MARATHON, Wis. (March 9, 2006) – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) was created by the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org) to establish a “common standard of measurement” for environmentally conscious construction. LEED® attempts to define a term that often is considered indefinable – sustainability. The USGBC says it created LEED® to measure the following:

• Define “green” building by establishing a common standard of measurement
• Promote integrated, whole-building design practices
• Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
• Stimulate green competition
• Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
• Transform the building market

In order to attain a LEED® certification, a building project must meet certain criteria in six categories, for which it is awarded points:

• Platinum, 52-69 points
• Gold, 39-52
• Silver, 33-38
• Basic, 26-32

The DNR Northeast Regional Headquarters, in the Village of Howard, was designed with a Silver certification in mind and is undergoing review by the USGBC. County Materials supplied nearly 50,000 units of County Stone® concrete veneer to the project, underscoring the role concrete can play in sustainable building.

County Materials operates 30 locations serving the Midwest. The family-owned, American-based company is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of concrete block, brick, ready-mix, hollowcore, pipe, pavers, retaining walls and Aggregate finish products for residential, commercial and municipal construction and landscaping.

For more information, call us at 1-800-289-2569 and ask for a product guide.