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Credit language straight from USGBC
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21 Comments
Appropriate plant mix on green roof to qualify for SS 5
We would like to use our green roof towards this credit. The roof is intensive with a mix of a variey of sedums and succulents. Is this considered "habitat providing native and adaptive plants"? The refernece guide says "Vegetative roofs that lack a diversity of habitat providing species types and plant sizes do not meet the intention of this credit." Could you clarify for me what is considered a diverse habitiat?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 06 2010
Nell, there aren't exacting USGBC definitions for diversity of habitat relative to this credit.
USGBC defines "adapted vegetationAdapted (or introduced) plants reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization, or irrigation once their root systems are established. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance and not invasive." as "plants [that] reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization, or irrigation once their root systems are established. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance and not invasive."
I would consult with your landcape architect to confirm that the plants selected meet that description, especially if they're not native. Having a mix of plants and knowing that those plants provide habitat for specific local fauna—a specific local species of butterfly or songbird, for example—would ensure you're in compliance. With an intensive roof you should be able to do this.
There is a Licensed Professional Exemption (LPE) path available for this credit, by the way.
Shira Norman replied YRG sustainability Apr 06 2010
Nell,
Without substantial documentation from your landscape architect describing the habitat created by sedums and succulants, it is unlikely your roof will meet the credit requirements. Sedums and succulants are mostly low-lying plants (inherantly lacking a diversity of plant size) and they are not known for their habitat providing charactistics.
This requirement comes from the LEED for New Construction Rating System. A LEED-NC 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 from 2007 provides more information around this issue:
9/7/2007 - Credit Interpretation Request
This inquiry is about the accepted non-native sedum based plant mix that will meet credit requirements for green roof system. The facility is located in Boston MA area, USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6a. Native New England is heavily forested, relatively damp and contains soil with high organic content. A roof top in New England is in full sun, windy, dry and includes mostly inorganic lightweight minerals for soil media with relatively low organic content. Based on this most native species will not survive the rooftop environment without significant levels of maintenance including regular watering and fertilization.
The sedums, succulents and other hardy plants that compose traditional green roof plant palettes are ideally suited for the New England rooftop climate. They would be the lowest maintenance for a green roof system, requiring no permanent irrigation, limited fertilization (annual slow release only), no herbicide or pesticide treatments and overall minimal attention from humans.
The green roof system we are asking for acceptance on is:
Primary - system
15% Sedum spurium, Dragon's Blood
15% sedum kamtschaticum var., floriferum, Weihenstephaner Gold
15% Sedum album, Murale
15% Sedum ternatum, (North American native)
10% Sedum oreganum, (North American native)
10% Sedum rupestre, Angelina
10% Sedum spurium, John Creech
10% Sedum kamtschaticum
Secondary - system - 25% of the primary palette to be replaced with mix of at least two of the following:
Allium schoenoprasum (North American native)
Opuntia humifusa (North American native)
Sedum cauticola, cauticola Lidakense or cauticola Betram Anderson
Sedum reflexum
Sedum spurium Tricolor
10/25/2007 - Ruling
The project is inquiring about the acceptability of a non-native plant mix for their vegetated roof. While the stated plant list (predominantly varieties of sedum) meets the definition of native/adaptive, it does not meet the SS Credit 5.1 intent of providing habitat and promoting biodiversity.
While a number of sedum varieties are proposed, the planting is still essentially a monoculture of species similar in size and lacking in habitat value.
Green Roof compliance
I have a similar question, our green roof covers about 4.97% of the site area. There is no turf grass and It received a water efficient landscaping credit under LEED NC.
My question is would a 4.97% be sufficient or do i need 5% exactly, and is their no other way to achieve this credit without hiring a landscape architect.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 10 2010
I couldn't say for sure, but with other credits (like LEED-NC SSc4.3) LEED does not allow you to round up. You could try rounding up, or tweaking the calculations to make it work, but be prepared to have it questioned during LEED review.
There's no requirement to use an landscape architect to achieve this credit, but it can be helpful.
Existing Trees
How are existing trees counted. We have several old large trees on our site that are not native, and loathe the thought of cutting them down to satisfy this credit. Is the size of their canopy counted or the footprint of their trunk.
It seems that this credit should have an exception for existing large non-native trees, since leaving them in place outweighs the incremental environmental benefit of replacing them with native species that might take decades to reach a comparable size.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 24 2010
Are the trees invasive or noxious species in your area? If not, they might be considered adaptive (see credit language), and they could contribute to the credit. The fact that they're not native is not enough reason to give up yet!
Geoffrey Tomlinson replied Vaha Group Jun 25 2010
I had read the language and while the trees are not considered invasive or noxious, they are not native cultivars either.
I'm a big fan of going all native, but it seems a shame to tear down large trees for the credit. I'm in SoCal and there aren't many large trees in our urban areas.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 25 2010
Yes, I checked with a colleague and they noted that they have felt that the LEED definition of adapted vegetationAdapted (or introduced) plants reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization, or irrigation once their root systems are established. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance and not invasive. is overly restrictive. "I’ve always thought of adapted as simply being non-invasive plants that have adjusted to the climate and need little maintenance" was her comment.
I would suggest that getting a LEED point isn't worth cutting down some nice trees.
Dan Ackerstein replied Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Aug 05 2010
Geoff - I'm not an expert in this particular area, but I'm fairly confident in saying that you shouldn't cut down those trees. The intent of the credit is to provide habitat and biodiversity, and replacing an established healthy tree with some native shrubbery is, in my mind, a clear step backwards. I think you can safely measure the SF of vegetation based on the ground, not the canopy, and I'm hopeful that would accurately illustrate the habitat value of your landscaping. But I think Tristan was spot on in saying a LEED point isn't worth cutting down good trees.
Retention pond
We have a 3 acre pond in front of our facility. The pond was bult due to run off requirements per the county, (not a natural body). The pond is utilized for geothermal heating and cooling (reservoir for closed loops). We do have geese, and ducks that are "natural habitat" for the pond. Can the pond be counted towards SS c5, if we do not have any activities in regards to restoration?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 12 2010
The credit language (see above) explicitly mentions water bodies, so it's clear that your approach here is possible.
I think the burden of proof will be on you to show that the water body is truly a natural area that promotes biodviersity. Some things to consider might be what is the vegetation surrounding the pond (native or adapted plants, not turf grass), vegetation in the pond (no aquatic invasives), does the pond have a natural shape and slope that allows it to blend into the landscape and provide a variety of habitats? What does a natural pond in your region look like, and how does it compare with your pond?
I have seen geese and ducks at lots of ponds that I wouldn't consider "natural habitat" for the area that they're in, so I wouldn't call it a day just yet, but this seems doable.
Licensed Professional Exemption (LPE) path
i just need to test my understanding: the LPE path, which is available for this credit, means that all we would need to do is ensure that the landscape architect, who has been involved in the landscaping and irrigation from the onset (design, development and maintenance) signs off on the requirement of the credit without having to work through the full compliance path?
we would already be de-facto in compliant (without having gone through the full required documentation process) and we have full landscape site plans, which indicate species and irrigation systems - but if we can short-circuit the process, this would help cost and resources.
Many thanks!
Jutta Berns-Mumbi replied Jul 20 2010
think i just found the answer myself, by reviewing the information contained in the LEED online LPE tabs, which is, fortunately, quite specific and detailed.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 24 2010
Great, glad you found that. Feel free to post again if you learn anything interesting in the course of your process.
large existing tract of conserved land
Our organization owns a 2,000 acre piece of land which we use for ecosystem research and conservation. It is 99% natural forest, which we are actively working to restore by removing invasive plant species. The site is habitat to many native flora and fauna. I am certain that our activities and the nature of the site should meet the requirements for restoration/maintenance, but how to describe the "contract" is difficult. We would only need to use 1/2 acre of this land for this credit, and it is already owned by us. What sort of documentation could we submit to demonstrate compliance?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Aug 04 2010
I would assume that it would suffice to upload a letter from an authority at your organization, on official letterhead, detailing what habitat projects and area will be associated with the project building, and how the credit requirements will be met.
You would want to avoid counting the same area for multiple LEED buildings, so allocating a certain number of acres to this building and documenting that in some way would probably make sense.
Jordan Smith replied Washington University in St. Louis Aug 04 2010
Thanks Tristan for your advice. Ideally, we would state that 1/2 acre is set aside from the site's total of 2 acres. Specifying a particular plot on the site would be less ideal, but if you think that would be necessary, we could try that.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Aug 04 2010
Jordan, I see, I was under the impression you wanted the 1/2 acre to be somewhere off in the 2,000-acre campus. If it's on the project site, that's not a big deal. I would just designate the area on the site plan.
Jordan Smith replied Washington University in St. Louis Aug 04 2010
Tristan, I'm sorry, I was a little unclear. We are on a campus, but we own a 2,000 acre piece of property held in conservation about 30 miles away. It is on that property that we would like to designate 1/2 acre as protected off-site habitat. My question is whether we would need a site plan of the off-site property with the designated space marked, or whether we could rely solely on saying that 1/2 acre of our off-site property is set aside for this LEED project (not specifying the exact location but using simple math). Thanks so much for your replies.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Aug 04 2010
The documentation requested by LEED Online for the off-site restoration option does not indicate that very much detail is required. The contract seems to be the key piece there.
I would recommend, however that the more detail you can provide about how the 1/2-acre will be uniquely assigned to this project, the better, in order to make the claim as credible as possible, and to avoid double-counting.
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