Anita Snader
Environmental Sustainability Manager
Armstrong Building Products

Acoustics is the lowest performing factor in green building design according to ongoing research at the University of California at Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment (CBE). The Center has administered post-occupancy evaluations of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) to over 35,000 respondents in over 200 buildings, including LEED-certified buildings.

Green buildings were found to be “higher performing” in terms of indoor air quality and lighting, but “lower performing” on acoustics. Moreover, in all buildings surveyed, the level of acoustic satisfaction was rated as the lowest performancefactor of all.

So, the question is: “Why do green buildings rate lowest in acoustical performance?” Perhaps the answer is because, with the exception of LEED for Schools and LEED for Healthcare, acoustics are not specifically addressed in most current green rating systems. Regardless, there isn’t a need to sacrifice good acoustics in green buildings. Architects, interior designers, and building owners don’t have to choose between sustainable and acoustical. They can have both. In fact, the applications of sustainable acoustics could help define “what’s next” for green building.

Tons of Acoustical Ceiling and Wall Choices
Whether it’s an open or closed space, today there are options to address both attributes. In addition to high performance continuous ceilings, now a wide variety of design options include unique clouds, canopies, baffles, and deck-mounted ceilings.

Acoustical clouds, canopies and baffles actually provide more sound absorption than a continuous ceiling of the same surface area because sound is absorbed on both the front and back surfaces. “Free-floating” designs are ideal for open plenum spaces because they add sound absorption while maintaining the exposed look.

Another solution for open plenum spaces is the addition of systems that are installed right on the ceiling deck. Some of these deck-mounted ceilings, while covering only 20% of a ceiling area, can reduce undesirable reverberation by about 50% and still maintain open plenum design integrity.

Acoustical ceilings and walls can contain high recycled content and can be recycled at the end of their service life as part of the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program. Armstrong, with the help of its many consolidators and distributors, takes old ceilings and makes new tiles with high levels of recycled content. When you specify Ceiling-2-Ceiling™ tiles you choose the highest recycled content in the market from a truly closed loop process.

Hear the Difference Yourself
To hear the difference the right ceiling or wall can make, visit the Armstrong Listening Lounge (Booth 1030N) at Greenbuild. There, in just 2 minutes, you’ll be able to grab some headphones and hear the effect of acoustical ceiling treatments in a variety of different spaces, including private offices, open plan areas, classrooms, patient rooms,retail and hospitality spaces, including exposed structure spaces. Or, you can visit armstrong.com to hear the difference online or learn about an Acoustics CEU. Either way, you’ll hear the difference for yourself.