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LEED v2008
Homes
Sustainable Sites
Landscaping

LEED CREDIT

Homes-v2008 SSc2: Landscaping 1-7 points

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USGBC logo

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

Requirements

Prerequisites

2.1 No invasive plants. Introduce no invasive plant species into the landscape. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive.

Credits

Note: Points shown below are for homes that are fully landscaped. A project that has not completed the designed landscaping may earn up to 50% of the points for each credit as long as 50% or more of the designed landscaping is completed upon certification. In this case, 100% completion of the landscaping must be required by homeowner association or other rules within a specific time period not to exceed one year after occupancy. Erosion controls and soil stabilization measures must be robust enough to be effective for one year. The builder or project team must also develop a landscaping plan that meets the requirements in SS 2 and provide it to the homeowner.2.2 Basic landscape design (2 points). Meet all of the following requirements for all designed landscape softscapes:
  1. Any turf must be drought-tolerant.
  2. Do not use turf in densely shaded areas.
  3. Do not use turf in areas with a slope of 25% (i.e., 4:1 slope).
  4. Add mulch or soil amendments as appropriate. Mulch is defined as a covering placed around plants to reduce erosion and water loss and to help regulate soil temperature. In addition, upon decomposition, organic mulches serve as soil amendments. The type of mulch selected can affect soil pH.
  5. All compacted soil (e.g., from construction vehicles) must be tilled to at least 6 inches.

AND/OR

2.3 Limit conventional turf (maximum 3 points, as specified in Table 1). Limit the use of conventional turf in the designed landscape softscapes.
Table 1. Limited Conventional Turf

Percentage of designed landscape softscape area that is
conventional turf

Points

41–60%

1

21–40%

2

20% or less

3

AND/OR

2.4 Drought-tolerant plants (maximum 2 points, as specified in Table 2). Install drought-tolerant plants.
Table 2. Drought-Tolerant Plants

Percentage of installed plants that are drought-tolerant

Points

45–89%

1

90% or more

2

OR

2.5 Reduce overall irrigation demand by at least 20% (maximum 6 points, as specified in Table 3). Design the landscape and irrigation system to reduce overall irrigation water usage. The estimates must be calculated and prepared by a landscape professional, biologist, or other qualified professional using the method outlined below.
Table 3. Reduction in Water Demand

Reduction in estimated irrigation water usage

SS 2.5 points

WE 2.3 points

Total
points

20–24%

2

0

2

25–29%

3

0

3

30–34%

4

0

4

35–39%

5

0

5

40–44%

6

0

6

45–59%

6

1

7

50–54%

6

2

8

55–59%

6

3

9

60% or more

6

4

10

Method for calculating reduction in irrigation demand
Step 1. Calculate the baseline irrigation water usage: Baseline Usage = Landscaped Area * ET0 * 0.62 where ET0 = Baseline Evapotranspiration Rate (available from local and state Departments of Agriculture) Step 2. Calculate the design case irrigation water usage: Design Case Usage = (Landscaped Area * ETL ÷ IE) * CF * 0.62 where ETL = ET0 * KL and KL = KS * KMC . Refer to Tables 4 and 5 for values for KS and KMC, and to Table 6 for values for IE. For CF, use estimated value based on manufacturer’s specifications for percentage water savings. Step 3.Calculate the percentage reduction in irrigation water usage: Percentage Reduction = (1 – Design Case Usage ÷ Baseline Usage) * 100 Step 4. Refer to Table 3, above, to determine points earned.
Table 4. Species Factor

Vegetation type

Species factor (KS)

Low

Average

High

Trees

0.2

0.5

0.9

Shrubs

0.2

0.5

0.7

Groundcover

0.2

0.5

0.7

Turf

0.6

0.7

0.8

Table 5. Microclimate Factor

Example microclimate impacts

Microclimate factor (KMC)

Low

Average

High

Shading

0.5

0.8

1.0

High sun exposure

1.0

1.2

1.5

Protection from wind

0.8

0.9

1.0

Windy area

1.0

1.2

1.5

Table 6. Irrigation Efficiency

Irrigation type

Irrigation efficiency (IE)

Low

High

Fixed spray

0.4

0.6

Impact and microspray

0.5

0.7

Rotors

0.6

0.8

Multistream rotators

0.6

0.8

Low volume and point source (e.g., drip)

0.7

0.9

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Cost estimates for this credit

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Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

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USGBC logo

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

Requirements

Prerequisites

2.1 No invasive plants. Introduce no invasive plant species into the landscape. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive.

Credits

Note: Points shown below are for homes that are fully landscaped. A project that has not completed the designed landscaping may earn up to 50% of the points for each credit as long as 50% or more of the designed landscaping is completed upon certification. In this case, 100% completion of the landscaping must be required by homeowner association or other rules within a specific time period not to exceed one year after occupancy. Erosion controls and soil stabilization measures must be robust enough to be effective for one year. The builder or project team must also develop a landscaping plan that meets the requirements in SS 2 and provide it to the homeowner.2.2 Basic landscape design (2 points). Meet all of the following requirements for all designed landscape softscapes:
  1. Any turf must be drought-tolerant.
  2. Do not use turf in densely shaded areas.
  3. Do not use turf in areas with a slope of 25% (i.e., 4:1 slope).
  4. Add mulch or soil amendments as appropriate. Mulch is defined as a covering placed around plants to reduce erosion and water loss and to help regulate soil temperature. In addition, upon decomposition, organic mulches serve as soil amendments. The type of mulch selected can affect soil pH.
  5. All compacted soil (e.g., from construction vehicles) must be tilled to at least 6 inches.

AND/OR

2.3 Limit conventional turf (maximum 3 points, as specified in Table 1). Limit the use of conventional turf in the designed landscape softscapes.
Table 1. Limited Conventional Turf

Percentage of designed landscape softscape area that is
conventional turf

Points

41–60%

1

21–40%

2

20% or less

3

AND/OR

2.4 Drought-tolerant plants (maximum 2 points, as specified in Table 2). Install drought-tolerant plants.
Table 2. Drought-Tolerant Plants

Percentage of installed plants that are drought-tolerant

Points

45–89%

1

90% or more

2

OR

2.5 Reduce overall irrigation demand by at least 20% (maximum 6 points, as specified in Table 3). Design the landscape and irrigation system to reduce overall irrigation water usage. The estimates must be calculated and prepared by a landscape professional, biologist, or other qualified professional using the method outlined below.
Table 3. Reduction in Water Demand

Reduction in estimated irrigation water usage

SS 2.5 points

WE 2.3 points

Total
points

20–24%

2

0

2

25–29%

3

0

3

30–34%

4

0

4

35–39%

5

0

5

40–44%

6

0

6

45–59%

6

1

7

50–54%

6

2

8

55–59%

6

3

9

60% or more

6

4

10

Method for calculating reduction in irrigation demand
Step 1. Calculate the baseline irrigation water usage: Baseline Usage = Landscaped Area * ET0 * 0.62 where ET0 = Baseline Evapotranspiration Rate (available from local and state Departments of Agriculture) Step 2. Calculate the design case irrigation water usage: Design Case Usage = (Landscaped Area * ETL ÷ IE) * CF * 0.62 where ETL = ET0 * KL and KL = KS * KMC . Refer to Tables 4 and 5 for values for KS and KMC, and to Table 6 for values for IE. For CF, use estimated value based on manufacturer’s specifications for percentage water savings. Step 3.Calculate the percentage reduction in irrigation water usage: Percentage Reduction = (1 – Design Case Usage ÷ Baseline Usage) * 100 Step 4. Refer to Table 3, above, to determine points earned.
Table 4. Species Factor

Vegetation type

Species factor (KS)

Low

Average

High

Trees

0.2

0.5

0.9

Shrubs

0.2

0.5

0.7

Groundcover

0.2

0.5

0.7

Turf

0.6

0.7

0.8

Table 5. Microclimate Factor

Example microclimate impacts

Microclimate factor (KMC)

Low

Average

High

Shading

0.5

0.8

1.0

High sun exposure

1.0

1.2

1.5

Protection from wind

0.8

0.9

1.0

Windy area

1.0

1.2

1.5

Table 6. Irrigation Efficiency

Irrigation type

Irrigation efficiency (IE)

Low

High

Fixed spray

0.4

0.6

Impact and microspray

0.5

0.7

Rotors

0.6

0.8

Multistream rotators

0.6

0.8

Low volume and point source (e.g., drip)

0.7

0.9

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