Use K&N Global Filtration’s reusable industrial air filters to claim additional LEED points, up to 8 in the waste practices section, which is a prerequisite.

Measure the total weight of waste (in lbs., kg, or tons) that is generated and the total weight that is diverted from landfills and incineration facilities for one full year or from a waste analysis. Exclude any facility renovation waste. 

To document the weight of disposable vs reuseable filters, before installing K&N filters, weigh a representative sample of legacy disposable filters from each air handling unit (AHU) operated in the building, when they have reached the end of their service life, as they are removed before they are sent to landfill.  Multiply the weights of individual used filters by the number of filters installed in each AHU to derive the total weight of filters being sent to landfill for the building.  This is the additional diversion weight for the calculation below.

Input generated and diverted waste totals and calculate a waste performance score for the project. LEED points for this prerequisite are awarded for waste performance scores above 40, as follows:

LEED Points for Waste Performance

Waste performance score calculation

To calculate waste performance score, the following data is required:

• Total waste generated (lbs., kg, or tons) 
• Total waste diverted (lbs., kg, or tons) – ADD the calculated weight of used disposable filters to the value derived before adopting K&N reusable filters.
• Weighted occupancy

The waste generated is converted into an average daily waste generated per occupant, using the following equation: 

_{Average daily waste generated = (waste generated / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy}

The waste diverted is converted into a daily waste undiverted per occupant, using the following equation:

_{Daily waste undiverted per occupant = (waste diverted / # days associated with waste total) / occupancy}

The daily undiverted waste is calculated using the following equation: 

_{Daily undiverted waste per occupant = daily waste generated per occupant– daily waste diverted per occupant}

The project’s calculated average daily waste generated per occupant AND average daily waste undiverted per occupant are input into the waste scoring function to calculate the waste performance score. 

Pro Tip

Since these equations uniquely normalize for occupancy, removing HVAC filters from the waste stream will have an outsize impact on lightly occupied buildings – like data centers. 

If you’d like to learn more about LEED credits, visit www.usgbc.org/credits.