LEED Credits and Permeable Pavers

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ encourages and accelerates global adoption of sustainable green building and development practices through the creation and implementation of universally understood and accepted tools and performance criteria. LEED is a third party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green 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. Below is some information about how the permeable pavers can help the environment.

Some paver companies are working hard to refine and enhance a system that will provide homeowners and contractors with a more efficient storm water management method that can improve the quality of storm water runoff as it is returned to a ground water source.

Over the past two decades it has been recognized that the possibilities and environmental benefits of being able to infiltrate water through the pavement surface into the ground below are helpful to the environment. Infiltration practices have started to emerge as a major focus of agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for permeable interlocking concrete pavements that will utilize infiltration to help control storm water runoff. The permeable type of pavers can also provide a permanent solution to soil erosion problems by allowing grass to grow with in the parameters of the block and help blend in with their surroundings. They can help reduce or eliminate storm water runoff, decrease flooding and relieve sewer systems while still providing a sturdy surface for vehicular or pedestrian traffic. Unlike installation of solid paving surfaces, which can negatively impact the environment, storm drainage systems, and property through storm water runoff, these types of concrete stones listed below allows natural drainage and migration of water into the earth below.