. Effectively remediate site contamination.

 1
Credit 6.1
Storm Water Management, Rate and Quantity—Runoff Reduction

Requirements: Runoff rate and quality is reduced by a minimum of 25% for building sites where the existing impervious area is greater than 50%.

 1
Credit 6.2
Storm Water Management: Clean-up Runoff / Treatment

Requirements: Treatment systems designed to remove 80% of the average annual post development total suspended solids (TSS) and 40% of the average annual post development total phosphorus (TP).

 1
Credit 7.1
Reduce Heat Islands—Heat Island Effect: Non-roof

Requirements: Use light-colored / high-albedo materials (reflectance of at least 0.3) and/or open grid pavement for a minimum of 30% of the site’s non-roof impervious surfaces. These surfaces include: parking lots, walkways, plazas, etc. Or use an open-grid pavement system (less than 50% impervious) for a minimum of 50% of the parking lot area.

 1
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Prerequisite 2
Minimum Energy Performance

Requirements: Design the building to comply with ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1 - 1999 (without amendments) or the local energy code, whichever is more stringent.

 Required
Credit 1
Optimize Energy Performance, 15 to 60% (New) or 5 to 50% (Old)

Requirements: Reduce design energy cost compared to the energy cost budget for energy systems regulated by ASHRAE / IESNA Standard 90.1 - 1999 (without amendments).

 2–10
Materials and Resources (MR)
Credit 1.1
Building Reuse, Maintain 75% of existing Shell1

Requirements: Maintain at least 75% of the existing building structure and shell (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing materials).

 1
Credit 1.2
Building Reuse, Maintain 100% of Existing Shell1

Requirements: Maintain an additional 25% (100% total) of existing building structure and shell, (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing materials.) One point in addition to MR Credit 1.1.

 1
Credit 2.1
Construction Waste Management, Divert 50% from Landfill

Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage at least 50% of construction, demolition and land clearing waste.

 1
Credit 2.2
Construction Waste Management, Divert 75% from Landfill

Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage an additional 25% (75% total) of construction, demolition and land clearing waste. One point in addition to MR Credit 2.1.

 1
Credit 4.1
Recycled Content, Use 5% Post-Consumer or 10% Other

Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the post-industrial content constitutes at least 5% of the total value of the materials in the project.

 1
Credit 4.2
Recycled Content, Use 10% Post-Consumer or 20% Other

Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the post-industrial content constitutes at least 10% of the total value of the materials in the project. One point in addition to Credit 4.1.

 1
Credit 5.1
Local / Regional Materials, 20% Manufactured Locally

Requirements: A minimum of 20% of building materials that are manufactured regionally, within a radius of 500 miles of the project site must be used.

 1
Credit 5.2
Local / Regional Materials, 50% Harvested Locally

Requirements: Of the regionally manufactured materials used in Credit 5.1, a minimum of 50% of building materials that are extracted and harvested locally, must also be used.

 1
Innovation and Design Process (ID)
Credit 1
Innovation in Design, Use of High Volume Supplementary Cementitious Materials

Requirements: In writing, identify the intent of the propose innovation credit, the proposed requirement for compliance, the proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance, and the design approach (strategies) that might be used to meet the requirements.

 1
Credit 2
LEED Accredited Professional

Requirements: At least one principal participant of the project team has successfully completed the LEED Accredited Professional exam.

 1
Credit Category Points Available
Sustainable Sites 14
Water Efficiency 5
Energy and Atmosphere 17
Materials and Resources 13
Indoor Environmental Quality 15
Total Core Points 64
Innovation and Design 5
Total Points 69
LEED Certification Levels
Certified 16–32 Points
Silver 33–38 Points
Gold 39–51 Points
Platinum 52–69 Points
  1. Points for Building Reuse cannot be obtained on the same project as those for new construction.