"Masonry products are the original green products, in that most of the materials they contain - including clay, limestone, sand, gravel are available in virtually inexhaustible supply. For example, a study for the Canadian government concluded that concrete has a lower environmental impact than wood or steel. The limestone, sand, and gravel quarries used for making concrete consume significantly less land and are more easily reclaimed than forestry operations or iron ore mines."
"Assessing the Relative Ecological Carrying Capacity Impacts of Resources Extraction," Forintek Sustainable Materials Project, Department of Natural Resources, 1994
The MMPC is a proud member of the National USGBC, the parent organization of the LEED program for sustainable building certification.
LEED Definition: (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) An environmental rating and certification system for residential and commercial buildings from the U.S. Green Building Council (www.usgbc.org). LEED provides benchmarks for the design, construction and operation of a property and covers site makeup, building materials, water and energy efficiency as well as indoor environmental quality. Those who demonstrate an understanding of green building practice and pass the USGBC test become LEED AP (Accredited Professionals).
