The third stream is social and professionally oriented, i.e., the development of evaluation systems for selecting building and site technologies. The design professions have embraced evaluation systems such as LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? and Green Globes because their clients (public or private sector) are seeking more economical solutions to building and site design. Such evaluation systems feed legislative, LID and owner/bank financing streams.

All together the family of segmental concrete pavements (This family includes interlocking concrete pavements, permeable interlocking concrete pavements, concrete grid pavements and precast concrete paving slabs.) can earn a total of 17 LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? points.

Q. How does Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) support Low Impact Development (LID) principles?

A. LID principles are merging with sustainable stormwater management. Permemeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement conserves on-site space including roads, parking, stormwater infiltration and retention all combined into the same space creating more green space or building opportunities. It preserves wooded areas that would otherwise be cleared for stormwater detention or retention ponds. PICP increases site infiltration that helps maintain pre-development runoff volumes, peak flows and time of concentration. It not only promotes tree survival and growth it can contribute to urban heat island reduction through evaporation and reflective, light colored pavers.

Q. How does Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement work?

A. Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement uses solid concrete pavers which are placed on top of an open aggregate base and sub-base. The open-graded base and sub-base become the reservoir for stormwater management.

Q. Within the North American design and construction community, LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? has emerged as a project evaluation method for defining sustainable design. What is LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? and how does PICP fit in?

A. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1998, and adopted by the Canadian Green Building Council in 2003, LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? provides voluntary guidelines for reducing energy and wasted resources from building and site design. LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? is a consensus-based means for measuring building and site performance. It promotes designs that integrate energy and resource conservation. A primary objective of LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? is to help facility owners reduce maintenance and life-cycle costs. This is accomplished by including all players in an integrated development process during the design stages of a project. LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? rating systems have been developed for new commercial construction and major renovation projects (commonly used), existing building operations and maintenance, commercial interior projects, core and shell development projects, homes, neighborhoods, multiple buildings and on-campus building projects and schools. Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement alone can earn a total of 3 LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe???? points. 1 point under SS 6.1 Sustainable Sites Stormwater Design: Quantity Control :requirement-(less than 50% site imperviousness: reduce to pre-development peak discharge and quantity for a 2 year, 24-hour storm; greater than 50% site imperviousness: 25% volume decrease from 2 year, 24-hour storm.), 1 point under SS 6.2 Sustainable Sites Stormwater Design: Quality Control: requirement- (Capture and treat 90% of average annual rainfall (0.5 to 1 in. or 13 to 25 mm depending on region) Remove 80% of total suspended solids (TSS))and 1 point under WE 1.1 Water-efficient Landscaping: requirement- Reduce potable water use for irrigation by 50%.

The joints or openings are filled with a small open-graded aggregate. It is this small aggregate which makes the system 100% permeable.

Q. What other benefits are there from using Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement?

A. The modular concrete units allow for project phasing and the open-graded base and subbase materials are typically available locally. Another benefit would be rain water harvesting, PICP is capable of storing water for on-site irrigation or building grey water use. It can be designed with underground stormwater storage systems, over many slower-draining clay soils and in cold climates. It even processes and reduces pollutants from vehicular oil drippings!

Q. Can PICP be used on clay soils?

A. Yes. Even in clay soils, PICP reduces runoff and helps to capture ?EUR??,,????'?????<

Q. Can PICP be used to replace conventional stormwater management tools such as detention basins?

A. Yes, as a matter of fact, in both colder and warmer climates, PICP has been used to reduce or eliminate the need for conventional stormwater pipe infrastructure, detention basins and drop inlets.

Q. Is Maintaining PICP difficult?

A. No. PICP can be maintained through street sweeping and vacuuming based on a periodic inspection and has been very successful in many Canadian and northern United States applications. It remains stable through freezing and thawing cycles.

In summary, sustainable design evaluation methods are seeing wider use as a means to protect public health, safety and welfare when required by public agencies. There are likely many private sector projects using LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe????to evaluate design decisions without seeking certification. Segmental concrete pavement is an integral part of meeting LEED???????(R)???????+???????(R)??????oe????criteria. Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement holds a unique advantage in that its use can earn at least three points returns while returning water resources for continued use by people and nature.

Ed Fioroni is a Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Pavestone Company and the Chairman of the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) which represents producers, suppliers, contractors, design professionals and consultants. For more information PICP visit www.icpi.org.