Schools-2009 SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect—Nonroof

  • NC_Schools_CS_SSc7-1_Type3_CoolNonRoof Diagram

  • New or existing hardscapes?

    This credit is fairly straightforward and easy to achieve if you are newly creating all the hardscapes. You may comply by applying prescriptive design measures outlined by LEED to 50% of your site’s hardscape, or by covering 50% of your project's parking spaces. If, however, your project includes a planned or existing surface parking lot, replacing the existing asphalt or finding a cost-effective alternative to new asphalt may be challenging and can make this credit difficult to achieve.

    There can be added costs and labor if your project needs to modify existing hardscapes to meet the prescriptive goals of the credit: for example, taking out a black asphalt parking lot to install a more reflective material.

    When dealing with existing hardscapes, it may be more cost-effective to shade areas with trees and architectural canopies, or clean and restore them to their original condition, than to replace them. This credit can be unattainable if your project’s hardscapes do not already comply and you do not have control over the design of hardscapes. 

    Limiting your hardscape makes it easier

    Before working to treat the hardscape surfaces on your project site, don’t forget that the most effective way to reduce heat islands and help with this credit is to limit the amount of hardscape and parking spaces provided in the first place.

    Open-grid pavingLimiting hardscape not only reduces the square footage you must treat with light-colored paving, shading, open-grid paving, or covering, it can also help you gain points under:

    What’s “SRI”?

    The “solar reflectance index” or SRI is the measure of a surface’s ability to reflect solar heat. Higher reflectivity is desirable, because it helps combat 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. SRI can range from zero to over 100, with darker surfaces closer to zero and lighter surfaces approaching 100.

    FAQs for SSc7.1

    I do not know the SRI value of my hardscape materials. What can I do?

    LEED requires specific SRI values based on product or material—no exceptions. Your first step is to try reaching out to your product manufacturers to obtain this information, or searching for any SRI values that might be applicable, if your material is generic. If this cannot be found, your next option is to send your material to a lab to be tested. Getting this data can be hard with existing materials other than concrete. Finding a similar product and comparing it to yours with images will not be accepted.

    How do I find a lab for getting SRI values? What will it cost?

    Look for laboratories that calculate SRI, or that test reflectivity and emissivity—once you have those values the LEED Online form will complete the calculation. Searching for labs using keywords like surfaces or optics may also be helpful. Make sure the lab you are using follows the reflectivity and emissivity testing ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services criteria mentioned in LEED. Testing could cost $500 to $1,000 per sample.

    I have a mix of various hardscape types with different SRI values. Can I apply a weighted average to see if my project complies?

    Yes, per 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. #5220 made on 07/30/2009, a weighted average is allowable similar to SSc7.2 for roof surfaces. The supporting weighted average calculator in LEEDuser's Documentation Toolkit section can be used to establish a weighted average for all hardscape materials used on your project.

    Should I use the SRI value of new or weathered concrete for my project?

    Concrete weathers over time and its SRI value goes down. Washing the concrete periodically during building operation is recommended. This LEED credit allows you to use the higher SRI value if the concrete is new. Old concrete should get a reduced value unless washed.

    What is hardscape? Is a gravel surface considered hardscape? How about artificial turf? Wood? Tennis courts?

    According to the LEED Reference Guide, "Hardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios." While this clearly demonstrates that gravel roads and paved tennis courts are hardscape, it leaves some gray area. LEEDuser is not aware of specific guidance relating to marginal surfaces like wood or turf, but when in doubt, we recommend considering any 'inanimate" surface hardscape, which would include both of those. This should be seen as an opportunity to meet the credit intent by using high-SRI materials.

    There is a reflecting pool on our site. What is the SRI of water? Should we include that in our calculations?

    No. LEED Interpretation #1412, issued 2/7/2006 sets the precedent here in stating that "Water features are excluded from the calculation."

Legend

  • Best Practices
  • Gotcha
  • Action Steps
  • Cost Tip

Pre-Design

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  • This credit is fairly straightforward to achieve: You may comply by applying prescriptive design measures outlined by LEED to 50% of your project site’s hardscape or by covering 50% of your project's parking spaces. 

  • Surfaces absorb and emit varying degrees of heat based on color and material. The photo shows four adjacent surfaces at the same time on a summer day in Chicago. The new black asphalt has the highest temperature at 126 degrees, while the new white concrete is almost 20ºF less, at 108ºF. Image – YRG SustainabilityIf you need to modify existing hardscapes to meet the prescriptive goals of the credit, you can face added costs. For example, demo of a black asphalt parking lot to install a material with a lighter SRI would be an added expense compared with resurfacing the same asphalt. When dealing with existing hardscapes, it may be more cost-effective to shade areas with trees and architectural canopies than to replace the hardscapes with lighter SRI material.

  • Examine existing conditions to help guide site plan development. Does your existing site have shading from trees, covered parking, or light-colored hardscape? Are there ways to minimize your project site’s hardscape and parking areas (including gravel, which is considered hardscape)?   

  • Define your project’s LEED boundary, and ensure that it is consistent across all credits pursued by your project. The LEED boundary defines the scope of work, and must include any land that will be disturbed and or used by your project.

  • Benefits of reduced hardscapeYou won’t find it in the credit requirements, but the best strategy here is to limit the amount of hardscape and number of parking spaces provided in the first place. This not only reduces the hardscape square footage you must treat with light-colored paving, shading, open-grid paving, or covering, it can also help you earn:

  • Explore ways to share parking with adjacent sites, and encourage carpooling and other strategies to reduce the amount of parking area needed.

  • Some strategies for limiting the amount of hardscape include: 

    • Share parking with adjacent sites, and encourage carpooling and other ways to minimize demand for parking.
    • Stack the parking— either underground or in a parking garage. 
    • Analyze anticipated site walking patterns to discover ways to minimize the length of sidewalks from parking lots to buildings. Place building entrances where people will need them, not far across expanses of sidewalk.
    • If there are existing trees onsite, look for opportunities to place the project’s necessary hardscapes adjacent to the trees to utilize shading and plant new trees and anticipate the shading that will be present in five years.

Schematic Design

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  • After you have reduced your parking hardscape as much as possible through reduced parking spaces, stacked parking, minimizing sidewalks, and other strategies, try the following steps to reduce heat island effect even further.

  • Option 1: Treat 50% of Site Hardscapes 

  • Determine the square footage of all non-roof hardscape on your site. You'll need to integrate the strategies below for 50% or more of this area.

  • Although an area of hardscape may meet two different requirements, the area can only be counted once. For example, pavement that is both light-colored and shaded may not be counted twice in credit calculations.

  • Shading by Trees and Vegetated Landscape

  • Explore integrating hardscape shading by trees.

  • Consult with a landscape architect to specify native and adapted tree species with large canopies. This strategy can reduce the number of trees that need to be planted, watered, and maintained—while providing the maximum shading potential.

  • It is helpful to plant trees in vegetated strips within hardscape areas to maximize the shading potential. Strips can be placed between parking rows, or as a vegetated buffer between surface parking and walkways.

  • Trees may be able to provide not only shade for hardscapes but also shade and wind protection for the building—potentially reducing cooling as well as heating loads in the building, and saving operational costs. 

  • When calculating the shading area of trees, you may need to use modeling software. Google Sketchup is a free, easy-to-use application that can help you determine shading area. (See Resources.) 

  • Treed shadow graphicTo determine the shadow cast by a tree, average the shadow area cast by the three time of day shown in the diagram.Shading is calculated on the summer solstice (June 21). Take the average of the shaded areas measured at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. 

  • Shading by Architectural Canopies or Photovoltaic (PV) Structures

  • Solar PV over parkingConsider shading parking with solar PV panels, which will also contribute to EAc1 and EAc2. Image – YRG SustainabilityExplore integrating architectural canopies with an SRI equal to or greater than 29, or photovoltaic (PV) canopies.

  • The shading area used for this requirement is equivalent to the footprint of the covering as seen from above (not the average shading angle as used for trees).

  • You cannot count shading cast from the building itself, as your project building does not cover non-building hardscape area from an aerial view. However, you can count canopies that protrude from buildings and shade hardscapes.

  • Architectural devices need to have an SRI of 29 or higher. This gives you a variety of light-colored materials to choose from. Get specifications from manufacturers as you choose materials.

  • Canopies, terraces, balconies, and other architectural devices are covered by the calculations for this credit if they do not have conditioned space below them. Coverings that have conditioned space below are considered roofs and are covered under SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect—Roof.

  • Shading using Photovoltatic (PV) panels is a great way to contribute to this credit, but the PV panels have the potential to create a lot of glare. Be sure to orient the PV panels in a way that does not affect building occupants or drivers (while still making sense from the perspective of exposure to the sun to generate electricity).

  • Installing freestanding canopies can be very cost-effective and will require little maintenance in the long run.  

  • PV canopies will have more of an upfront cost (that can often be offset with government incentives), but is a great way to install renewable energy onsite, contributing to EAc2: Onsite Renewable Power, without losing the functionality of your parking.

  • Light-Colored Materials

  • Explore integrating the use of light-colored hardscape material with an SRI value of at least 29.

  • SRI is the measure of a material’s ability to reject solar heat and is determined by a material’s light reflectance and heat admittance. For example, dark colors have values close to 0 SRI absorb most of heat they receive, while lighter colors have higher values and tend to reflect heat.

  • Obtain the SRI value of materials you are considering from the manufacturer.

  • For concrete and asphalt, you can use the following default SRI numbers from the LEED Reference Guide:

     

  • Power-washing old concrete can help restore it to near-new SRI values. For the purposes of documenting the credit, it is assumed that the material has the new value, unless existing hardscape is being used. For existing hardscape, you must either use the weathered value, or document that surfaces have been cleaned and lightened enough to be equivalent to the default SRI values.

  • Concrete has higher SRI values than asphalt and so is preferable for this credit. However, it is also generally more expensive than asphalt, but it is more durable and often has a lower life-cycle cost, as it must be replaced less often. This is especially true in high-traffic areas, turnarounds, and areas of heavy-duty vehicle use. If concrete can’t be used everywhere due to the price, use it selectively in high wear-and-tear areas.  

  • Open-Grid Paving

  • Explore using 50% pervious, open-grid paving.

  • Using open-grid paving allows water to infiltrate the ground, which could also help your project team achieve the stormwater management credits SSc6.1 and SSc6.2. 

  • Open grid pavingOpen-grid paving is different from porous paving—Open grid paving is laid out in a pattern that exposes areas of the ground allowing vegetation to grow in the open cells.  Porous paving is continuous paving that allows water to penetrate it minimizing runoff.  Porous paving alone without an open grid will not help you earn the credit, as you need the vegetation and its associated evapotranspiration help mitigate the heat island effect. Porous paving can qualify as a light colored material, however, if it has an SRI of 29 or higher. 

  • The open-grid paving itself should be at least 50% pervious and contribute to 50% of your project's hardscape areas.

  • Open-grid paving can be just as durable as other types of paving, but it may require additional maintenance to ensure that open cells do not become clogged.

  • Open grid paving is the most beneficial when it is applied on top of permeable soil that promotes infiltration. Soils with high clay content, or land with shallow bedrock may prevent water infiltration thus making open grid paving less functional.

  • Option 2: Cover 50% of the Site Parking

  • Determine the number of parking spaces needed for your project. Fifty percent or more of those need to be under cover—underground, under deck, under roof, or under the building. Parking roofs must have an SRI value of at least 29, or be vegetated, or be covered by architectural canopies or PV arrays (following the options listed above).

  • Consider locating parking underground, freeing up more site area for other uses, such as larger building footprints, open space, and landscaping.

  • If 50% of your project’s parking is underground or under the building, there is no parking roof requiring any SRI value. The building roof would be calculated according to SSc7.2 requirements even though the building covers parking spaces. 

  • If you use photovoltaic structures to shade hardscapes, they can count either toward shading hardscapes under Option 1, or shading parking spaces under Option 2—but not both.  Decide which compliance path you want the PV to fall under.  

  • Parking spots apply to all parking areas within the LEED boundary. Off-site parking outside the LEED boundary is not included in this credit.

Design Development

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  • Revisit your site hardscape area calculations to ensure that you are still meeting the requirement that 50% of the site hardscape is shaded, open-grid paved, or light-colored—or that 50% of the parking is under cover.  

  • Be sure to collect the SRI values for all hardscape materials you are planning to use toward this credit.

  • Create a site plan for the LEED submittal that clearly indicates the following:

    • For Option 1: Square feet of all hardscapes. This should be indicated for each type of hardscape material. Indicate the SRI value, shading area, and or open grid paving area on the plan for each hardscape type.
    • For Option 2: How many total parking spaces exist onsite, and how many are under cover.

Construction Documents

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  • Include any specific material properties and SRI criteria in the construction and landscaping specifications. 

Construction

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  • Ensure that the materials and landscaping are used according to your specifications for credit compliance.

Operations & Maintenance

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  • Include regular cleaning practices for hardscapes and coverings, especially for light-colored surfaces, as their SRI value will tend to drop, making them less reflective, as they get darker and dirtier. Committing to this is not required to earn the credit, but helps realize the benefit of it.

  • Include regular weeding practices for any open-grid paving, to keep the material durable and ensure that the spaces do not become clogged.

  • USGBC

    Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Schools New Construction and Major Renovations

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

    SS Credit 7.1: Heat island effect - nonroof

    1 Point

    Intent

    To reduce heat islands1 to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.

    Requirements

    Option 1

    Use any combination of the following strategies for 50% of the site hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. (including roads, sidewalks, courtyards and parking lots):

    • Provide shade from the existing tree canopy or within 5 years of landscape installation. Landscaping (trees)

      must be in place at the time of occupancy.
    • Provide shade from structures covered by solar panels that produce energy used to offset some nonrenewable resource use.
    • Provide shade from architectural devices or structures that have 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 index2 (SRI) of at least 29.
    • Use hardscape materials with an SRI of at least 29.
    • Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% pervious).

    OR

    Option 2

    Place a minimum of 50% of parking spaces under cover3. Any roof used to shade or cover parking must have an SRI of at least 29, be a vegetated green roof or be covered by solar panels that produce energy used to offset some nonrenewable resource use.

    1 Heat islands are defined as thermal gradient differences between developed and underdeveloped areas.
    2 The solar reflectance index (SRI) is a measure of the constructed surface's ability to reflect solar heat, as shown by a small temperature rise. It is defined so that a standardblack surface (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) is 0 and a standard white surface (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90) is 100. to calculate the SRI for a given material, obtain the reflectance value and emittance value for the material. SRI is calculated according to ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services E 1980. Reflectance is measured according to ASTM E 903, ASTM E 1918, or ASTM C 1549. Emittance is measured according to ASTM E408 or ASTM C 1371.
    3 For the purposes of this credit, under cover parking is defined as parking underground, under desk, under roof, or under a building.


    Potential Technologies & Strategies

    Employ strategies, materials and landscaping techniques that reduce the heat absorption of exterior materials. Use shade (calculated on June 21, noon solar time) from native or adapted trees and large shrubs, vegetated trellises, or other exterior structures supporting vegetation. Consider using new coatings and integral colorants for asphalt to achieve light-colored surfaces instead of blacktop. Position photovoltaic cells to shade 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..

    Consider replacing constructed surfaces (e.g., roof, roads, sidewalks, etc.) with vegetated surfaces such as vegetated roofs and open grid paving or specify high-albedoAlbedo is synonymous with solar reflectance. materials, such as concrete, to reduce heat absorption.

Organizations

ASTM

This is the organization that sets the testing standards for material heat emissivityEmissivity is the ratio of the radiation emitted by a surface to the radiation emitted by a black body at the same temperature. and reflectance that help determine a material’s SRI.

American Concrete Pavement Association

This national association represents concrete pavement contractors, cement companies, equipment and material manufacturers, and suppliers. See Albedo: A Measure of Pavement Surface Reflectance, R&T Update (3.05) (June 2002).

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Heat Island Group

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory conducts heat island research to find, analyze, and implement solutions to minimize 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.. Current research efforts focus on the study and development of more reflective surfaces for roadways and buildings.

Web Tools

Sketch-up

Use this software to model shaded areas from trees.

U.S. EPA, Heat Island Effect

This site offers basic information about 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., its social and environmental costs, and strategies to minimize its prevalence.

Non-Roof Weighted Average Calculator

LEED BD&C allows projects with a mix of hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. surface types (or projects with one hardscape type whose SRI is lower than the threshold but more than 50% of the total hardscape area) to demonstrate compliance through a "weighted" calculation, which can be performed with this spreadsheet.

Site Plan – 50% Parking Spaces Under Cover

Option 2

This site plan from a LEED project shows SSc7.1 compliance, with 50% of parking spaces located under cover.

Product Cut Sheets

Check the SRI index of products specified to earn this credit. The pavers in these examples have varying SRI values, some of which would contribute to the credit, and some of which would not.

SRI Calculator

This calculator produced by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) allows you to compute 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) and roof surface temperature based on solar reflectance and thermal emittance based on ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services standard E 1980.

Construction Submittal

HardhatDocumentation for this credit is part of the Construction Phase submittal.

19 Comments

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Lauren Glasscock Sr. Sustainability Professional DNV KEMA Energy & Sustainability
Apr 03 2013
LEEDuser Expert
8578 Thumbs Up

Question about a Review Comment

I received the following review comment and I don't agree with it. Am I missing something or why should my project with its distinct boundary for this particular phase be held to comply for the whole master site, especially when the whole master site hasn't been designed or developed yet? I see nothing in this credit's requirements that requires qualifying across the whole site?

SSc7.1- Pending- The LEED Credit Form has been provided stating that 96% of non-roof base building hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. surfaces will be mitigated through the use of materials with an SRI of at least 29, therefore the project complies with Option 1. A minimum of 50% is required. The reflective materials table has been completed as required. The site plan has been provided, including information regarding paving and landscape materials.

However, PIf4 (Schedule and Overview Documents) has been denied pending clarification of the LEED Project Boundary. According to the Master Site document provided in SSc9 (Site Master Plan) this unclaimed area noted in PIf4 is not in compliance with the minimum SRI requirements.

TECHNICAL ADVICE:

Please see the comments within PIf4 and resubmit this credit ensuring documentation has been updated with any required revisions from PIf4.

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Apr 04 2013 LEEDuser Moderator

Lauren, you might post this on our PIf4 or SSc9 forums.

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Gabriela G
Mar 13 2013
Guest
8 Thumbs Up

Decomposed Granite

Does anyone know the SRI value for Decomposed Granite?

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Amy King LEED Green Associate, GGO Architects Apr 01 2013 LEEDuser Member 10 Thumbs Up

I am currently searching for the same info. Gabriela were you able to figure this out? Thank you.

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Gabriela G Apr 01 2013 Guest 8 Thumbs Up

Nope....we currently have a call into the supplier that we are specifying, but we havent been able to find the SRI value.
We are thinking about finding out the permeability of the product.
Good luck.
If we find something out in the next few days, we will let you know.

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Amy King LEED Green Associate, GGO Architects Apr 01 2013 LEEDuser Member 10 Thumbs Up

Thanks. I did read in a comment somewhere that it may be exempt if it's 50% of more pervious, but couldn't find that in the reference guide. I'm definitely interested in whatever info you get!

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Carly Ruggieri Senior Sustainability Consultant Steven Winter Associates, Inc.
Aug 17 2012
Guest
546 Thumbs Up

Outdoor seating. Hardscape or not?

A school project of mine will be installing a small amphitheatre-style seating area in the exterior play yard. The levels of seating will be constructed out of recycled plastic deck-style material (often seen on playground equipment platforms). Would this be included as a site hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios.? Or would seating areas be excluded from the overall calculations for non-roof hardscapes? Thanks in advance for any suggestions or experience with this.

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

Carly, I assume there will be some kind of surface underneath the seating—will it be grass, gravel, concrete, etc.? Seems like the answer to your question lies there.

If the surface is really just plastic, that seems like a hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. to me. Akin to "courtyards," per the credit language.

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Crissy Tsai Sustainability Coordinator, Webcor Builders Sep 05 2012 LEEDuser Expert 343 Thumbs Up

Carly, I would consider the recycled plastic deck-style material as site hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios.. Reach out to the manufacturer and they may have information about the SRI value.

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Shakir Ismail Senior Sustainability Associate, LEED AP (BD+C) KEO International Consultants
Apr 02 2012
LEEDuser Member
53 Thumbs Up

"Any combination of the following strategies.."

For a LEED for Schools project I'm working on.
What exactly does LEED define as a 'any combination of strategies' as listed in Option 1 for credit compliance with SSCr7.1?
Is there a minimum number of the 5 strategies stated I need to comply with, or can one strategy be considered a combination?
Sorry but I'm fairly new to LEED.

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Emily Catacchio Sustainability Specialist, Wight and Company Apr 16 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Shakir,

Under Option 1 you can apply any of the 5 strategies, this means you can do 1, 2, etc. or all 5.

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Elizabeth Crenshaw Hammitt Environmental Coordinator EPB
Feb 16 2012
Guest
567 Thumbs Up

Parking Garage

We are looking at putting solar on top of our parking garage roof. We would be certifying under LEED 2012, so, from my reading, it looks like the top level of the garage would be required to meet the SRI requirements in addition to having 75% covered parking...how much of the roof would need solar panel cover? Under current plans, it would be about 30%-40% covered. Does it seem correct to assume that the top level would need to meet an SRI requirement?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Feb 17 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Elizabeth, I'm going to kind of punt on your question, but if you are certifying under LEED 2012, we technically don't know what those requirements are going to be yet, so it's hard to answer your question. We could just speculate at this point.

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Rebecca Griffith
Jul 25 2011
LEEDuser Member
236 Thumbs Up

Parking Lot Tree Canopy Coverage

We have been attempting to achieve this credit with tree canopy coverage in our parking lot. Two questions:
1.) What counts as 'shade' - 50% coverage per parking space?
2.) At what time of day/ year is shade measured from? (I have come across an old project that leads me to believe it's measured on the summer solstice when the sun is at the highest point in the sky.)

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Sep 02 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Rebecca, the  calculations in the NC version 2.2 Reference Guide state that shade coverage "shall be calculated at 10am, noon, and 3 pm. The arithmetic mean of these three values will be used as the effective shaded area." The v2.2 credit doesn't specify the date for which to calculate these areas, but my understanding is to use the summer solstice, June 21st. (That's made clear in the v2009 credit language.)

In terms of what % constitutes shade, it's measured in terms of the whole parking area—50% or more must be shaded. So a single space shaded at 50% would only could at 50% toward the necessary total.

 

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Nicole Cavanaugh cox graae + spack architects
Oct 12 2010
Guest
281 Thumbs Up

Existing Roof - to test or not?

Hi, I'm using option 2 and am placing half of the parking under cover w/an SRI > 29. There is an existing light colored modified bituminous roof in place; however I do not know the manufacturer. Do I need to have it tested and if so, how do I go about finding a laboratory?

Thanks,
Nicole

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Oct 29 2010 LEEDuser Moderator

Yes, I would say you have to test it. I would try the yellow pages, Google, etc. for testing labs in your region.

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Linda Davisson Senior Consultant Sustainable Design Consulting
Aug 18 2010
LEEDuser Member
1473 Thumbs Up

Outdoor Track

Our school project has an outdoor track made of rubber. Is this considered a hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. or can it count as open space?

Thanks

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Aug 18 2010 LEEDuser Expert 11326 Thumbs Up

Sounds like it would be considered hardscapeHardscape consists of the inanimate elements of the building landscaping. Examples include pavement, roadways, stone walls, concrete paths and sidewalks, and concrete, brick, and tile patios. - the glossary of the BD&C Reference Guide defines open space as "vegetated and pervious." There are some exceptions, such as for projects in densely developed areas earning SSc2, so you'd want to look into those.

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May 19 2013
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