Feature

According to LEED for Homes, use of local materials supports the local economy and reduces the harmful environmental impacts of long-distance transport.

Using materials sourced from within a 500-mile radius earns points in both the LEED for Homes program and the NAHB’s National Green Building Standard.

The photo here shows kitchen counters and cabinets milled from an aged acacia tree that fell in the neighborhood.

 (Photo: Los Angeles Times)

Types of Locally Sourced Materials

• Stone and granite from local quarries rather than imported from countries around the globe.

• Wood choices from regionally grown forests rather than from forests all over the world.

• Tiles from locally sourced factories, rather than imported tile.