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Why open space?
This credit is intended to promote sites with large areas of vegetated open space that promote biodiversity and recreation—which can also add an amenity to your project, help with natural stormwater management, and mitigate the urban heat islandA densely populated area in which pavement and buildings absorb, store, and release solar energy, making the vicinity warmer than it would be if the pavement and buildings were not present. effect.
Difficulty varies by location
It’s generally quite easy for rural and suburban projects to meet the requirements of this credit—this is especially true for schools, particularly those that have sports fields...
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10 Comments
Fenced playgrounds
We are working on an urban school renovation (SSc2=yes), and I am wondering if having the playgrounds and other outdoor areas behind fences affects this credit at all - are they still "pedestrian oriented" if typical pedestrians/passers-by cannot access them?
We appear able to obtain the credit 2 ways:
If I add up every scrap of non-paved area on site, we make it, but this includes counting things like in-ground tree planters completely surrounded by playground, which seems dicey.
If I count all of our playgrounds and outdoor classroom/lunch area, we also achieve the credit under the "Pedestrian Oriented Hardscape" provision, but I'm not sure these qualify, as they certainly aren't public areas like the plaza given in the example, or an open, generally accessible playing field.
Maybe I'm overthinking it, but any thoughts on which calculations would be more reasonable to submit?
Thanks,
Daniel,
I think you may be able to go with your second scenario as long as the playgrounds and outdoor classroom / lunch areas are open and accessible to all occupants at the school. Is this the case?
Yes, if I'm understanding you correctly. The outdoor classroom and the playground are designated for use by all students, as opposed to upper grades using one area, and lower grades using a separate area.
I also discovered that while the schoolyard is fenced in, the gates will not be locked - the playground is meant to be generally accessible to the neighborhood.
Thanks!
Yes, from my understanding of the credit, it sounds like these would be able to count towards the calcs because they are open to everyone on the project. Good luck!
Is softball infield at a school open space?
Since an infield would be dirt, and not actually "vegetated", should it be excluded from the open space - or am I overthinking it and deducting something that doesn't need to be deducted from the open space calculation?
Renee, I would say you're probably over-thinking it, but to be on the safe side, I'd say it would be preferable to not count it.
Project Site Area vs. LEED Boundary Area
We are currently doing a project registered under LEED for Schools 2007 and have a LEED Project Boundary that does not include the existing bus maintenance facility or a portion of the existing parking that is dedicated to the bus facility and is not being touched as part of our project (replacing an existing elementary school with a new one). My question is, for this credit as well as the project summary information, should we calculate the "project site area" based on the area of the overall site or the site as defined by our LEED project boundary?
Thanks for any clarification you can provide!
I think it should be the site area within the LEED boundary.
Basketball court as a hardscape area
Dear all,
The school we are working on will have a basketball court on its roof. Could this be possibly counted as hardscape area for the purpose of this credit ?
Many thanks,
For hardscape to count toward this credit, you have to also earn SSc2.
Since playing fields as well as pedestian-oriented hardscape can count (the latter dependent on earning SSc2) then it seems like you should be able to do this.
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