NC 2009 SSc5.1: Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat

  • NC_CS_Schools_SSc5-1_Type1_SiteDev Diagram
  • Site conditions are the deciding factor

    This credit promotes biodiversity by encouraging project teams to protect existing onsite native habitat or restore the site with native species.

    How you go about earning this credit will depend on the existing conditions of your project site. If you have a greenfield site—one that has not been built, graded, or otherwise altered by human activity—you are required to limit site disturbance during construction.

    If your site has been previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past...

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117 Comments

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Dario Ibarguengoitia AKF Mexico S de R L de C V
Jan 26 2012
Member
105 Thumbs Up

Green Roof

Hello I would like to know, if there is a specific roof size in order to achieve the credit ? I just know that Im allowed to include a vegetated roof with native or adapted species, but Im not sure about the proportion of it.
Thank you very much

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Lauren Fakhoury Research Assistant Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC
Jan 20 2012
Member
123 Thumbs Up

Alt. Compliance Path - Offsite Forest Conservation Easements

I'm looking into doing the alternative compliance path for a project. We want to use an offsite forest conservation easement that is already in place that will comply with the Land Trust Alliance 'Land Trust Standards and Practices' 2004 Revision for SSc5.1 compliance. Has anyone had experience with this compliance path? Thanks!

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jen T
Jan 04 2012
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SSc5.1 Question

We have a lot of small to medium patches of grass that have multiple trees planted in them. Since the square footage for monoculture turf (grass) cannot be counted in this credit, how would I count trees that are planted in part of the site that has grass? Can I count the canopy cover in the square footage? Any advice would be appreciated.
Also the credit also states that other ecologically important site features can be counted other than planting that maintain or restore the ecological integrity of the site. We have many areas on the site where white coral bed with boulders will be. Can we count crushed coral in our sf calc?

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David Groseclose Architect CH2M HILL
Jan 04 2012
Member
8 Thumbs Up

Restore a graded greenfield site?

Can you acheive this credit using case 2 on a greenfield site that needed to be graded due to topography? Case 2 specifically says "Previously DevelopedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." Areas OR Graded sites". It does not say "Previously Developed Areas or PREVIOUSLY Graded Sites". We have the oportunity to restore the site with native or adaptive vegetation, but due to the topography of the site, can't meet the requirements of Case 1.

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Zachary Guren
Dec 16 2011
Member
6 Thumbs Up

Parking Islands

Has anyone successfully used parking lot islands planted with native vegetationPlants indigenous to a locality (native) and adapted to the local climate; they require limited irrigation following planting, do not require active maintenance such as mowing, and provide habitat value. to contribute toward this credit? Each island can can contribute a few hundred square feet, so it can add up to be pretty significant. At the very least, I'd say the islands would provide habitat for insects. If you don't think parking islands would count toward SSc5.1, what about SSc5.2?

Thanks!

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 18 2011 Moderator

Zachary, I don't see anything in the requirements that would prevent you from doing this, but it seems quesitonable. I would ask if you are really going to go above and beyond to make these islands habitat for something(s)?

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Zachary Guren Dec 19 2011 Member 6 Thumbs Up

Thanks fro the response, Tristan. As it turns out, we have enough large tracts of restored habitat that counting the parking islands won't be necessary anyway, but now it's just a matter of properly reporting the square footages and marking the areas on the site plan. I think we will probably highlight the parking islands separately and report their total square footage to show that we still meet the 50% requirement even if we didn't count them.

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Omer Moltay
Dec 07 2011
Member
808 Thumbs Up

Landscape Over Underground Parking Garage

In one project we are working on with multiple buildings sharing hardscape pedestrian plaza areas located on a common parking garage base, landscaping will be installed above the parking garage area to add aesthetics to these pedestrian areas. Do such installations count towards this credit?

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Matthew VanSweden Sustainability Coordinator Integrated Architecture
Nov 30 2011
Member
196 Thumbs Up

Larger islands within parking lots

We have a large [wider than 20' in some instances] vegetated island internal of parking lots and access roads. The intent is to plan grass in this area. Do we need to limit disturbance on these internal "green" islands w/in the parking lot or just limit site disturbance within 10' along the perimeter of the parking lot? Say this island is 23' wide; do I need to maintain a 3' wide disruption-free zone within that island? That would make no sense, logistically.

Thanks in advance.
Matthew

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Nov 30 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

Matthew,
It sounds like this vegetated area would be considered a graded site. This area would be included with your site calculations when complying with Case 2. This compliance path requires you to restore or protect your site with native / adaptive vegetation to meet the credit requirements.

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Matthew VanSweden Sustainability Coordinator, Integrated Architecture Nov 30 2011 Member 196 Thumbs Up

The site is a greenfield thus CASE 1 is my only option. There is a large parking lot included in the new development. In this parking lot there is a grass "island" greater than twenty feet wide. Per the reference guide, parking area's only have a ten-foot buffer. So, do I really need to "protect" the strip inside this island beyond the ten-foot buffer? Seems silly. I would consider any islands such as this part of the parking lot development.

Thanks.
Matthew

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Melissa Kemp President, Premium Organization Dec 12 2011 Member 13 Thumbs Up

Our LEED study group talked about this, and here's the thought process, (written up by one of our group):

I thought about it and I'm not sure that I can add much to the conversation.

My only thought is that no, he does not need to protect the island. If the whole site WAS a greenfield, that doesn't really matter in the context of the project. Matthew will be grading all around this 20' island and buffer, so it's not like it has any potential left for agriculture or wildlife habitat. He might as well just consider the island "graded" or "no longer a greenfield" as well and not worry about protecting it - which means including it in his site calculations. In fact, if he didn't do that (i.e. called that piece of land a greenfield and protected it), I might call it gerrymandering. He says himself, "I would consider any islands such as this part of the parking lot development" and I think anyone else would see them that way too. The intent to protect greenfields is not met by him protecting this island.

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 14 2011 Moderator

Matthew, it sounds like the islands are really part of the parking lot development.

I'm confused, though -- if the islkand is 20 feet wide and is surrounded by pavement, doesn't the 15-foot buffer around pavement cover the entire island? So you meet the reequirement either way.

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Ramón Gutiérrez Building Engineer IDOM
Nov 24 2011
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7 Thumbs Up

Building footprint

Hello from Spain,
We are just starting a LEED certification and this is one of our first doubts. Our basements (mainly for parking but also for some occupied areas) are a little bigger than our floors. And our ground floor is very small so we have native vegetationPlants indigenous to a locality (native) and adapted to the local climate; they require limited irrigation following planting, do not require active maintenance such as mowing, and provide habitat value. at ground level above our basements and outside of our ground floor.
Our problem is that we have three possibilities for our building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.:
1) the ground floor perimeter,
2) the bigger floor perimeter or
3) the basements perimeter (it would be the biggest)
Thanks a lot!

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Emily Catacchio Sustainability Specialist, Wight and Company Nov 26 2011 Moderator

Hi Ramon,

Here is the definition of building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.: Building footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.

So, is your basement part of the building structure? OR is it separate (ie. not beneath your building).

If it's part of the building structure I'd go with #3, if not then #2.

Hope that helps.

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Rebecca Bryant Managing Principle Watershed
Oct 18 2011
Member
5 Thumbs Up

Land Trust Option for SSc5.2

I'm working on a project with zoning ordinances but no open space requirements. The project is question is developing most of the site and the program requirements offer limited opportunities to provide open space. The site is a green field. The owner would like to use the Land Trust Option from the LEED Addenda to achieve this credit. I'm confused by the use of the words "previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development."" in the excerpt from the addenda below. Can the land trust path be used to achieve this credit if the site is not previously developed?

"Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area (including the building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance ‘Land Trust Standards and Practices’ 2004 Revision.

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 21 2011 Moderator

Rebecca, according to the credit language (see above), the land trust option is part of Case 2: Previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." sites. So by those rules, it is not available to your project. Since this appears to be your only chance to earn the credit and the owner wants to do the land trust option, perhaps getting a 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, or submitting with a narrative explaining the situation, would work.

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Melissa Kemp President Premium Organization
Oct 13 2011
Member
13 Thumbs Up

Project impacts another area not a part of the Project Boundary

My question is: What if a LEED project disturbs land owned by a different party? i.e. if they have to excavate in an adjacent parking lot to install utilities for the building seeking LEED. Is that disturbed (but un-owned) land included in the LEED site boundaries? What if two buildings seeking LEED need to disturb the same parking lot, can their boundaries overlap?

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 21 2011 Moderator

Melissa, this is a bit of a gray area, but I would probably exclude that land, because it is not owned by the owner of the LEED project, and because it does not "support normal building operations," to use the MPR supplemental guidance terminology.

I think you could argue to include the land if you wanted to, but the cleaner and probably easier path is to exclude it.

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Eduardo Guzman President DCM Architecture & Engineering
Sep 19 2011
Member
14 Thumbs Up

Sites with both green and previously developed areas.

We are working in a project inside a national park. The site used to be occuppied by a fuel station that was demolished and abated 12 years ago. There is no record of the station's lay-out or foot print. The site includes a wooded area. We are considering the site to be a Previously DevelopedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." Area. However, the Reference Guide mentions that for sites with both green and previously developed areas conditions for each specific area should be met. The site is not more that 3 acres and we have no record of the extension of the fuel station. How do we determine if the site is exclusively a Previously Developed Area or a combination of both?

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 20 2011 Moderator

Eduardo, first I would review the revised definition of previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." that USGBC included in its Nov. 2011 addenda. Roll over the green wording in your post to see that definition. I am not sure but perhaps that will help.

If you do determine that you need to combine options, I would try to make up a conservative case that you can justify... although I don't have an exact suggestion.

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Katie Mesia Gensler
Aug 25 2011
Member
14 Thumbs Up

Off-site Habitat Restoration

We are working on a LEED CSv2 project near Washington DC. The project is in a dense urban site so on-site Protect or Restore Habitat is not an option. Does anyone know of a land trust (or similar organization) in the McLean, VA area that is able to help accomplish the requirements of this credit?

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J Douglas Dietrich
Jul 01 2011
Member
102 Thumbs Up

Ground-Mounted Solar PV Arrays

If there is an open space with (1) a ground-mounted solar PV array and (2)native plantings or 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. beneath the PV panels and around them so as not to block sunlight, would the area beneath the PV panels be able to contribute to the SS c1 Habitat square footage calc, the SS c2 Open Space calc, both calcs, or neither calc?

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Jul 27 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

I haven't come across this situation before, but to be safe, I wouldn't count on the area beneath the PV panels contributing to either of the calculations.

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Danny Richardson Partner Secord & Lebow Architects, LLP
Jun 29 2011
Member
12 Thumbs Up

Site Development - SSc5.1

I am doing an interior renovation of a barracks building with only minimal exterior work. I will be adding some sidewalks and a small mechanical building. The site is now approximately 65% open with an existing pond (not a wetlands) and the rest mainly open areas of turf and trees. The only new planting will be as required for screening and will be accomplished with native species. Can i achieve this credit?

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Jun 29 2011 Guest Expert 4067 Thumbs Up

Danny - It sounds like you would be able to earn the credit if the LEED site boundary includes a large enough area of qualifying vegetated area for Case 2 - the trees and new native plantings, for example. Make sure you check MPR #3 for the nuances of defining the site boundary, and you may want to verify that boundary makes sense for all the related site and water credits.

In the recently updated MPR guidance at
http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6473
there's a relevant example at the bottom of page 26 that leaves it up to the project team whether to include a retention pond.

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Norma Rosowski Sustainability Consultant The Beck Group
Jun 21 2011
Member
565 Thumbs Up

Grasscrete for Fire Lane

I understand that turf is not compliant "native and adaptive ", but is there an exception for using Grasscrete for the fire lane instead of paving? Can we exclude this from our calculations to achieve this credit? it provides for a more pervious solution to the fire lane requirement.

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Susan Walter Sr Project Architect, Wilmot/Sanz Jun 22 2011 Guest 1171 Thumbs Up

Are you taking advantage of the Grasscrete in other SS credits? I think the only way out is to consider it paving but doubt that declaring it paving would really pass review. Have you attempted to find native turf grasses that would work?

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Norma Rosowski Sustainability Consultant, The Beck Group Jun 22 2011 Member 565 Thumbs Up

it's my understanding that no turf grass is considered native. do you have other information?

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Jun 23 2011 Moderator

Typical turf grass—monoculture Kentucky blue grass—is not considered native. But depending on your location, you may be able to find a mix of grasses that would satisfy the LEED requirement.

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Kris Phillips
Jun 02 2011
Member
175 Thumbs Up

Multiple Varieties of Turf Grass

I think I already know the answer to this, but I'm going to ask anyway: if a project were to use multiple varieties (4 in this case) of native turf grasses, would this qualify for the point? Would it matter whether or not this turf grass is regularly mowed or if it is left to grow on its own?

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Jul 27 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

As Tristan mentions above, typical turf grass is not considered native. However if the grasses you have selected are considered native (indigenous to project region or adapted to local climate, and not invasive or noxious weeds), they can contribute to achieving the credit. The credit does not have any requirements in regards to care or maintenance so it does not matter whether it's mowed or left to grow.

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Taylor Ralph REAL Building Group
Apr 25 2011
Member
62 Thumbs Up

Alernative Compliance Path to SSc5.1

Has anyone ever used an Alternative Compliance Path to earn SSc5.1? The LEED Definition of 'Native or Adapted' Plantings seems very narrow in the Credit Requirements page (pg 77), and less narrow in the definition section (Section 13 in the Credit Language). Our project is following a state-wide definition of native or adapted plantings called 'Florida Friendly Landscapes' (developed by University of Florida, local Water Management Districts, etc.) which certifies plantings as adapted or native, and plants that create habitat, etc. The LEED language from pg 77 'Native or adapted plants are plants indigenous to a locality or cultivars of native plants that are adapted to local climates" seems to remove the true definition of 'adapted (or introduced) plantings' listed in Section 13.

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects May 09 2011 Guest Expert 4067 Thumbs Up

There does appear to be a slight difference in language between the definition on page 77 and the one you mentioned in section 13 on page 84. I don't think any addenda have made any changes to these two definitions (though you'll want to check for sure) so it seems reasonable to follow the more detailed definition of "adaptive" on page 84. You'll want to make sure any species considered are not on any of USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service lists for invasive or noxious species. See LEED Interpretation inquiries number 1898 and 414 for similar cases.

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Taylor Ralph REAL Building Group May 12 2011 Member 62 Thumbs Up

Thanks for the LI numbers (easiest way to navigate it). In researching I found LI 185 which states: "A landscape architect can determine if a specific plant species qualifies as 'native or adaptive' for a project location."

And here is an interesting take on turfgrass in the calculations, which goes against reference guide language:
"....If you can demonstrate that the lawn selection, as part of your mixed landscape, meets the intent of the credit, then the lawn area can count towards this credit."

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Shannon Terrell Sustainable Design Director Walter Robbs Callahan & Pierce Architects
Mar 25 2011
Guest
97 Thumbs Up

Applying both Case 1 and Case 2 to our site?

We have a site that is partially a greenfield and partially previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." (remediated brownfield). In this instance can we apply the parameters of case 1 to the greenfield portion and the parameters of case 2 to the remediated brownfield portion?

Thanks in advance for the help!

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Mar 25 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

Shannon, this sounds like the most appropriate approach for your project. You may want to submit a 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 or LEED Interpretation for confirmation from GBCI but if you are meeting all the case 1 requirements and limiting disturbance for the greenfield areas, and then also meeting case 2 requirements and protecting / restoring vegetation with the required %, I would see this as a reasonable compliance path to meet the credit. Let us know how it goes.

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Linda Davisson Senior Consultant Sustainable Design Consulting
Mar 02 2011
Member
718 Thumbs Up

Green Roof Sedium - Protecting Habitat?

Green Roof on Previously DevelopedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." Site:
We are looking for examples of projects that have achieved this point using an extensive green roof. The reference guide states that projects earning SS Credit 2 and using vegetated roof surfaces may apply the vegetated roof surface to the calculation if the plants meet the definition of native/adapted. However, a Credit Ruling dated 10/25/07 indicates that an extensive green roof of native and adaptive sedum varieties “is essentially a monoculture of species similar in size and lacking in habitat value.” If you have documented this credit using as extensive green roof, please share the argument that was made and the feedback received. Did LEED review comments question the plant list as adaptive? Did they question the ability of the plants to provide adequate habitat?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Mar 03 2011 Guest Expert 1878 Thumbs Up

We did use that approach. We have earned SS C2 and used the green roof to achieve S 5.1. The roof has a mixture of plants similar to a natural meadow. The landscape architect consulted a biologist to find the right mixture of about 20 different plants. This project is in Germany and is now LEED CS V3.0 Platinum certified. We had no problem during the review.

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Mar 03 2011 Moderator

Susann, was your project an extensive (shallow) green roof using sedums?

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Susann Geithner Director of Sustainability, HSB Architects & Engineers Mar 03 2011 Guest Expert 1878 Thumbs Up

It's an extensive green roof but doesn't use sedums. It's a mixtures of herbs like Festuca ovina, Leontodon, Poa, Bellis perennis. So it looks like a natural wild grassland. The climate in Germany supports these species with enough rain and they also have temperatures, which are much less extreme than most climates in the US.So I'm not sure if this would work here.

Linda, where is your project located?

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Linda Davisson Senior Consultant, Sustainable Design Consulting Mar 03 2011 Member 718 Thumbs Up

Thank you Susan. It sounds like your plant palette would easily be accepted as providing habitat by the LEED reviewers. Our project is located in the state of Maryland, USA. We are trying to determine if an extensive green roof of predominantly sedums can contribute to this credit. Tristan, do you have any experience with this?”

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Mar 03 2011 Moderator

I don't have experience, but it has been my understanding that sedums are not seen as native/adapted according to LEED, in most locations. This post from the EBOM SSc5 forum sheds more light on this.

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Mar 11 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

Linda,
I worked on an NCv2.2 project that achieved SSc5.1 and had an extensive green roof with sedums. However, the project had a great deal of open space and restored vegetated area and far exceeded the credit requirements even without the green roof plants. Are you relying on just the green roof sedums to achieve the credit? I would think if you are restoring other areas of the site with native / adaptive vegetation in addition to having the green roof sedums, you may have a better argument than if you just had the green roof plants.

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Linda Davisson Senior Consultant, Sustainable Design Consulting Mar 18 2011 Member 718 Thumbs Up

Devon,
About 36% of the site will be restored native/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. but we are relying on the green roof sedums to make up the rest. We are currently researching studies on proven cases where extensive green roofs have been shown to provide habitat for insects and birds in urban areas. I am sure that the green roof will provide significant value and hope to make the case to GBCI.
Has anyone tried to make this case or come across studies of green roofs providing habitat?

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Susan Walter Sr Project Architect, Wilmot/Sanz Mar 18 2011 Guest 1171 Thumbs Up

Linda,
If your project is in the DC area, there is a plant list published through the Smithsonian that may be of help to you. However, sedums are alpine plants accustomed to rocky soil. That does not describe most of Maryland. If your project is in the panhandle, you may have a case.

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Na Xing
Mar 02 2011
Guest
23 Thumbs Up

Shall canopies attched to building include in building footprint

Hi, Could anyboday help me.
We are working on a factory project. There're more than 1000 square meters canopies attached to main building, designed for loading area.
Shall this area can be included in building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.? total, half or other percentage?
Millions of thanks.

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David Hubka GROUP Leader, E3 GROUP Mar 07 2011 Guest Expert 1349 Thumbs Up

I imagine the canopies are simply a "roofed over area". If that is the case then it should not be included in the building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint..

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Mar 11 2011 Guest Expert 4067 Thumbs Up

Canopies are usually not considered part of the building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.. Most projects use the "building envelope," or the shell of the building to define the footprint.

LEED defines the footprint as "the perimeter of the building plan" but that still leaves some situations unclear. In many cases the building plan is the same as the boundary of occupied or conditioned space, but in hot climates this can get harder to define since many occupied spacesOccupied Spaces are defined as enclosed spaces that can accommodate human activities. Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or non-regularly occupied spaces based on the duration of the occupancy, individual or multi-occupant based on the quantity of occupants, and densely or non-densely occupied spaces based upon the concentration of occupants in the space. can be open to the outdoors. Since the area under a canopy or awning is usually not enclosed space, you probably wouldn't include it in the building foot print. Sometimes you'll need to use your best judgement to define what is "inside" and what is "outside."

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Vivien Fairlamb
Feb 14 2011
Member
221 Thumbs Up

Brown Roof - promoting biodiversity

Can any advise as to whether a "brown roof" would be acceptable in the calculations of this point. It does promote local biodiversity though i realise it might cause issues with heta island effect roof.

do anyone have any experience of these?
thanks

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 23 2011 Moderator

I wasn't familiar with brown roofs prior to your question—they seem pretty cool. I think they should be allowed, but they're not anticipated by the credit language or requirments. I think you could make a case for this on your submittal, or get a 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 in advance to know for sure.

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Mar 11 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

I don't have experience with brown roofs meeting the credit requirements but think it could be a good option to submit a LEED interpretations or 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 as Tristan suggested.

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Eric JS
Feb 07 2011
Guest
430 Thumbs Up

small green field in the midst of developed area?

Dear all,

Our site is a small narrow flat field full of grass with no previous human activity on it. However it is located in a developed industrial environment. It is located between two office building at its left and right.

Do you think this site is considered as green field? or as previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development." area/graded site?

Thanks and cheers!

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 07 2011 Moderator

Eric, a lot of this hinges on your definitin of "narrow," but it's hard to imagine that this site was not graded at some point, or more. If based on the terrain of the site and contrasting with any neighboring ungraded terrain you think this is the case, I would call it previously developedPreviously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development.".

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Shad Traylor
Jan 20 2011
Member
45 Thumbs Up

Can non Irrigated sod be considered an adaptive species?

We have a project with sod covering at least 60% of the open space, however, we aren't going to be irrigating the sod at all. Does this allow us to consider it an adaptive species. When you reference the guide, there are conflicting definitions:

On page 77 of the LEED NC Reference Guide, USGBC refers to native or 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 indigenous to a locality or cultivars of native plants that are adapted to the local climate and are not considered invasive species or noxious weeds." This limits us to natives and cultivars of natives only.

On page 84 of the LEED NC Reference Guide, USGBC defines adapted (or introduced) plants as plants that "reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization, or irrigation once their roots systems are established. Adapted plants are considered low maintenance and not invasive." This opens it up to anything that is not invasive and will survive without irrigation, which makes up the majority of our proposed landscape materials.

Has anyone had any experience with counting non-irrigated sod as an adpative species?

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Jan 20 2011 Moderator

Turf grass, aka sod, is not counted as an adaptive species, even if not watered. Even if it can survive unwatered, does it provide any real habitat for native specieis, or promote biodiversity? Probably not.

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Edgar Farrera Director of Sustainability, Circuit of the Americas Jan 27 2011 Member 46 Thumbs Up

Another pertinent consideration for SSc5.1 - Case 2 is listed on the bottom of page 78 in the Implementation section, here you will note that to be compliant plantings must not only be native or adapted they must also not be a monoculture. That said there are many types of "sod" and depending on your location a mix of grass species may meet the credit requirements. In many locations there are native grasses that are so hardy they have been cultivated for use as "sod" planting. I suggest you visit with your landscape Architect to determine if there is a mix of sod species (so it won't be a monoculture) that meets the credit criteria and your client's needs.

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Brooks Critchfield Principal Open Field Designs, Inc.
Jan 19 2011
Member
175 Thumbs Up

Land Trust Compliance Path under Option 2

I have a rural project on a working farm. The development foot print (building, path to building, minor drive to/from) is quite insignificant relative to the total acreage. BUT the rest of the farm is currently used for food production and we have no plans to revisit or change that. Obviously, food crops do not constitute native or 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. (use of fertilizers, plowing, planting, harvesting all work against the support of habitats, etc.).
Because of the existing food production on the vast majority of the site, I see this as a project with "limited landscape opportunities" and would like to pursue a donation to a land trust as our form of compliance.
Any one else have experience with this compliance path??

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Jan 20 2011 Moderator

Brooks, this sounds like the right approach for the situation. Did you have any specific questions about this path?

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Brooks Critchfield Principal, Open Field Designs, Inc. Jan 25 2011 Member 175 Thumbs Up

Hi--thanks for your reply. I have a couple of v2009 projects that will pursue this compliance path.
I also have a v2.2 with "limited landscape opportunity" that would like to pursue it as well, Do you or anyone else feel that we may be successful using this as an alternative compliance path for a v2.2 project? I can not locate any v2.2 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 that would support this. THANK YOU!

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Jan 25 2011 Moderator

I would be fairly confident that this would also apply to a v2.2 project. USGBC has pretty much stopped updating the v2.2 system, but there is some precedent that changes like this for 2009 projects can also apply to v2.2. There's no way of knowing for sure without getting a 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, or just submitting the credit (or perhaps an email to your reviewer would also do it), but it should be okay. Let us know what happens.

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Mike Liu ATKINS
Dec 02 2010
Guest
123 Thumbs Up

Whether water plant area is qualified for this credit?

According to the requirement of SSc5.1, restoring or protecting native or 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 compellent. But it does not mention and require the growth location of vegetation. In our project, some adapted vegetation will be planted in the lake (called water plant), which will decontaminate rain water. Could we count water plant area in this credit?
Thank you.

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 07 2010 Moderator

Yes, I would say so.

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Anderson Benite Mar 16 2011 Member 357 Thumbs Up

I am working on a project with the same characteristics mentioned above.

There is a detention pond which was calculated to be flooded only in extreme situations.

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. will be plant in the detention pond area, which qualify the area for the credit purposes. However, as only water tolerant grass will be planted, the area might be considered as a monoculture planting.

According to the reference guide, monoculture plantings cannot contribute to the credit requirements even if they meet the definition of native or adapted vegetation.

The detention pond area represents only 4% of the total vegetated area. The remained vegetated areas do not configure monoculture planting. Considering this situation, is the detention pond area qualified for the credit purposes?

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Mar 21 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

Anderson, can you provide some more details on the rest of the vegetation planned for the site? What percentage of the remaining vegetation (outside of that planted in the detention pond) will be adapted or native?

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Anderson Benite Mar 22 2011 Member 357 Thumbs Up

The total vegetated area is equal to 652,148 sf.

The detention pond area is equal to 26,086 sf, which represents 4% of the total vegetated area, as mentioned above.

The remaining vegetation area, outside of that planted in the detention pond, is equal to 626,062 sf. From which 385,083 sf will not be irrigated, since it is an existing reforestation area. The remained area, 240,979 sf, will be irrigated. 100% of both areas will be adapted or native plants.

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Devon Bertram Sustainability Manager, YR&G Mar 25 2011 Guest Expert 1300 Thumbs Up

Thanks for the additional info Anderson. What is your site area? To meet the credit requirements you need to have the larger of either 50% of the site area (excluding building footprintBuilding footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint.) or 20% of the site area as native or adapted. Unless there is a large portion of hardscape as part of your site, if 100% of your vegetated area outside of the detention pond is planned for adapted / native vegetationPlants indigenous to a locality (native) and adapted to the local climate; they require limited irrigation following planting, do not require active maintenance such as mowing, and provide habitat value., even with the monoculture detention pond, it looks like you would be ok to meet the requirements.

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Paul Hoffman
Dec 01 2010
Member
18 Thumbs Up

How to determine if vegetation is native or adapted

I have a project in China and am trying to determine what vegetation is considered native or adapted. Can anybody help me figure this out?

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Tristan Roberts Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Dec 07 2010 Moderator

Do you have a landscape architect you're working with? Is there a local agricultural or university resource? Where in China? There's a huge amount of variation.

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Elizabeth McPherson Principal McPherson Environmental Resources
Nov 16 2010
Member
272 Thumbs Up

Contiguous Issue Revisited

We recently had to redraw our LEED project boundary when we realized we had not included the geothermal field that is being created as part of the building's energy system. The field is located across the road from the project. The road is not part of the project, will not be maintained as part of the project site, etc. However. Do I need to include the road surface as hardscape when I go to calculating SSc7.1-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. Particularly in urban areas, other sources may include vehicle exhaust, air-conditioners, and street equipment; reduced airflow from tall buildings and narrow streets exacerbates the effect. - non-roof? Thank you. em

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