FAQs

What is “green building?”

“Green building” is the design and construction of buildings that can significantly reduce or even eliminate negative impacts on the environment and the community while  also having salutary effects on the building occupants.

Who is The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)?

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization composed of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work. More than 11,000 member organizations and a network of 75 regional chapters are united to advance the mission of transforming the building industry to sustainability.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s core purpose is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life.

What is the LEED Program?

According to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), “The Leadership in Energy and Environmentally Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to have an immediate and measurable impact on their buildings’ performance. 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.”

How does masonry fit into the LEED Program?

The LEED program breaks down requirements for certification of a building by intended use (residential, commercial, school, government, etc.) and awards points or credits for adherence to the criteria published in its documentation (currently, for new construction, LEED-NC Version 2.2). The rating system lists the intent, requirements, submittals and technologies/strategies for each credit.

Masonry can help the designer/architect in several areas of the criteria that might not be obvious at first glance. One of those is sustainable site planning, and by using permeable concrete or brick masonry pavements or open cell concrete masonry pavers, masonry can contribute up to three points in this category. Another category is energy efficiency and renewable energy. Masonry and brick are well-known as energy efficient materials with insulating value and high thermal mass. They can also be used in passive solar construction by utilizing their thermal lag to reduce peak energy loads, thus allowing a decrease in the size of the building HVAC system. Of course, conservation of materials and resources is on masonry’s side. Brick’s small unit size helps divert waste from landfills, and salvaged brick can be used in road construction or other buildings. Brick and other masonry are among the most commonly salvaged building materials. Numerous manufacturers make brick that incorporates recycled or industrial waste aggregates that are rendered harmless when the brick is fired. Raw materials of brick, clay, and shale are abundant and always nearby, making brick available regionally, efficient to transport and distribute.

How does Hohmann & Barnard, Inc. fit into the “Green Arena?”

There are more aspects to masonry’s potential for being green besides the obvious brick and blocks. Some are buried deep within the structure, well out of sight but working hard for eco-friendliness. Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. understands that decision decisions and building practices of today will directly affect the future of our environment. We are committed to the development and research of environmentally friendly products. 

Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. offers a complete line of products for the construction of sustainable masonry structures. Hohmann & Barnard, Inc. has innovated numerous anchor, reinforcement and flashing products that enable masonry walls to endure and perform as intended by the architect and owner.

Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. carbon steel wire reinforcements and masonry wire ties are invariably manufactured from steel that is fabricated from 99% post industrial re-cycled material. Other products such as our n ew Textroflash Green Flashing, Mortar Net, Re b onded Rubber and a variety of steel products are also fabricated either entirely or substantially from re-cycled materials. Hohmann and Barnard, Inc. has six manufacturing facilities around the country, so the 500-mile radius stipulation for green credits is very often satisfied.                  

Hohmann & Barnard products have been used on many well-known green projects, including the renowned Solaire at Battery Park City in New York, known as the First Green Residential High Rise i n North America. Currently, Hohmann and Barnard is supplying The Bronx Zoo Madagascar Lion House Re novation, which is the First LEED gold NYC Landmark.