Credit

Description

Prereq 1

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

Required

Intent: To reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation and airborne dust generation.

Requirements: Create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan for all construction activities associated with the project. The plan must conform to the erosion and sedimentation requirements of the 2003 EPA Construction General Permit OR local standards and codes, whichever is more stringent. The plan must describe the measures implemented to accomplish the following objectives:

• To prevent loss of soil during construction by stormwater runoff and/or wind erosion, including protecting topsoil by stockpiling for reuse.

• To prevent sedimentation of storm sewers or receiving streams.

• To prevent pollution of the air with dust and particulate matter.

Implementation: Erosion typically occurs when foot traffic, runoff or vehicle traffic damages vegetation that would otherwise hold the soil. Identifying and eliminating these and other causes will minimize soil loss and preserve receiving water quality. Some common strategies for controlling erosion and sedimentation include: temporary seeding, permanent seeding, mulching, earth dike, silt fence, sediment trap and/or sediment basin.

SS 1

Site Selection

1 point

Intent: To avoid the development of inappropriate sites and reduce the environmental impact from the location of a building on a site.

Requirements: Do not develop buildings, hardscape, roads or parking areas on portions of sites that meet any of the following criteria:

• Prime farmland as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture

• Previously undeveloped land whose elevation is lower than 5 feet above the elevation of the 100 year flood

• Land specifically identified as habitat for any species on the threatened or endangered lists

• Land within 100 feet of any wetlands

• Previously undeveloped land that is within 50 feet of a water body, defined as seas, lakes, rivers, streams and tributaries that support or could support fish, recreation or industrial use

• Land that prior to acquisition for the project was public parkland

Implementation: Before selecting a site, evaluate the potential environmental disturbance that will occur as a result of construction, and avoid developing sites that exhibit any of the characteristics listed in the restricted criteria.

SS 2

Development Density and Community Connectivity

5 points

Intent: To channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure, protect greenfields and preserve habitat and natural resources.

Requirements: Option 1 - Development Density - Construct or renovate a building on a previously developed site AND in a community with a minimum density of 60,000 square feet per acre net. The density calculation is based on a typical two-story downtown development and must include the area of the project being built.

or

Option 2 - Community Connectivity - Construct or renovate a building on a site that meets the following criteria:

• Is located on a previously developed site

• Is within 1/2 mile of a residential area or neighborhood with an average density of 10 units per acre net

• Is within 1/2 mile of at least 10 basic services including:

Bank	Place of Worship	Convenience Grocery	Day Care Center
Cleaners	Fire Station	Beauty Salon	Hardware
Laundry	Library	Medical Office	Dental Office
Senior Care Facility	Park	Pharmacy	Post Office
Restaurant	School	Supermarket	Theater
Community Center	Fitness Center	Museum

• Has pedestrian access between the building and the services

Implementation: To achieve this credit, the best approach is to give preference to sites in an urban area. Work with local jurisdictions to follow the area's urban development plan, and meet or exceed density goals. Consider using community resources and sharing the project building's resources with neighbors. Choose sites based on infrastructure, transportation, and quality-of-life considerations. Consider renovating an existing building in an area where community revitalization is already underway and the required development density will be met by the time the project is completed.

SS 3

Brownfield Redevelopment

1 point

Intent: To rehabilitate damaged sites where development is complicated by environmental contamination and to reduce pressure on undeveloped land.

Requirements: Option 1 - Develop on a site documented as contaminated (by means of an ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment or a local voluntary cleanup program).

or

Option 2 - Develop on a site defined as a brownfield by a local, state or federal government agency.

Implementation: If contamination is suspected, conduct a Phase II environmental site assessment to determine whether remediation of the site is necessary. The Phase II assessment requires that an environmental professional test the soil, air and water to identify what kinds of contaminants exist and at what levels. The type of tests conducted varies, but typically the easiest and least expensive methods are used initially and involve taking samples, which are then sent to a laboratory for analysis. Use remediation experts to develop a master plan for any site cleanup.

SS 4.1

Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access

6 points

Intent: To reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.

Requirements: Option 1 - Rail station Proximity - Locate the project within 1/2 mile walking distance (measured from a main building entrance) of an existing or planned and funded commuter rail, light rail or subway station.

or

Option 2 - Bus Stop Proximity - Locate the project within 1/4 mile walking distance (measured from a main building entrance) of 1 or more stops for 2 or more public, campus, or private bus lines usable by building occupants.

Implementation: Select a site that has convenient access to existing transportation networks to minimize the need for new transportation lines. Local transit authorities can provide maps and directories that will be helpful in identifying the available transportation options.

SS 4.2

Alternative Transportation - Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms

1 point

Intent: To reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.

Requirements: Commercial/Institutional Projects - Provide secure bicycle racks and/or storage within 200 yards of a building entrance for 5% or more of all building users (measured at peak periods). Provide shower and changing facilities in the building or within 200 yards of a building entrance for 0.5% of full-time equivalent occupants.

or

Residential Projects - Provide covered storage facilities for securing bicycles for 15% or more of the building occupants.

Implementation: Select a site that provides convenient access to safe bicycle pathways and secure bicycle storage areas for cyclists. Shower and changing areas for cyclists should be easily accessible from the bicycle storage areas. Look for functional and direct paths that can be used by bicycle commuters and size and locate bike racks and showering facilities appropriately.

SS 4.3

Alternative Transportation -Low-emitting and
Fuel-efficient Vehicles

3 points

Intent: To reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.

Requirements: Option 1 - Provide preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Providing a discounted parking rate is an acceptable substitute for preferred parking. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20% and must be available for a minimum of 2 years.

or

Option 2 - Install alternative-fuel fueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. Liquid or gaseous fueling facilities must be separately ventilated or located outdoors.

or

Option 3 - Provide low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 3% of full-time equivalent occupants. Provide preferred parking for these vehicles.

or

Option 4 - Provide building occupants access to a low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle-sharing program. The following requirements must be met:

• One low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle must be provided per 3% of FTE occupants, assuming that 1 shared vehicle can carry 8 persons.

• A vehicle-sharing contract must be provided that has an agreement of at least 2 years.

• The estimated number of customers served per vehicle must be supported by documentation.

• A narrative explaining the vehicle-sharing program and its administration must be submitted.

• Parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles must be located in the nearest available spaces in the nearest available parking area. Provide a site plan or area map clearly highlighting the walking path from the parking area to the project site and noting the distance.

Implementation: If occupants of a project building use fleet vehicles, consider providing low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles. Establishing alternative-fuel vehicle fueling stations requires the consideration of legal, technical and safety issues that vary by fuel type.

SS 4.4

Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity

2 points

Intent: To reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.

Requirements: Non-Residential Projects - Option 1 - Parking capacity must meet but not exceed minimum local zoning requirements. Provide preferred parking for carpools or vanpools for 5% of the total parking spaces.

or

Option 2 - For projects that provide parking for less than 5% of full-time equivalent building occupants: Provide preferred parking for carpools or vanpools, marked as such, for 5% of total parking spaces. Providing a discounted parking rate is an acceptable substitute for preferred parking. To establish a meaningful incentive in all potential markets, the parking rate must be discounted at least 20% and must be available for a minimum of 2 years.

or

Option 3 - Provide no new parking.

Residential Projects - Option 1 - Parking capacity must meet but not exceed minimum local zoning requirements. Provide infrastructure and support programs to facilitate shared vehicle use such as carpool drop-off areas, designated parking for vanpools, car-share services, ride boards and shuttle services to mass transit.

or

Option 2 - Provide no new parking.

Mixed Use Projects - Option 1 - Mixed use buildings with less than 10% commercial area must be considered residential and adhere to the residential requirements. For mixed use buildings with more than 10% commercial area, the commercial space must adhere to non-residential requirements and the residential component must adhere to the residential requirements.

or

Option 2 - Provide no new parking.

Implementation: Limit the availability of parking to encourage the use of alternative forms of transportation to and from the site. Choose a project site that is easily accessible from residential areas by bicycle or public transportation. Once the site is selected, determine how many cars are likely to drive to the site and compare this number with local zoning requirements. If parking demand is expected to be less than that required by local codes, consider seeking a variance with the appropriate authorities to provide less parking. However, any on-site parking reductions should be carefully balanced with community needs to avoid needlessly burdening surrounding neighborhoods with excessive street parking.

SS 5.1

Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat

1 point

Intent: To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.

Requirements: Greenfield Sites - Limit all site disturbances to the following parameters:

• 40 feet beyond the building perimeter

• 10 feet beyond surface walkways, patios, surface parking and utilities less than 12 inches in diameter

• 15 feet beyond primary roadway curbs and main utility branch trenches

• 25 feet beyond constructed areas with permeable surfaces (such as pervious paving areas, stormwater detention facilities and playing fields) that require additional staging areas to limit compaction in the constructed area.

Previously Developed Areas or Graded Sites - Restore or protect a minimum of 50% of the site (excluding the building footprint) or 20% of the total site area (including building footprint), whichever is greater, with native or adapted vegetation. Projects earning SS credit 2: development Density and Community Connectivity may include vegetated roof surface in this calculation if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat and promote biodiversity.

Implementation: Preserve and enhance natural site elements, including existing water bodies, soil conditions, ecosystems, trees and other vegetation. Identify opportunities for site improvements that would increase the area of native and adapted vegetation and other ecologically appropriate features. Monoculture plantings (e.g., turf) cannot contribute to the credit requirements even if they meet the definition of native or adapted vegetation. Restoration and maintenance activities might include removing unnecessary paved areas and replacing them with landscaped areas, or replacing large lawns with native or adapted plantings to promote biodiversity and provide habitat to native animals. If possible, connect protected or restored areas to habitat corridors adjacent to the project site.

SS 5.2

Site Development - Maximize Open Space

1 point

Intent: To promote biodiversity by providing a high ratio of open space to development footprint.

Requirements: Sites with Local Zoning Open Space Requirements - Reduce the development footprint and/or provide vegetated open space within the project boundary such that the amount of open space exceeds local zoning requirements by 25%.

Sites with No Local Zoning Requirements - Provide vegetated open space area adjacent to the building that is equal in area to the building footprint.

Sites with Zoning Ordinances but No Open Space Requirements - Provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project's site area.

ALL CASES - For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, vegetated roof areas can contribute to credit compliance. For projects in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2: Development Density and Community Connectivity, pedestrian-oriented hardscape areas can contribute to the credit compliance. For such projects, a minimum of 25% of the open space counted must be vegetated. Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space and the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

Implementation: Choose a development footprint and location that minimize disturbance of the existing ecosystem, taking into consideration building orientation, daylighting, heat island effect, stormwater generation, significant vegetation, existing green corridors and other sustainable sites issues. Once the site and building location have been determined, work with a civil engineer to design and construct a compact parking, road and building footprint layout to preserve open land and provide connections to adjacent ecosystems. The design team and the owner can reduce footprints by tightening program needs and stacking floor plans.

SS 6.1

Stormwater Design - Quantity Control

1 point

Intent: To limit disruption of natural hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration, reducing or eliminating pollution from stormwater runoff and eliminating contaminants.

Requirements: Sites with Existing Imperviousness 50% or Less - Option 1 - Implement a stormwater management plan that prevents the postdevelopment peak discharge rate and quantity from exceeding the predevelopment peak discharge rate and quantity for the 1- and 2-year 24-hour design storms.

or

Option 2 - Implement a stormwater management plan that protects receiving stream channels from excessive erosion. The stormwater management plan must include a stream channel protection and quantity control strategies.

Sites with Existing Imperviousness is Greater Than 50% - Implement a stormwater management plan that results in a 25% decrease in the volume of stormwater runoff from the 2-year 24-hour design storm.

Implementation: The best way to achieve this credit may depend on the condition of the site. For a largely undeveloped site, the goal is to preserve stormwater flows and design the project to preserve the natural soil conditions, habitat and rainfall characteristics. For redevelopment of a previously developed site, the goal typically is to improve stormwater management to restore the natural functions of the site as much as possible and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff. The best way to reduce stormwater runoff volume is to reduce the amount of impervious surface area.

SS 6.2

Stormwater Design - Quality Control

1 point

Intent: To limit  disruption and pollution of natural water flows by managing stormwater runoff.

Requirements: Implement a stormwater management plan that reduces impervious cover, promotes infiltration and captures and treats the stormwater runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall using acceptable best management practices (BMPs). BMPs used to treat runoff must be capable of removing 80% of the average annual postdevelopment total suspended solids load based on existing monitoring reports. BMPs are considered to meet these criteria if: They are designed in accordance with standards and specifications from a state or local program that has adopted these performance standards

or

There exists infield performance monitoring data demonstrating compliance with the criteria. Data must conform to accepted protocol for BMP monitoring.

Implementation: This credit can be achieved using either nonstructural or structural stormwater management measures (or both) to minimize or mitigate impervious area. Nonstructural Measures - Nonstructural strategies, such as rain gardens, vegetated swales, disconnection of impervious areas and pervious pavement, can be used to promote infiltration and capture and treat runoff. In these cases, stormwater is allowed to filter naturally into the soil. Most pollutants are then broken down by microorganisms. Nonstructural measures are often preferred because they can be less expensive to construct and maintain and help recharge groundwater supplies.

Structural Measures - Structural strategies, such as rainwater cisterns, manhole treatment devices and ponds, can be used to remove the pollutants in runoff from impervious areas. In some cases, this water can be reused for irrigation or building flush fixtures. Structural measures are preferred on urban or constrained sites and make it possible to effectively clean the runoff with minimal space allocation and land use. For existing sites with greater than 50% imperviousness, structural techniques may include restoring and repairing deteriorated storm sewers or separating combined sewers.

SS 7.1

Heat Island Effect - Nonroof

1 point

Intent: To reduce heat islands 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 hardscape (including roads, sidewalks, courtyards and parking lots):

• Provide shade from the existing tree canopy within 5 years of landscape installation. Landscaping 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 reflectance index (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 cover. 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 to offset some nonrenewable resource use.

Implementation: Strategies for mitigating heat island effect include using materials with higher solar reflectance properties in the site design, providing shaded areas and reducing hardscape surfaces.

SS 7.2

Heat Island Effect - Roof

1 point

Intent: To reduce heat islands to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.

Requirements: Option 1 - Use roofing materials with a solar reflectance index (SRI) equal to or greater than the values in the table below for a minimum of 75% of the roof surface. Roofing materials having a lower SRI value than those listed below may be used if the weighted rooftop SRI average meets the following criteria:

or

Option 2 - Install a vegetated roof that covers at least 50% of the roof area.

or

Option 3 - Install high-albedo and vegetated roof surfaces that, in combination, meet the following criteria:

Implementation: The choice of roofing can maximize the heat island effect. This credit can be achieved through high-reflectance surfaces, vegetated roofing or by a combination of both strategies.

SS 8

Light Pollution Reduction

1 point

Intent: To minimize light trespass from the building and site, reduce sky-glow to increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction and reduce development impact from lighting on nocturnal environments.

Requirements: For Interior Lighting - Option 1 - Reduce the input power (by automatic device) of all nonemergency interior luminaries with a direct line of sight to any openings in the envelope (translucent or transparent) by at least 50% between 11p.m. and 5a.m. After-hours override may be provided by a manual or occupant-sensing device provided the override lasts no more than 30 minutes.

or

Option 2 - All openings in the envelope (translucent or transparent) with a direct line of sight to any nonemergency luminaries must have shielding (controlled/closed by automatic device for a resultant transmittance of less than 10% between 11p.m. and 5a.m.).

For Exterior Lighting - Light areas only as required for safety and comfort. Lighting power densities must not exceed ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007 (with errata but without addenda) for the classified zone. Classify the project under 1 of the following zones, as defined in IESNA RP-33, and follow all the requiremenst for that zone:

Implementation: Interior Building Lighting - Option 1 - All nonemergency interior lighting fixtures must be automatically controlled and programmed to turn off or have their input power reduced by at least 50% following regular business hours. Twenty-four-hour operation projects are exempt from the after-hours override automatic shutoff, and thus must follow Option 2.

or

Option 2 - All exterior openings, such as windows, must have shielding that can be automatically controlled and programmed to close from 11p.m. to 5a.m. Shielding options include automatic shades that have less than 10% transmittance.

Exterior Lighting - Design the project's exterior lighting to meet lighting power densities that are equal to or less than the requirements set forth in ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Section 9, Table 9.4.5. Design the project's exterior lighting to comply with the light pollution requirements for the project's zone.