CI-2009 SSc1: Site Selection

  • CI_SSc1_Type3_SiteSelection Diagram

  • It’s worth pursuing this straightforward credit

    This credit is fairly straightforward: the existing building selected by your LEED-CI project will either have LEED certification or other green features in place, or it won’t. (If your project hasn’t yet selected a building, consider looking for a building that will perform well under this credit.) 

    It’s worth considering this credit, because in the best case (Option 1), you can earn five points just for locating in a building certified under another LEED rating system.

    If that’s not your situation, you can earn 1–5 points through Option 2 by targeting items on a menu of 12 “paths,” each of which approximates a key LEED credit not otherwise covered under LEED-CI (see the credit language and Checklists tabs for more detail). You can't combine options and earn more than five points.

    The number of points you’re likely to earn can be determined early on by reviewing existing building components and characteristics. It’s likely that you can pick up a point or two, even if your base building wasn’t designed as a “green building.”

    Select the right building—don’t count on changing it

    Keep in mind that this credit is about encouraging tenants to locate in environmentally friendly buildings. The credit is not focused on redesigning the base building to fit the needs of the credit—that would be more likely to fall under another rating system, such as LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. 

    LEED plaqueLocating in a building certified under another LEED rating system is the most staightforward way to earn the five points for this credit. Photo – YRG SustainabilityHowever, tenants can and should encourage building management to make environmental improvements over time, particularly if a good opportunity presents itself. (For example, if the roof is scheduled to be replaced, the owner could consider installing a reflective roof complying with Option 2, Path 5: Heat Island Effect—Roof.)

    Your strategies or green building characteristics need to be in place before submittal of your LEED application.

    Check the requirements carefully

    For the most part, the credit requirements of this credit are consistent with corresponding LEED-NC credits. However, there are some variations, so be sure to understand the requirements of any paths you have chosen to pursue.

    A note on LEEDuser’s guidance

    The Checklists tab for this credit offers key considerations for each option and path of this credit. For more detail, however, you will be referred to the corresponding LEED-NC credit page within LEEDuser. When reading those LEED-NC pages, be aware of requirements and recommendations that may or may not be relevant to the LEED-CI project.

    FAQ's for LEED-CI SSc1

    Do SSc1 paths pertain to the whole building or just your own space? What if our own space meets one of the SSc1 paths but the whole building does not?

    This credit must be applied to the whole building. The CI space can contribute, but the CI space can’t earn the credit on its own.

    What if my base building is LEED registered and not yet certified—can I still earn five points under SSc1?

    No. But, if the schedule allows, you could stall your submittal until the building is certified. Or, if you are in a LEED registered building, the building will likely meet some of the individual paths under Option 2 that can be documented and submitted without having to wait for the whole building’s certification.

    Is exemplary performance available for this credit, in addition to the five points?

    No. A project can only earn up to 5 points. Exemplary performance can count for one of the 5 points for Path 4, 5, 10 and 11, or some other strategy, but that goes under Path 12, Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance.

Legend

  • Best Practices
  • Gotcha
  • Action Steps
  • Cost Tip

Pre-Design

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  • Consider which option is more likely for your project:

    • Option 1: You can earn five points here simply for locating in a LEED-certified building.
    • Option 2: Locate in a building (or improve it) to earn up to five points using a menu of 12 options based on green strategies.

  • Consider meeting as a project team during the pre-lease phase of your project to discuss the best site options for the tenant space, targeting green buildings if possible. Real estate brokers and leasing agents can help you identify buildings that are either LEED-certified, or that have implemented green strategies.

  • LEED plaqueThe level of LEED certification attained by the building is not a factor in this credit. Photo – YRG SustainabilityFor either option, this credit largely awards building selection. You can earn points here for tenant improvements (under Option 2), but it’s far easier and more cost-effective to start with a building that already achieves the credit, whether by being LEED-certified or having green features.

  • Careful building selection is crucial for following this option. Real estate brokers and leasing agents can help you identify buildings that are either LEED certified, or that have implemented green strategies with quantifiable results. The most straightforward wayto earn the maximum number of points, and to document this credit, is to locate your tenant space in a LEED-certified building. Consult the USGBC’s database of LEED-certified buildings while looking at your options. USGBC local chapters may also provide useful information. (See Resources.)

  • If your project is not locating in a LEED-certified building, guide your real estate broker to include the 12 environmental criteria of Option 2 in the search for your base building. (Refer to the questionnaire available from the Documentation Toolkit.)

  • If you are attempting any of the paths of Option 2, the environmental features need to be in place at the time of building selection, or at least by the time your CI project submits final LEED documentation.  

  • Rents in LEED-certified or “green” buildings may be higher than conventional rates. However, higher rents are likely to be offset by lower operating costs, as well as higher productivity and return on investment. 

  • Option 1

  • To document this credit complete the LEED credit template and upload the final certification scorecard for the base building. Your project building can be certified under any of the LEED rating systems, including LEED for New Construction, LEED for Core and Shell, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.  

  • If your base building is in the process of pursuing LEED certification, note that this credit is awarded only if your base building has achieved certification at the time of your submission of the LEED-CI project. 

  • Option 2—General Considerations

  • Your safest best in pursuing Option 2 is to look for building environmental features to already be in place at the time of building selection. At the least, they must be in place by the time your LEED-CI project submits its application.  

  • Option 2, Path 1: Brownfield Redevelopment

  • Refer to LEED-NC SSc3 for detailed requirements and documentation tips.

  • Aim for a building constructed on a brownfield site that was subsequently remediated. Consult with building management to find out if any kind of remediation was ever carried out on the property. Be sure to inquire about asbestos remediation, which also qualifies even though it does not define a site as a “brownfield.”

  • You may have to check local, state, and federal government (particularly the EPA) offices for lists of buildings in your area on remediated sites.

  • Obtain documentation confirming that your project building was contaminated and that remediation was completed. Ask building management to provide an ASTM E1903-97, Phase II Environmental Site Assessment and proof of remediation. However, such documentation is not common and may be hard to find if remediation was well in the past. Alternatively, you can provide proof that the building was developed on a brownfield site, as determined by a local, state, or federal government agency via a letter or other formal confirmation. 

  • Option 2, Path 2: Stormwater Design—Quantity Control

  • Refer to LEED-NC SSc6.1 for more detailed requirements and documentation. 

  • Select a building that has implemented stormwater collection and reuse, infiltration, or other quantity-control measures, with rates that meet the LEED requirements. 

  • Request a copy of the stormwater management plan, if there is one, listing the best management practices implemented for onsite treatment or onsite storage of stormwater. 

  • Refer to the stormwater management plan or consult with your building’s civil engineer to learn the site’s imperviousness. If it is less than 50% impervious, the stormwater management plan must equalize the pre- and post-development peak discharge rates and quantities from the one-year, 24-hour, design storm. If your site has more than 50% impervious cover, the plan must reduce the volume of stormwater runoff by 25% from the 1½-year, 24-hour, design storm. 

  • If there is no formal stormwater management plan, work with a civil engineer to identify stormwater management features and confirm the pre- and post-development discharge rates.

  • If the plan does not meet the requirements, consider working with building management and the civil engineer to revise the plan and add features or performing work to improve infiltration, or install onsite storage and reuse mechanisms. These can be expensive to retroactively install, however.

  • Option 2, Path 3: Stormwater Design—Quality Control

  • Refer to LEED-NC SSc6.2 for detailed requirements and documentation.

  • Try to locate the project in a building that has a stormwater management system meeting LEED requirements. Constructed wetlands, filtering systems, bioswales, retention basins, or other systems that remove suspended solids from stormwater, will contribute to meeting credit requirements. If your project is in an urban environment, the building can install a detention tank that collects rainwater for reuse. Systems must remove at least 80% of the site’s average annual total suspended solids (TSS) and 40% of the site’s total phosphorus (TP).

  • In order to comply with this path, your building must implement specific best management practices (BMPs). These are found in Chapter 4, Part 2, Urban Runoff, of the EPA Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, January 1993 (EPA 840B92002). Alternatively, your building should follow the BMPs outlined by your local government if they represent the more stringent option.  

  • If information on the building is not readily available, check with code officials, permitting agencies, and your building’s engineer about the building’s stormwater treatment system and how well it performs. 

  • Option 2, Path 4: Heat Island Effect—Non-Roof

  • Refer to NC SSc7.1 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. Note, however, that the requirement for this option through LEED-CI is to meet the credit requirements for 30% of the non-building-area instead of the 50% required for NC projects. 

  • Find out if your site meets any of the following three options:

    • Thirty percent of non-building surfaces are shaded by trees; have light-colored site surfaces with an SRI of 29 or greater; or have open-grid pavement. A combination of these three strategies is also acceptable. 
    • Fifty percent of parking spaces are covered or underground.
    • At least 50% of the parking lot area has open-grid paving (at least 50% pervious).

  • To document this credit provide site plans that indicate the areas of shading, highly reflective surfaces, open-grid or pervious-hardscape areas and parking under cover.  

  • Sketchup is a free modeling program from Google that can help you determine the shading area for trees. (See Resources.)

  • If the SRI of certain surface materials is not known, obtain a small sample and send it to a testing lab. This generally costs a few hundred dollars. 

  • If hardscape has gotten darker over time through weathering, the SRI value of the weathered hardscape must be used. However, some hardscapes can be cleaned to restore their SRI value, or close to it. 

  • You can earn an Exemplary Performance point here under Path 12 by meeting two of the three options described above. (Note that you can earn a maximum of five points under this credit, including Path 12, and that pursuing Exemplary Performance for bonus points under IDc1 is a separate process.)

  • Tenants benefit from locating in a building that has reduced its heat island effect—through lower operating costs related to cooling the tenant space. 

  • Option 2, Path 5: Heat Island Effect—Roof

  • Refer to LEED-NC SSc7.2 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. 

  • There are three compliance paths available to meet the requirements of this path. Tenants can locate in a building with one of the following attributes. 

    • Option 1: 75% of the roof is covered with reflective materials with an SRI value of 29 or greater for pitched roofs or an SRI value of 78 or greater for low-sloped roofs.
    • Option 2: 50% of the roof is vegetated. 
    • Option 3: A combination of the first two options.

  • Ask the building owner for specifications on the kind of roofing materials installed and the SRI values of those materials. 

  • More and more municipalities require that “cool” or white roofs be installed on new buildings, so the stock of buildings that comply with this requirement should increase over time, making this path easier to follow. 

  • Tenants benefit from locating in a building that has reduced its heat island effect, through lower operating costs related to cooling the tenant space. 

  • Option 2, Path 6: Light Pollution Reduction

  • Refer to LEED-NC SSc8 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. However, note that LEED-NC covers exterior and interior lighting, while for LEED-CI; you only need to follow the interior lighting requirements. 

  • Even if the LEED-CI project only involves a portion of a building, the requirements here must be met by the whole building. 

  • This is a particularly difficult path to comply with because tenants don’t have control over the entire building, or over other tenants’ design and lighting layouts. This compliance path implies requesting lighting power density from all other tenants and measuring light leakage from the windows. It can be time-consuming to document.

  • This path is most feasible if your LEED-CI project occupies the majority of the building, and is executing its own lighting design. 

  • Option 2, Path 7: Water Efficient Landscaping—Reduce by 50%

  • Refer to LEED-NC WEc1 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. 

  • Determine if your building uses 50% less potable water for irrigation than standard water usage by employing a highly efficient landscaping irrigation system or using harvested rainwater or recycled water from the site. To determine this, run a preliminary calculation based on the methodology found in the LEED Reference Guide to determine this. 

  • Find out if your project building’s landscaping includes any permanent irrigation systems, which would be a red flag on your chances of following this path. The presence of native or adapted vegetation, rainwater or graywater collection and reuse would be positive indicators, on the other hand. 

  • If your building’s landscaping makes up 5% or less of the site area, you cannot follow this path. 

  • For zero-lot-line buildings, this path may be difficult to achieve. However, if your building has planters or garden spaces that cover 5% or more of the building site area (including building footprint, hardscape, and parking), your project may still be able to earn a point. Reducing the amount of water used to water a roof garden can also contribute to credit achievement.  

  • If your building uses no potable water for irrigation, it also complies with Option 2, Path 8: Water-Efficient Landscaping—No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation.  

  • Locating in a building that uses less municipal water may result in lower lease rates for the tenants. 

  • Option 2, Path 8: Water-Efficient Landscaping—No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation

  • Refer to LEED-NC WEc1 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. 

  • You can meet the requirements of this path (along with Path 7) by simply having no irrigation. Alternatively, you can irrigate with non-potable water such as graywater, rainwater, or treated wastewater, but you must still reduce total water used for irrigation by 50%. 

  • Option 2, Path 9: Innovative Wastewater Technologies

  • Refer to LEED-NC WEc2 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. Note, however, that while LEED-NC requires 50% of wastewater be treated onsite, this path for LEED-CI requires 100% of water be treated onsite.

  • There are two ways to comply with this path—choose one of the following: 

    • Find a building that treats 100% of its wastewater onsite to tertiary standards (meaning that water is treated enough to be discharged back into the environment).
    • Reduce the use of potable water for sewage conveyance (toilet and urinal flushing) by 50%.

  • This path applies to the whole building’s wastewater, not just your (tenant’s) waste water.

  • Options for decreasing potable water for sewage conveyance include: 

    • water efficient or waterless toilets and urinals;
    • rainwater harvesting systems; 
    • and graywater reuse systems.

  • Depending on the state and municipality, the use of graywater, as well as the use of waterless fixtures, may be more or less regulated. Check local codes for what is allowed in your area.  

  • If your project team is able to locate in a building that has highly efficient core plumbing fixtures, and the tenant is using these core fixtures in its scope of work, focusing on this credit is highly recommended, as the credit could be achieved with minimal or no adjustments. Compliance here may also contribute to SSc1, Option 2, Path 10: Water Use—30% Reduction, due to the synergy between the two paths, as well as to the prerequisite and credit WEp1 and WEc1: Water Use Reduction. 

  • Locating in a building that has highly efficient plumbing may lead to lower water utility costs for tenants. 

  • If water treatment systems are part of the tenant scope of work, they will need to be commissioned, which may entail additional cost. 

  • Option 2, Path 10: Water Use—30% Reduction

  • Refer to LEED-NC WEc3 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. 

  • Aim to locate your tenant space in a building that has reduced its water use by 30% (for the entire building) and has instituted a plan to get future occupants to comply. 

  • This path covers the whole building’s water use, not just your tenant fit-out.

  • This path applies to projects that occupy less than 50% of the total building area. If you occupy most of the building and don’t qualify for this option, consider pursuing WEc1: Water Use Reduction instead. 

  • Calculations are based on the number of occupants that will use the plumbing fixtures and the fixture rates, not on the number of fixtures. 

  • Estimated occupant usage is determined by calculating the number of FTE occupants, as well as transient occupants, for the entire building, not just the tenant space. 

  • If projects can show that the reduction in water use in the building is 40% over the baseline, a point can be earned under SSc1, Path 12: Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance. 

  • Locating in a building that uses water efficiently may lead to lower water utility costs overall, which can translate into lower costs for tenants, too.

  • Option 2, Path 11: Onsite Renewable Energy

  • Refer to LEED-NC EAc2 for detailed requirements and documentation guidance. 

  • Select a building that has an onsite renewable energy system that can produce at least 2.5% of the building’s (not just the tenant space’s) total electricity or thermal energy needs. These include:

    • photovoltaic systems,
    • solar thermal,
    • geothermal,
    • wind,
    • biomass,
    • low-impact hydroelectric,
    • wave and tidal power,
    • and biofuel-based energy systems. 

  • Identify energy sources that make the most sense given your project’s geographical location and climate zone and, if possible, work with the building to install appropriate renewable energy sources onsite—usually photovoltaic panels on the roof. Although this is an upfront cost for the building, it offers potential cost savings over time as well as a visible environmental measure. 

  • If the onsite renewable energy system generates 10% of the annual building energy cost, one point can be earned under SSc1, Option 2, Path 12: Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance. 

  • Locating in a building that has an onsite energy generation capacity may lead to energy cost savings.

  • Option 2, Path 12: Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance

  • This path offers a catch-all way to earn points not otherwise covered by the LEED-CI rating system.

  • Consider implementing a strategy from another LEED rating system that is not included in the LEED-CI rating system, such as LEED-NC SSc5.2: Maximize Open Space. The LEED Reference Guide contains a list of credits from other LEED rating systems that are pre-approved for use under this path. In most cases, no special conditions apply, but with some of the energy credits from the LEED-EBOM system there are age and scope requirements that must be in place on the CI project to make it eligible.

  • Follow the exemplary performance criteria of Paths 1–11 offered under SSc1: Site Selection, Option 2 as follows:

    • Path 4: Heat Island Effect, Non-Roof – one point if two or more of the compliance options are met. 
    • Path 5: Heat Island Effect Roof – one point if 100% of the roof is vegetated
    • Path 10: Water Use Reduction 30% – one point if 40% reduction is achieved.
    • Path 11: On-Site Renewable Energy – one point for 10% renewable energy generated onsite.

    See the guidance above and the credit language for specific notes on pursuing these paths.

     

  • The LEED-EBOM rating system, which covers operations and maintenance, is a particularly good source for credits that can be applied to your project. LEED-NC may also offer some possibilities, but as it’s focused on design and construction, is less likely. LEED for Schools may offer some opportunities, particularly with its acoustics and mold prevention credits. Work with your base building owner and manager to learn if any of their operational practices would be covered by LEED-EBOM or other LEED rating systems. 

  • The environmental strategies in question must be in place and implemented at the time you submit your LEED application to GBCI.

  • You may submit an application for a Path 12 point for a feature that is not addressed in other rating systems. It might be helpful to clarify the approach through a CIR (Credit Interpretation Request) unless you know that precedent already exists. 

  • Often building management establishes programs and green building strategies to make the building more attractive to tenants. Common strategies pursued in Path 12 include better outside air, base-building controls, BMS systems or composting practices, or an exceptional transportation management plan. 

Schematic Design

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  • Option 1

  • If your project is in a LEED-certified building, request the LEED scorecard and a copy of the LEED certification. This should be sufficient to document this credit and earn five points under LEED-CI.

  • Option 2

  • Identify a representative from building management who can be contacted for details, documents, and specifications needed to document your chosen paths. 

  • Hold a meeting with the tenant, clients, architects, and base building management to discuss each Option 2 path and potential base-building changes needed to earn those options. 

  • Only five regular points can be awarded for this credit, even if your project is capable of meeting the requirements of more than five of the paths. 

  • If Option 2 paths are not applicable to your building, discuss the possibility of retrofitting and completing renovations to incorporate applicable changes, particularly if the owner already has renovations or maintenance scheduled. Target easy-to-implement points like flushometers, faucet aerators, reflective roof specifications, and irrigation updating strategies. 

  • It is helpful to discuss potential changes early in lease negotiation so that building management has time to decide on and implement needed changes by the time your CI project is complete. 

  • This credit is not about redesigning your base building to fit the needs of the tenants; however, encouraging building management to make improvements benefits both the building and the tenants. 

Construction Documents

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  • After your initial detective work to identify paths you can pursue, review those paths with operations staff and design team members, checking to see that you are still on course to achieve targeted SSc1, Option 2 paths. 

  • Complete all supporting documents for applicable paths and complete the LEED Online credit form. 

Operations & Maintenance

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  • If the building has reflective roof or non-roof surfaces contributing to Option 2, Paths 4 and 5, the reflectance of those materials should be maintained over time with proper cleaning. Although maintaining these materials may be out of your scope, consider recommending it to building operations staff.  

  • Make sure that waterless urinals, if installed, are maintained properly, according to manufacturer’s instructions.

  • USGBC

    Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors

    COPYRIGHT © 2009 BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    SS Credit 1: Site selection

    1–5 Points

    Intent

    To encourage tenants to select buildings that employ best practices systems and green strategies.

    Requirements

    Option 1

    Select a LEED certified building (5 points).

    OR

    Option 2

    Locate the tenant spaceTenant space is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space. in a building that has in place 1 or more of the following characteristics at time of submittal (1 – 5 points). Each of the following options may also be met by satisfying the requirements of the corresponding LEED 2009 for New Construction credit.

    Path 1. Brownfield Redevelopment (1 point)

    A building developed on a site documented as contaminated by an ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment or a local voluntary cleanup program. Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment.

    OR

    A building on a site classified as a brownfield by a local, state, tribal or national government agency, whichever is most stringent.

    Effective remediation of site contamination must have been completed.

    Path 2. Stormwater design - quantity control (1 point)

    A building that prior to its development had less than or equal to 50% imperviousnessResistance to penetration by a liquid and is calculated as the percentage of area covered by a paving system that does not allow moisture to soak into the ground. and has implemented a stormwater management plan that is equal to or is less than the predevelopmentPredevelopment refers to before the LEED project was initiated, but not necessarily before any development or disturbance took place. Predevelopment conditions describe conditions on the date the developer acquired rights to a majority of the buildable land on the project site through purchase or option to purchase. 1-1/2 year 24-hour rate and quantity discharge.

    OR

    A building that prior to its development had more than 50% imperviousness and has implemented a stormwater management plan that reduced predevelopment 1-1/2 year 24-hour rate and quantity discharge by 25% of the annual on-site stormwater load. This mitigation can be achieved through a variety of measures such as perviousness of site, stormwater retention ponds, and harvesting of rainwater for reuse.

    Stormwater values are based on actual local rainfall unless the actual exceeds the 10-year annual average local rainfall, in which case the 10-year annual average should be used.

    Path 3. Stormwater design - quality control (1 point)

    A building that has in place site stormwater treatment systems designed to remove at least 80% of the average annual site area’s total suspended solids (TSSTotal suspended solids (TSS) are particles that are too small or light to be removed from stormwater via gravity settling. Suspended solid concentrations are typically removed via filtration.) and 40% of the average annual site area’s total phosphorus (TPTotal phosphorus (TP) consists of organically bound phosphates, polyphosphates, and orthophosphates in stormwater, the majority of which originates from fertilizer application. Chemical precipitation is the typical removal mechanism for phosphorus.).

    These values are based on the average annual loadings from all storms less than or equal to the 2-year, 24-hour storm. The building must implement and maintain best management practices (BMPs) outlined in Chapter 4, Part 2, Urban Runoff, of the EPA Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, January 1993 (EPA 840-B-92-002) or the local government’s BMP document, whichever is more stringent.

    Path 4. Heat island effect - nonroof (1 point)

    A building that provides shade (or will provide shade within 5 years of landscape installation), and/or uses light-colored or high-albedoAlbedo is synonymous with solar reflectance. materials with a solar reflectanceAlso known as albedo: the fraction of solar energy that is reflected by a surface on a scale of 0 to 1. Black paint has a solar reflectance of 0; white paint (titanium dioxide) has a solar reflectance of 1. The standard technique for its determination uses spectrophotometric measurements, with an integrating sphere to determine the reflectance at each wavelength. The average reflectance is then determined by an averaging process, using a standard solar spectrum, as documented by ASTM Standards E903 and E892 index (SRI)1 of at least 29, and/or has open-grid pavement areas that individually or in total equal at least 30% of the site’s nonroof impervious surfacesSurfaces that promote runoff of precipitation volumes instead of infiltration into the subsurface. The imperviousness or degree of runoff potential can be estimated for different surface materials., such as parking areas, walkways, plazas, and fire lanes.

    OR

    A building that has placed a minimum of 50% of parking spaces underground or covered by structured parking.

    OR

    A building that has an open-grid pavement system (less than 50% impervious) for 50% of the parking lot area.



    Path 5. Heat island effect - roof (1 point)

    A building whose roofing has a solar reflectance index (SRI) of the following minimum values for at least 75% of the roof surface:

    Roof Type Slope SRI
    Low-sloped roof ≤ 2:12 78
    Steep-sloped roof > 2:12 29




    OR

    A building that has installed a vegetated roof for at least 50% of the roof areaRoof area is the area of the uppermost surface of the building which covers enclosed Gross Floor Area, as measured when projected onto a flat, horizontal surface (i.e. as seen in Roof Plan view). ‘Roofs’, or portions of roofs, covering unenclosed areas (e.g. roofs over porches and open covered parking structures) are not included in the areas used to evaluate compliance with SSc7.2, though they may be applicable to SSc7.1..

    OR

    A building that has both high-SRI roofs and vegetated roofs that satisfy the following area requirement:

    Total Roof Area ≤ [ ( Area of SRI Roof x 1.33 ) + ( Area of Vegetated Roof x 2 ) ]


    Path 6. Light pollution reduction (1 point)

    A building whose nonemergency interior luminaires with a direct line of sight to any openings in the envelope (translucent or transparent) must have their input power reduced (by automatic device) by at least 50% between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. After-hours override may be provided by a manual or occupant-sensing device provided the override lasts no more than 30 minutes.

    OR

    A building whose openings in the envelope (translucent or transparent) with a direct line of sight to any nonemergency luminaires must have shieldingShielding is a nontechnical term that describes devices or techniques that are used as part of a luminaire or lamp to limit glare, light trespass, or sky glow. (with transmittance of less than 10%) that is controlled or closed by automatic device between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.

    Path 7. Water-efficient landscaping - reduce by 50% (2 points)

    A building that employs high-efficiency irrigation technology OR uses harvested rainwater or recycled site water to reduce potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. consumption for irrigation by

    at least 50% over conventional means.

    Path 8. Water efficient landscaping - no potable water use or no irrigation (2 points in addition to Path 7)

    A building that uses only harvested rainwater or recycled site water to eliminate all potable water use for site irrigation (except for initial watering to establish plants), OR does not have permanent landscaping irrigation systems.

    Path 9. Innovative Wastewater Technologies (2 points)

    A building that reduces the use of municipally provided potable water for building sewage conveyance by at least 50%, OR treats 100% of wastewater on-site to tertiary standards.

    Path 10. Water use reduction - 30% reduction (1 point)

    A building that meets the 30% reduction in water use requirement for the entire building and has an ongoing plan to require future occupants to comply.

    Path 11. On-site Renewable Energy (1–2 points)

    A building that supplies at least 2.5% (1 point) or 5% (2 points) of the building’s total energy use (expressed as a fraction of annual energy cost) from on-site renewable energy systems.

    Path 12. Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance (1 point)

    A building that has in place at the time of selection other quantifiable environmental benefits.





    Potential Technologies & Strategies

    During the building selection process, give preference to those properties which exhibit green building strategies and technologies.

    For projects where asbestos is found, prepare executive summary-level content from the investigation’s report explaining the extent of the contamination and required action as well as documentation indicating an acceptable level of remediation was achieved based on an acceptable standard, such as RCRAThe Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) addresses active and future facilities and was enacted in 1976 to give EPA authority to control hazardous wastes from cradle to grave, including generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. Some nonhazardous wastes are also covered under RCRA. or NESHAPs.

Publications

Chapter 4, Part 2, Urban Runoff, of the EPA Guidance Specifying Management Measures for Sources of Nonpoint Pollution in Coastal Waters, January 1993 (EPA 840B92002)

Specific best management practices (BMPs) are outlined in this chapter.

Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process

From the USGBC website: "The keys to successful green projects have always been preparation, committment and collaboration among all interested parties, and the Green Office Guide: Integrating LEED Into Your Leasing Process is specifically focused on helping tenants and landlords collaborate. This resource will help office tenants integrate green decision-making throughout the leasing process—encompassing team selection, site selection, negotiations, lease language, build-out and the tenant's ongoing operations within the leased space. The information and tools in this guide have been developed to assist tenants and their service providers (brokers, consultants, attorneys, design professionals) in reducing the environmental impact associated with real estate decisions and operations. The information contained within will also be useful for landlords and developers interested in preparing for negotiations with an understanding of the needs of tenants focused on obtaining LEED certification for their build-out."

Web Tools

List of LEED certified projects

The site can be searched for CS or other types of LEED projects in your area that may help you earn portions of this credit. 

Sketch-up

Use this software to model shaded areas from trees.

Technical Guides

U.S. EPA, Asbestos

This website provides information on the health effets of asbestos, where it is commonly found, and the laws and regulations governing testing of sites containing asbestos.

Building Assessment Checklist

Option 2

If pursuing Option 2, use this checklist as a quick way to assess how well the core-and-shell building complies with the Path 1–12 requirements.

Design Submittal

PencilDocumentation for this credit can be part of a Design Phase submittal.

LEED Online Forms: CI-2009 SS

The following links take you to the public, informational versions of the dynamic LEED Online forms for each CI-2009 SS credit. You'll need to fill out the live versions of these forms on LEED Online for each credit you hope to earn.

Version 4 forms (newest):

Version 3 forms:

These links are posted by LEEDuser with USGBC's permission. USGBC has certain usage restrictions for these forms; for more information, visit LEED Online and click "Sample Forms Download."

159 Comments

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Susan Di Giulio Project Manager Zinner Consultants
May 18 2013
LEEDuser Member
442 Thumbs Up

SS1 Option 2 Path 11 With Tenant installing PV

Hi,
Our very environmentally committed client has a 13 year lease for two buildings, will occupy both buildings completely, and is pursuing LEED CI-2009 for both.
The buildings currently do not have much in the way of environmentally beneficial characteristics, but our client wants to install a photo voltaic array and is considering putting a white membrane on one or both roofs, among other worthy efforts.
Since the wording for SS1 Option 2 Paths 5 & 11 refers to these characteristics as existing in the building selected, will we have a problem getting credit for these actions? Would it be easier to get credit if they were done by the building owner at the time of the TI build-out?
From what I am reading here, it sounds like we might have to defer both to Construction Review, correct?
And while we are at it, can you achieve some points for SSc1 in Design Review and then go back an add more in Construction Review?

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Nick Chiarelli
May 13 2013
Guest

Currently Ongoing LEED Certification

Hi,

The base building is currently pursuing LEED certification at the same time we are doing the tenant fit-out portion and pursuing LEED CI. Can we get these 5 points through Option 1 somehow?

Thanks,

Nick

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. May 13 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Nick, the most obvious way to do this is to time your final LEED application such that the building's application has been processed. This could be as simple as staggering your application by a few weeks behind theirs. If being submitted at the same time, you could include a narrative about how the reviewer should reference the pending certification when reviewing this credit.

 

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Brian Kelly Project Designer UED
May 08 2013
LEEDuser Member

SSc1 Path 7 Water Efficient Landscaping

We are doing a renovation on a hospital in Las Vegas NV. The hospital has two very small patches of landscape that use what we believe to be an efficient irrigation system. To fill out the form on LEEDonline.com, we need to fill in an 'irrigation baseline case' and an 'irrigation design case'. I've been told to fill out what exists at the hospital for the design case, and what "conventional practice" for the area is in the baseline case. How do I figure out what the exact numbers would be for 'conventional practice'?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. May 13 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Brian, what you have been told is correct, and your question about what exact numbers should be is also a common issue. A good place to read more and get a better sense of this is on our NC WEc1 guidance and forum. In short, there is no one-size-fits-all method, so it's helpful if you read a bit more and get a sense of how to go about it.

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Ryan McEvoy Owner Gaia Development
May 03 2013
LEEDuser Member
42 Thumbs Up

LEED for Homes

We have a project that is moving into a building that has been certified under LEED for Homes Mid-Rise. Can the project still pursue option 1?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. May 13 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Ryan, as the credit language says "LEED certified building" without specifying a rating system, I would think this would be fine.

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Sourabh Gupta
Apr 17 2013
Guest

SS Cr1: Path 9-Innovative WasteWater Technologies

In one of my project, they are attempting this point. While we have the water fixtures details & occupancy of the project space(tenant) only. Online template asks us to get the information of the water fixture details & their flow rate for the whole building which is not possible to get it. So how do we proceed ahead with this point?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. May 13 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Sourabh, you will need the information for the whole building. While all the other credits in LEED-CI are just about the tenant spaceTenant space is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space., the point of this credit is to reward and recognize whole-building performance. If you can't get that information, then you won't be able to attempt this path, unfortunately.

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Kerrie Racicot
Mar 20 2013
LEEDuser Member

Other tenant space is unoccupied...

Our project space occupies a majority of the building, however the only other tenant spaceTenant space is the area within the LEED project boundary. For more information on what can and must be in the LEED project boundary see the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and LEED 2009 MPR Supplemental Guidance. Note: tenant space is the same as project space. is unoccupied. Is Path 7 - Light Pollution Reduction possible? The landlord may be amenable to including LEED credit requirements in the lease for the unoccupied tenant space. Would this satisfy the credit requirements if a copy of the lease was provided? I'm assuming this approach wouldn't work for Path 10 - Water Use Reduction as there is no way to know the future occupancy profiles of the space.

Please advise.

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Mar 21 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Yes, I'd say you could meet this requirement with a lease. For water use reduction, I'd suggest looking at CS Appendix 4 in the BD&C LEED Reference Guide, if you have access to that.

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Mark Taake United Excel Design
Dec 06 2012
LEEDuser Member
6 Thumbs Up

SSc1 path 7,8

Is it possible to achieve only the points for path 8, without achieving path 7? Under path 8, the wording states that the 2 points are in addition to path 7. So is path 7 a pre-requisite for 8? Do you automatically get the two points for 7 if you qualify for 8? Thanks.

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Michael Smithing Director - Green Building Advisory, Colliers International Dec 06 2012 LEEDuser Member 813 Thumbs Up

If you meet the requirements for path 8 then you also meet the requirements for Path 7 and get 4 points. At least that's my understanding of the way these paths are related.

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Elliot Young Designer Rinkachung Architecture
Nov 30 2012
Guest
4 Thumbs Up

SSC1 Path 5: Heat Island Effect: Roof

I am working on a project with an existing ballasted roof & am wondering if we could get this credit. It is a low slope roof so needs to have an SRI of 78 or higher.....but the roof is existing. what is an acceptable method for trying to prove compliance for this credit? Does a typical ballasted roof even qualify? Any guidance on where to start helps! Thanks!

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 30 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Elliot, there is detailed guidance on how to comply with Path 5 that is accessible under the Checklists tab above. I would start there and then post back here with more specific questions.

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Dana Hodges Project Manager DPR Construction
Aug 21 2012
Guest
11 Thumbs Up

Sustainable Site Regional Priority Credit

I am working on a project in a region where the regional priority credits include SSC1 paths, C, E, G, H, and L, but do NOT include path A - selecting a LEED certified building. At first glance, it looks like we our project only qualifies for 6 points maximum (paths E, G, and H > 3 SS credits and 3 regional priority credits for each of these = 6 credits total). However, I am wondering if there is a way to get the 5 credits for being in LEED building, and still get the three regional priority credits we qualify for also. Does anyone know if that is the case and how to go about documenting the credits if we can claim them?

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Kristina Bach CORE Steward, Cooper Carry Aug 22 2012 Guest 96 Thumbs Up

Regional Priority:
First, I just want to confirm that you are in LEED-CI v2009 and not LEED-CI v2.0. The pathways in v2009 are numbered whereas in v2.0 they were lettered. Since your question references lettered pathways, it’s a little unclear whether you are in LEED-CI v2009. If you are in LEED-CI v2.0, there are no Regional Priority Credits (RPC) at all and so the question is somewhat mute as they wouldn’t apply to your project. I'm going to assume that was just a typo and that you are in LEED-CI v2009, so we’re discussing SSc1 Option 1 (Certified Building) versus SSc1 Option 2 – Path #s (Other Quantifiable Benefits).

SSc1 - LEED Building vs. Pathways:
Unfortunately, LEED Online v3 (LOv3) will only recognize a regional priority point as an option when the specific linked pathway/option is attempted. This means that if RPC is noted as available for SSc1 Option 2 – Path 4 and you instead select and submit under SSc1 Option 1, you will not receive any RPC points as the correct path/option was not selected and the RPC hasn’t been automatically linked by the LOv3 system. So, in your case, it sounds like if you really want to submit under the previously certified building/space option (SSc1 Option 1), that’s going to preclude you from being able to achieve any RPC point within SSc1 (as those are all associated with SSc1 Option 2 - Path #s).

The other important thing to note is that RPCs are awarded at the CREDIT level and therefore there is a maximum of one additional RPC point per CREDIT. The RPC needs to be attempted on the Credit Information Tab for SSc1 (the credit) within LOv3. As SSc1 is the credit and all of the paths are just compliance options to achieve that credit, you would only be able to achieve a maximum of one RPC point for SSc1 – even if you demonstrated compliance with all three of your noted pathways. You can obviously attempt any combination of pathways (as long as they total no more than 5 potential points) so it’s not as if you need to pick only one of the RPC-eligible pathways to pursue. You should just recognize that you could only get a maximum of one RPC point for SSc1 regardless of how many RPC-eligible pathways in SSc1 you complied with.

Your Specific Project:
So for your particular project – we’re really talking about 5 points versus 6 points total available for SSc1. At this point, it probably becomes an internal debate on how badly you might need that one additional point versus the extra work required to document base building compliance with the individual pathways within Option 2. In either case, you would definitely want to note the project as previously certified within PIf5 (Previously LEED Certified Details) and provide there the required official documentation from USGBC/GBCI to confirm the certification (note that screenshots of LEED Online and PDF Review Summaries don’t qualify; you’d need something like the official USGBC/GBCI-provided scorecard, congratulations letter, certificate, etc.).

By making sure you appropriately documented the previous certification in PIf5, that gives you a very good fall-back for the Final Review to ensure that you would be able to achieve at least 5 points for SSc1. It would enable you to attempt the pathways in the Preliminary Review via SSc1 Option 2 – Path #s if you wanted and try to get the six available points (5 full + 1 RPC). If you ran into any issues documenting compliance/achieving the individual pathways at the base building level, you could then always revise your compliance route before the Final Review to SSc1 Option 1 and be sure that you would get the five points available for being in a previously LEED certified building/space. At that point, you would then only miss out on the one additional RPC point available for your location.

But again – it’s based on how badly you need/want that one additional point. Documenting the individual pathways at the base building level is obviously going to be much more work than just submitting under SSc1 Option 1. If that one point is not going to be critical to a threshold, it might not be worth the time/effort required for the pathways...

It's incredibly frustrating to me that your region selected so many RPC options all within the same credit; that severely limited your overall RPC options... I'd love to know the project zipcode (if you're willing to share).

Hope that helps clear things up! More that willing to help answer any follow-up questions you might have.

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Alicia Freire Senior Engineer hurleypalmerflatt
Aug 13 2012
LEEDuser Member
303 Thumbs Up

Irrigation - Project Boundary

Hi,
I am working on a building located in a development in a business park with 4 buildings. The site has a large non-symmetrical vegetated area in the middle which is shared by the four buildings. Since this is a Commercial Interiors assessment and this is the only credit affected by this situation, undertaking a campus approach does not seem the best option. Would it be acceptable if I make the calculations for the whole area? Since results are a % they should not be affected by the extension of the area included.
Your feedback would be much appreciated.
Many thanks
Regards
Alicia

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Aug 30 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Alicia, your logic makes sense to me. However, it's a fairly unique situation, not only because of the site configuration but also because this is coming up under LEED-CI, so I can't say with confidence that GBCI would approve this approach. I'd submit it and find out.

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Lavanya Veerappa Ms LEAD Consultancy & Engineering services
Aug 07 2012
Guest
66 Thumbs Up

Path 4-Heat Island effect non roof

Hi, one of my project building (P1) going for LEED CI is located in campus. This building is attached to another building (P2) and even shares a common wall of P1. However P2 is not considered as basebuilding as it is entirely served by a different HVAC system.

Therefore my question is if the notional boundary has P2 as well, then should i show 50% of parking under cover for only P1 . As the SS Cr1 paths is for entire base building and in my case the entire project is occupied by tenant and has no basebuilding as such. Any thoughts??

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Yetsuh Frank Director, YR&G sustainability consulting, education and analysis Aug 07 2012 LEEDuser Expert 284 Thumbs Up

Lavanya,

Is the project an interior fit-out of some % of the building, P1? Is the under cover parking shared by the buildings, P1 and P2? Is P2 getting certified as well?

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Lavanya Veerappa Ms, LEAD Consultancy & Engineering services Aug 09 2012 Guest 66 Thumbs Up

Hi Yetsuh,

1. 100% of P1 is going for interior fit out.
2. yes, the under cover parking is shared by both P1 and P2
3. P2 is not getting certified.

Thanks

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SOHA YAMANI
Aug 05 2012
Guest
38 Thumbs Up

path 7 & 8 : Gray water

my project is registered for LEED CI 2009 , we are using gray water for irrigation , which means 100 % reduction of potable waterPotable water meets or exceeds EPA's drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction; it may be supplied from wells or municipal water systems. , does this qualify the project for the other 2 points of path 8 ?? ,, and will i need to make calculations ??

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Michael Smithing Director - Green Building Advisory, Colliers International Aug 05 2012 LEEDuser Member 813 Thumbs Up

Yes and yes. I asked a similar question recently (which I don't see now). You can only avoid the calculations if you don't use water. The LEED On-line form says you need to show a 50% reduction in water use for the second 2 points but this is not a CI requirement.

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SOHA YAMANI Aug 06 2012 Guest 38 Thumbs Up

EXACTLY ,, so what is the CI requirements for achieving the 4 points ??

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Aug 09 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Soha, you will still have to fill out the calculation to show that gray water available for irrigation is enough to meet the irrigation demand. Usually you will perform a calculation showing the supply of gray water, the tank and how much it is filled and the draw for irrigation. We usually show this for the entire year, per day.

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Lavanya Veerappa Ms LEAD Consultancy & Engineering services
Jul 25 2012
Guest
66 Thumbs Up

Parking availabilty

The requriement of the credit - "parking availability" is to meet but not exceed local norms. Hence If a project's parking capacity is lesser than local norms does the project meets the credit requirement? please note the project occupants are using public transporation to commute and thereby the intent of the credit is met.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jul 25 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

I think your question is regarding SS c3.3.
Please post your question there.Thanks

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Nena Elise
Jun 27 2012
LEEDuser Member
1809 Thumbs Up

Path 6

Does anyone have a sample of a sequence of operations narrative? I am not sure what they'd like to see.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jul 05 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Here is a link to a sequence of operation template for HVAC systems. http://www.pcs-engineering.com/Sequences.html
Basically you would describe your lighting in occupied and unoccupied mode and night time vs. business hours. You want to describe what triggers a change and what does happen then.
For instance: at 8pm the timer triggered the shades to roll down and close for all windows on the 2nd floor. There is no manual override. The blinds will go up automatically at 6am per timer.
I hope that helps.

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Kara Hermann
Jun 20 2012
LEEDuser Member
11 Thumbs Up

Path 6: Liscenced Professional Exemptions

For path 6, Light pollution reduction, there used to be a "Streamlined Path (LPE)" - but I cannot find this option on the form. Does anyone know if this got taken away as an option?

It even shows the LPE option here:
https://www.leedonline.com/irj/go/km/docs/documents/usgbc/leed/config/co...

Not that the documentation is very difficult, but streamlined is always better. Thanks for your help!

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jul 05 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

I have noticed changes like this in other LEED Online templates. Not sure if this in particular was one of them.
So this might very well be deleted as an option.

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Joel Register Webmaster Perkins+Will
May 08 2012
LEEDuser Member
125 Thumbs Up

GreenStar

Hello - I have a new CI tenant fit out project in Sydney, Australia - within "1 Bligh St." considered by some to be the greenest office tower in the world. http://www.1bligh.com.au/ The building achieved GreenStar 6 (an Australian green building rating system, equivalent to Platinum).

Question: For SSc1, can I pursue Option 1 and achieve 5 points automatically? We can pursue Option 2 and document base building achievements individually however this will increase the workload from approximately 10 minutes to between 8-24 man hours.

Please advise, thank you

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Emily Catacchio Sustainability Specialist, Wight and Company Jun 04 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Joel,

I haven't heard of GBCI accepting other green building certification for this credit, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try. I would suggest contacting GBCI directly.

Good luck!

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jun 05 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Joel, you might want to post your question under ACP - Alternative Compliance Paths for international projects here on LEED User. The USGBC's team working on the international implementation of LEED are reading those post and will probably be able to give you an idea, if it's on its way or not. So far it's not possible to forgo the documentation with other green building certifications. However BREEAMBuilding Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, the first widely used green building rating system, developed in the U.K. in the early 1990s, currently used primarily in the U.K. and in Hong Kong. did get recognition already, so keep your fingers crossed.

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Breeze Glazer Research Knowledge Manager: Healthcare Sustainability, Perkins+Will Jun 26 2012 Guest 354 Thumbs Up

Great, thank you both for the suggestions

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Blair Seibert Principal, Architect Verde Concepts, Inc.
Apr 11 2012
Guest
333 Thumbs Up

Option 2 Path 1 Brownfield Development

We are working on a college campus building. While the typical project is expected to be on a site that was remediated, our project is in a building that goes through partial asbestos abatement with each CI project. While this is allowed with Addenda 11/3/2010 I'm not sure how to best document it. Currently, SSc1 is expected to be documented during the Design Phase. We will not be able to submit the required paperwork for this part of Opt 2 until after construction is done. The templates no longer allow you to defer Design credits to the Construction Phase easily. In the past we've actually been told we hade to pay a Design Review Appeal fee if we submit Design credits after that review has been completed. We are submitted a split review. How should we go about documenting the asbestos abatement? Thank you.

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Samantha Harrell LEED Project Reviewer certificate holder Apr 13 2012 Guest 1416 Thumbs Up

Hi Blair,

SSc1 can be submitted for review during the design phase with just a narrative stating that you'd like to defer the credit review until the construction phase because the documentation is not complete. Or, you can choose not to submit anything for SSc1 until the construction phase review. In either case you'll get two full rounds of review during the construction phase. I'm not aware of a fee that would be imposed.

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Alessio Zampaglione Architects StudioAZA
Apr 03 2012
LEEDuser Member
223 Thumbs Up

Has anyone experienced a LEED

Has anyone experienced a LEED CI in a building that is under LEED CS final certification? The question is: can I register a LEED CI and obtain the LEED CI final certification even if the whole building in under LEED CS certification?

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Samantha Harrell LEED Project Reviewer certificate holder Apr 03 2012 Guest 1416 Thumbs Up

Hi Alessio,

Your project may pursue and achieve LEED-CI certification in a building that is certified or is pursuing certification under LEED-CS. However, if the base building has not earned LEED-CS certification at the time of the CI submittal, the CI project cannot achieve points under SSc1: Site Selection - Option 1, Select a LEED Certified Building.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Apr 03 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

I second Samantha on that. If you want to claim points for locating in a LEED building you will need the building's certification done. At the latest you can submit that during the final construction review.

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Alessio Zampaglione Architects, StudioAZA Apr 04 2012 LEEDuser Member 223 Thumbs Up

So i need to attend the final certification Leed CS to be able to do the Leed CI?

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Samantha Harrell LEED Project Reviewer certificate holder Apr 04 2012 Guest 1416 Thumbs Up

LEED-CS certification does not have to be complete to register the LEED-CI project.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Apr 04 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Alessio, you don't have to be in a LEED certified building or a building undergoing LEED certification in order to LEED certify a space under LEED CI. If you want to get the points under SS c1 the above applies.

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Lorey Flick Director- Sustainable Services, ADS Engineers Jun 25 2012 LEEDuser Member 335 Thumbs Up

Followup question: Where does LEED Neighborhood development come into play? I havea building being constructed by a developer in an urban neighborhood. Can i get option 1 when developer files for ND instead of CS?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jul 05 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Maybe there is an CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide which might allow you to do that, but without an CIR this is still a no.
Check the LEED interpretationLEED Interpretations are official answers to technical inquiries about implementing LEED on a project. They help people understand how their projects can meet LEED requirements and provide clarity on existing options. LEED Interpretations are to be used by any project certifying under an applicable rating system. All project teams are required to adhere to all LEED Interpretations posted before their registration date. This also applies to other addenda. Adherence to rulings posted after a project registers is optional, but strongly encouraged. LEED Interpretations are published in a searchable database at usgbc.org. database or you can always submit a CIR yourself. I would think it's following the intent of the credit, but that's just my interpretation.

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David Edenburn ESD Consultant Commtech Asia
Feb 19 2012
LEEDuser Member
96 Thumbs Up

LEED-CI SS credit 1, Option 2, Path 10

For the water reduction credit, since this is for the building, do we use the building population instead of the project FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories.? We are only occupying 4 floors out of 18. The form is pre-filled with the FTE from the PIF with our project FTE. Do I delete that figure and use the (much larger) building population? The total building population would be the design estimate since the building is not yet fully tenanted.

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Suzanne Painter-Supplee, LEED AP+ID&C Director, Consultant Sales, Vollrath Feb 23 2012 LEEDuser Member 389 Thumbs Up

Does your building have a commercial kitchen? If so, there are plenty of water-using appliances there, both regulated and process that could make a difference for you.

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David Edenburn ESD Consultant, Commtech Asia Feb 23 2012 LEEDuser Member 96 Thumbs Up

No, no kitchen, at least not in my scope. The fixtures are standard restrooms and, except for my 25% of the building, are outside my control. The issue isn't the fixtures, it is the FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories. reporting. Do I use the population of my project or the population for the whole building?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Mar 14 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

In the SS c1 from you will enter the total building FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories.. You can use the designed number, if you don't have the building completely occupied yet.
I'm guessing your forms might still be the old once, because of the issue with building vs. project FTE. You might have to play around with the PI, SSc1 and WE p1 form to figure out how you can do that. Or update the forms (send a feedback request LEED Online , upper right corner)
So definitely SS c1 and WE p1 are two different numbers. I hope that helps.

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Sue Barnett Principal Sue Barnett Sustainable Design
Jan 30 2012
Guest
855 Thumbs Up

Option 2 Path 4 Heat island Effect nonroof

so my CI LEED project boundary is half of one floor of an 8 story building, it's 14,000 square feet, and does include an exterior courtyard. I interpreted this SS1 credit to mean the conditions of the existing building- so I imagined that I would include the sidewalks and driveways near our building- our existing whole building site, the Reviewer says I must use the LEED CI project boundary....so does that mean that I can not seek this Option 2 Path 4 to claim that all pavement is shaded???? OR do I ONLY use the exterior portion of my actual LEED CI project?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Feb 01 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

SS c1 is looking at the building, which your space is in. So when you fill out the PI Forms you are asked to provided information about the project site are, if included in the projects (so you are using it get credits). You will have to provided the total area there. You will also need a site plan to show the boundary of the site, which you will be using to show compliance with that credit. So the reviewer is right by saying you must use the LEED CI project boundary. But you have two different once. Your space boundary and your site boundary.
What you should or should not include in the site boundary depend on ownership and actual use associated with your building.

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Sue Barnett Principal, Sue Barnett Sustainable Design Feb 01 2012 Guest 855 Thumbs Up

So the reviewer is write (do you mean correct?) by saying you must use the LEED CI project boundary...
This issue is whether the SSc1 Options pertain to the base building's surrounding conditions or do they as my reviewer says only pertain to measures taken within the LEED CI Project Boundary?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Feb 01 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

SSc1 pertains to the building in which your project is located. However when you submit for review you will have to tell the reviewer in the PI Forms, what you consider as building site and therefore claim for the credit. You probably just submitted a floor plan highlighting the LEED project boundary. You will also need to submit a site plan highlighting the site boundary (under PIF), which you consider for your LEED project. That's like a second LEED boundary. You probably have enter 0 for building site in PI form. So that's why the reviewer says it's not in the LEED boundary.
Also claimed anything under SSc1 does not require you to have done work as part of the project.

Another issue I have come across is that you may have gotten a standard review comment, which just does not fit one to one to your project. If you still can figure out what's wrong, just email the reviewer through LEEDOnline and ask for clarification.

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Sue Barnett Principal, Sue Barnett Sustainable Design Feb 01 2012 Guest 855 Thumbs Up

oh, I see what you mean in regards to the PI form. thank you. And thank you for clarifying- I thought this CI SSc1 pertained to the base building .....

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Steve Loppnow Sustainability Manager, YR&G Feb 16 2012 LEEDuser Expert 2063 Thumbs Up

This issue still isn't entirely clear to me. Isn't the reviewer asking the team to establish and use the boundary for the base building, as this credit applies to the base building?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Feb 16 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

It's about the building not the space:
The intent of SS c1 is to give points to projects, which located in sustainable buildings. So you can either locate in a LEED certified building or a building with sustainable features.
In the second case you need to show that the building has those sustainable features. In Sue's case this is the heat island effectHeat island effect refers to the absorption of heat by hardscapes, such as dark, nonreflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas. Other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment. Reduced airflow because of tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbate the effect. reduction for non-roof.
Also these features could have been in place already, are to be installed parallel to the build-out. As long as they are there when the construction is finished, you can apply them to this credit.

LEED CI project boundary not always equals LEED project:
Now the LEED CI project boundary on the other side includes only the build-out area. the MPR guide states: "Generally, construction work or space that serves spaces other than the one certifying may be excluded from the LEED project boundary. " So the building exterior is not included in the LEED CI project boundary. So technically the reviewer is wrong if you stick to the exact wording. But as I noted above, if you do use the building site to document a credit than you have to enter the site area in the PI Form (even though it tells you only to included area, which are part of the project). Otherwise the reviewer notes correctly, that you have not used area included in your LEED project.

What belongs to your building?
You usually only define one boundary, the LEED project boundary. For SS C1 you also have to define, what you consider your building and your building's site. These are documents, which you do not necessary have to submit for the LEED CI project, but here you do.

I hope this clears things up.

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Sue Barnett Principal, Sue Barnett Sustainable Design Feb 16 2012 Guest 855 Thumbs Up

Another clarification- there is no place on the PI Form within CI v2009 to identify what one considers the Base Building site to be.....
I still consider my Reviewer to be incorrect to say that Heat Island EffectHeat island effect refers to the absorption of heat by hardscapes, such as dark, nonreflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas. Other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment. Reduced airflow because of tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbate the effect. surfaces needed to be within my CI LEED project boundary, but I am addressing this with them now.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Feb 16 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

Not really clear and I think it's still not quiet adopted to LEED CI.
Anyway. It's on PIF2, first page, site characteristics
"Total site area within the LEED project boundary, including project footprint
Note: If project does not include site work, enter "0"."
Enter it there even though it asks you not to. If you like, clarify that with a short sentence under "Additional Details".
I haven't had this particular issue yet, but very similar issues with other credits. PIF is asking for gross area and then this shows up in the credit forms as actually a net area.

In regards to the review comment, see my comment above.
If you still have time, send the reviewer a request for clarification and ask, if that's what you should do. I don't know your project and haven't seen your entire review comment. So I might misinterpreted the issue.

Good Luck

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Curt Pascoe P.E., LEED AP BD+C Ryan Companies US, Inc.
Jan 18 2012
LEEDuser Member
729 Thumbs Up

Exemplary Performance, Option 2, Path 4 (Non-Roof)

This is a follow up to other exemplary performanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. (EP) discussions that have occurred. I understand that an EP point can be earned under Path 12 of this credit. In addition, an different EP point can be earned under the Innovation in Design section, like any other credit. My specific question: I have a site which is 100% white concrete and earned EP for Heat Island, Non-Roof under the Core & Shell system. The Commercial Interiors language states that EP for Path 4 can be earned by using multiple compliance methods (structured parking, white materials, shaded pavement). It does not mention using 100% white materials. Can I submit an Innovation in Design credit for Exemplary Performance of SSc1, Option 2, Path 4 because the site is 100% light colored materials? Thanks.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jan 31 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

I haven't had this situation before, but going by the official rules and language it's best if you submit it as ID. The reviewer will that either advise you to resubmit it under SSc1 path12 or deny it, which means you can use another ID approach to get that credit.

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Srimannarayana NCVK ESD Consultant Mar 20 2012 Guest 155 Thumbs Up

Hi Curt,

I have come across similar situation now. The basebuiling in which LEED CI project is located is having 100% basement covered parking. Not sure if this can be accounted under exemplary performanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. for Path 4: Heat Island EffectHeat island effect refers to the absorption of heat by hardscapes, such as dark, nonreflective pavement and buildings, and its radiation to surrounding areas. Other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment. Reduced airflow because of tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbate the effect. - Nonroof. Have you heard anything for your project?

Does 100% covered parking earn 1 point under Path 12: Other Quantifiable Environmental Performance?

Appreciate if you can share.

Thanks
Sriman

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Denise Santini Principal Red Studio Inc. Architects
Dec 14 2011
Guest
130 Thumbs Up

LEED EB as a LEED Building.. not yet certified.

Hi all,

We are in the process of selecting a building to put an interior fit up in. The building just registered for LEED EB gold. Now, even if the project loses a couple of points it will still be a LEED registered project.

What documentation do I need from the Base Building landlord as there will be no LEED certification document by the time our project is submitted.

Thanks,
Dennis.

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 18 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Denise, I don't think you can use a LEED-registered building to earn this credit—it must be certified. You could delay your submission, or add this credit as an appeal later, or include a narrative justifying why you should be able to earn the credit, but with the latter strategy, there is no guarantee of success.

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Arlee Fisher H+K Architects (Max Hershenow, Principal)
Nov 11 2011
LEEDuser Member
21 Thumbs Up

Project Boundary, Site Boundary and Building

We are working on a remodel project encompassing three distinct areas within one portion of a hospital and I am not confident with my understanding of the definitions of Project Boundary vs. Site Boundary vs. Building.

The hospital is comprised of a number of attached buildings on one city block and another block across a public street with the hospital's parking structure and support facilities. Based on the MPRs and Supplemental Guidance I understand the LEED Project Boundary as circumscribing the areas being affected by our project. It would also seem that the Site Boundary can include both blocks (allowing us to use the parking structure for Site Selection Path 4). Is this correct?

I am not clear on the definition of "Building". Would this just be the portion of the complex that houses the remodel areas? Would it be the entire aggregate of attached structures?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 22 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Max, from your description it sounds to me like you can include these in one LEED boundary, although I am a little doubtful when you describe the 'attached buildings"—how attached are they and are their systems integrated? I would say that including the support facilities across the street is congruent with the LEED MPR supplemental guidance on non-contiguous parcels. If the attached buildings have fairly distinct identities then it is likely they should be certified separately.

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Nov 22 2011 LEEDuser Expert 11393 Thumbs Up

I agree with Tristan that the area across the street would be included if the support facilities are occupied, conditioned office or program areas that are being renovated as part of the CI work. Under NC we are asked to include all those areas that support the project, which is the " non contiguous parcel" section of the MPR Guidance.
With CI, it seems appropriate to exclude those support areas across the street if they are not being renovated as part of the CI work, and are part of the whole hospital support services such as mechanical and electrical rooms, storage, IT, parking etc. Does that describe your situation?

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Wini Leung Designer | Corporate Interiors, LEED AP HOK Inc.
Oct 12 2011
Guest
103 Thumbs Up

SSc1 Option L

Has anyone submitted an Option L credit that is in reference to LEED-EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems.? I have been audited on that one and I am being asked to resubmit with a LEED-EBOM letter template, but I find that the letter template asks for infomration that is so indept (re: LEED-EBOM) it does not seem relevant to a LEED-CI project. To be specific, I am going for a LEED-EBOM Sustainable Cleaning EQc3.1, 3.3, 3.4 credit. Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Oct 12 2011 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

We just submitted a project for review using EQ P3 Green cleaningGreen cleaning is the use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices. policy. We did submit the credit template, but for the credits I understand you will have to provide your actual purchases of products and such. That is tricky if your building is just build.
I'll let you know what our reviewers say. The review is due 2nd week of November.

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Jan 03 2012 LEEDuser Expert 7764 Thumbs Up

We got the credit approved after preliminary review. Note we submitted the green cleaningGreen cleaning is the use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices. policy, the LEED EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. credit template and also a list of products purchased for the already in place green cleaning program.

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