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LEED v2009
Healthcare
Sustainable Sites
Alternative transportation - low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles

LEED CREDIT

Healthcare-v2009 SSc4.3: Alternative transportation - low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles 1 point

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1: Preferred or discounted parking
Provide preferred parking1 for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles2 for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Providing a discounted parking rate is an acceptable substitute for preferred parking for low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20%. The discounted rate must be available to all customers (i.e., not limited to the number of customers equal to 5% of the vehicle parking capacity), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area and available for a minimum of 2 years.

OR

Option 2: Alternative fuel
Install alternative-fuel fueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Liquid or gaseous fueling facilities must be separately ventilated or located outdoors.

OR

Option 3: Provide vehicles
Provide low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 3% of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff measured at peak periods. Provide preferred parking for these vehicles.

OR

Option 4: Vehicle sharing program
Provide staff access to a low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle-sharing program. The following requirements must be met:
  • One low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided per 3% of FTE staff, assuming that 1 shared vehicle can carry eight persons (i.e., 1 vehicle per 267 FTE occupants). For buildings with fewer than 267 FTE staff, at least 1 low emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided.
  • A vehicle-sharing contract must be provided that has an agreement of at least two years.
  • The estimated number of customers served per vehicle must be supported by documentation.
  • A narrative explaining the vehicle-sharing program and its administration must be submitted.
  • Parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles must be located in the nearest available spaces in the nearest available parking area. Provide a site plan or area map clearly highlighting the walking path from the parking area to the project site and noting the distance.



    • 1For the purposes of this credit “preferred parking” refers to the parking spots that are closest to the main entrance of the project (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons) or parking passes provided at a discounted price. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20%. The discounted rate must be available to all eligible customers (i.e. not limited to the number of customers equal to 5% of the vehicle parking capacity), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area, and available for a minimum of 2 years.2For the purposes of this credit, low-emitting vehicles are defined as vehicles that are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board. Fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide [Europe ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles] [South America ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles].

    Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

    Europe ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
    Projects in Europe may use vehicles meeting the Euro 6 limit values of Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007.
    South America ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
    Vehicles in South America may qualify as low-emitting and fuel-efficient by meeting both of the following conditions:
  1. A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) Nota Verde Program.
  2. An A from INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles.
[view:embed_resource=page_1=4908182]
SITES-LEED Equivalency
This LEED credit (or a component of this credit) has been established as equivalent to a SITES v2 credit or component. For more information on using the equivalency as a substitution in your LEED or SITES project, see this article and guidance document.
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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Addenda

10/1/2014 – Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change:
Add the following below the footnotes for this credit:

"Vehicles in South America may qualify as low-emitting and fuel-efficient by meeting both of the following conditions:
1. A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) Nota Verde Program.
2. An A from INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles."

**Updated on 4/1/2015 to include applicability to LEED v4
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/1/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Change footnote text to, "For the purposes of this credit, low-emitting vehicles are defined as vehicles that are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board. Fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/1/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change footnote text to, "For the purposes of this credit, low-emitting vehicles are defined as vehicles that are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board. Fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/2/2014
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Can a project located in California achieve Option 1 of SSc4.3: Alternative Transportation - Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles and/or SSc4.4: Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity by meeting the requirements of the CalGreen building code?

Ruling:

New construction projects in California can use CALGreen’s “Clean Air/Vanpool/EV” signage as a substitute for both the low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicle signage and the carpool/vanpool signage requirements of SSc4.3: Alternative Transportation - Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles and SSc4.4: Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity. Projects must meet a 10% threshold for “Clean Air/Vanpool/EV” parking, since CALGreen signage refers to both vehicle classifications, to ensure the appropriate parking capacity has been provided. Note that this requirement also applies to LEED-CS and LEED Schools projects. For additional information, reference LEED Interpretation 2292. All other applicable LEED requirements must be met to achieve SSc4.3: Alternative Transportation - Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles and/or SSc4.4: Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity.

Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2012
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

Many cars in Brazil are fuel efficient and low-emitting yet do not meet the requirements of two credits (BD&C SSc4.3: Alternative Transportation: Low Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles and O&M SSc4: Alternative Commuting Transportation) because the vehicles have not been evaluated by CARB or ACEEE. This hinders the ability of many Brazilian projects to achieve the credit. We propose that the following Brazilian standards be included in determining whether a vehicle is considered fuel-efficient or low-emitting:a. Any vehicle achieving Four Stars in the IBAMA Nota Verde (Green Note) system, the ratings for vehicles in this system can be found at: http://servicos.ibama.gov.br/ctf/publico/sel_marca_modelo_rvep.php. This system awards stars based on a vehicle\'s emissions reductions and fuel type. The first three stars are earned via relatively low emissions of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbons. The fourth star is awarded for vehicles that have a CO2 emissions rate of less than 80g/km (128 g/mi). The fifth star is awarded for vehicles using alternative fuels (gasoline-ethanol mix, hybrid electric, and all-electric). b. Any vehicle receiving an A or B in the Brazilian Energy Program (PBE) of INMETRO (National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) of the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. This program uses many of the same techniques that the U.S. EPA has used to evaluate fuel efficiency in American vehicles. A full description of the program is available at http://repositorios.inmetro.gov.br/bitstream/10926/1290/1/2010_Novgorodc....

Ruling:

The applicant has requested that vehicles in Brazil receiving Four Stars in the IBAMA Nota Verde (Green Note) program or vehicles receiving an A or B in the INMETRO Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles (PBEV) be classified as low-emitting and fuel-efficient for the purposes of LEED NC 2009 SSc4.3 and LEED EB 2009 SSc4. Vehicles in Brazil may qualify as low-emitting and fuel-efficient by earning both of the following conditions:1. A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA. This is the highest score for vehicles that are low-emitting but not necessarily fueled by alternative fuels (as research indicates that not all alternative fuels ensure improved environmental performance).2. An A from INMETRO. INMETRO uses relative criteria for different vehicle classifications. This differs from the absolute standards used by the ACEEE methodology. Since, in this instance, the USGBC preference for absolute metrics cannot be met, only the highest INMETRO score is accepted. This will ensure that the credit rewards the best fuel-efficiencies in current and future vehicles.Because the Brazilian labeling programs measure emissions differently, both programs are required to verify that a vehicle meets the low-emitting and fuel-efficient requirements. Vehicles receiving a qualifying score from one agency but not the other will not be considered eligible.Applicable Internationally; Brazil.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Option 1: Preferred or discounted parking
Provide preferred parking1 for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles2 for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Providing a discounted parking rate is an acceptable substitute for preferred parking for low-emitting/fuel-efficient vehicles. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20%. The discounted rate must be available to all customers (i.e., not limited to the number of customers equal to 5% of the vehicle parking capacity), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area and available for a minimum of 2 years.

OR

Option 2: Alternative fuel
Install alternative-fuel fueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Liquid or gaseous fueling facilities must be separately ventilated or located outdoors.

OR

Option 3: Provide vehicles
Provide low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 3% of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff measured at peak periods. Provide preferred parking for these vehicles.

OR

Option 4: Vehicle sharing program
Provide staff access to a low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle-sharing program. The following requirements must be met:
  • One low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided per 3% of FTE staff, assuming that 1 shared vehicle can carry eight persons (i.e., 1 vehicle per 267 FTE occupants). For buildings with fewer than 267 FTE staff, at least 1 low emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided.
  • A vehicle-sharing contract must be provided that has an agreement of at least two years.
  • The estimated number of customers served per vehicle must be supported by documentation.
  • A narrative explaining the vehicle-sharing program and its administration must be submitted.
  • Parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles must be located in the nearest available spaces in the nearest available parking area. Provide a site plan or area map clearly highlighting the walking path from the parking area to the project site and noting the distance.



    • 1For the purposes of this credit “preferred parking” refers to the parking spots that are closest to the main entrance of the project (exclusive of spaces designated for handicapped persons) or parking passes provided at a discounted price. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20%. The discounted rate must be available to all eligible customers (i.e. not limited to the number of customers equal to 5% of the vehicle parking capacity), publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area, and available for a minimum of 2 years.2For the purposes of this credit, low-emitting vehicles are defined as vehicles that are classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board. Fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide [Europe ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles] [South America ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles].

    Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)

    Europe ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
    Projects in Europe may use vehicles meeting the Euro 6 limit values of Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007.
    South America ACP: Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
    Vehicles in South America may qualify as low-emitting and fuel-efficient by meeting both of the following conditions:
  1. A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) Nota Verde Program.
  2. An A from INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles.
[view:embed_resource=page_1=4908182]
SITES-LEED Equivalency
This LEED credit (or a component of this credit) has been established as equivalent to a SITES v2 credit or component. For more information on using the equivalency as a substitution in your LEED or SITES project, see this article and guidance document.

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
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  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
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