Community development project certification
I am working with a team from city on a community developmnet project of a playspace/park/recA Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) is a certificate representing proof that a given unit of electricity was generated from a renewable energy source such as solar or wind. These certificates are able to be sold, traded, or bartered as environmental commodities, where an electricity consumer can buy the renewable energy attributes of electricty to support renewable energy, even if they are consuming generic grid-supplied electricity that may be supplied by nonrenewable sources. area. The master Plan area of the playspace (includes play structures and pavilions) is approx 33,000 sqft (0.75 acres).The total site (includes existing Comm Ctr, Rec Ctr, Police/Courts Bldg and Little League fields) is just under 18 acres. My goal as the green team leader is to see if this project can be LEED certified. I have asked around and have been told it could under the LEED-ND program. It is in the middle of the city in mixed development, near schools, shopping, bike/hiking trails and residential homes. The project will undert ake various phases in which it will include a water/splash park, open accessible play area for handicapped, sensory garden, walking trail. My question is does each phase need to be certified or can the total 18 acres including he existing buildings fall under one it if some retrofitting was done to buildings in terms of reflective roof surfaces, water saving bathroom fixtures, lighting, etc. or can just the master plan for the play area be certified. I am trying to see how many point we currently could acheive with what is existing and then add recommendation on material and checklist items from the LEED program. Any first steps I should take or suggestions? I have attached an image the plan if that will help.: https://picasaweb.google.com/makarenko54/November262011?authuser=0&authk...
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Re: Community development project certification
You might try posting your question at the forum topic for LEED-ND projects:
http://www.leeduser.com/topic/leed-neighborhood-development-leed-nd-forum
Hit return before I was finished...
As you probably found, LEED NC won't apply to just the play area and park if there are no buildings that are conditioned and occupied enough to meet the FTEFull-time equivalent (FTE) represents a regular building occupant who spends 8 hours a day (40 hours a week) in the project building. Part-time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per day divided by 8 (or hours per week divided by 40). Transient Occupants can be reported as either daily totals or as part of the FTE. Residential occupancy should be estimated based on the number and size of units. Core and Shell projects should refer to the default occupancy table in the Reference Guide appendix. All occupant assumptions must be consistent across all credits in all categories. requirements in the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) of LEED NC.
You might start with the introductary chapters to the ND Rating System, especially "When to use LEED ND."
If you are involved in ongoing green management of the buildings on this whole site, you might consider using LEED EB O&M, since this will also address exterior landscape maintenance.
You can also get help deciding if you start to register a project on LEED Online and go through the beginning steps - it will walk you through a set of questions on selecting a rating system if you choose "I'm not sure which rating system to use." You don't need to pay if you are not going to finish the whole registration process.
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