LEED Categories

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• Location and • Sustainable Sites • Water Efficiency • Energy and

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Transportation Atmosphere

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• Material and Indoor Innovation Regional
Resources Environmental Priority Credits
Quality
Shadi Abou Samra
Sustainable Sites

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Shadi Abou Samra

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
(Prerequisite)

Intent

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Reduce pollution from construction activities by

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controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation
and airborne dust generation.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
(Prerequisite)

What is Sedimentation?

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Sedimentation is the addition of soil particles to water bodies by natural &

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human-related activities.

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It often decreases water quality and can accelerate the aging process of
lakes, rivers, & streams.

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What is Erosion?

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Erosion is a combination of events or processes by which materials of the
earth surface are loosened, dissolved or warm away & transported by
natural agents such as wind, water or gravity.

Erosion can be natural or man-made.

Shadi Abou Samra
Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
(Prerequisite)

Requirements

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• Create & implement an Erosion and Sedimentation Control (ESC)

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Plan for all project construction activities.

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•ESC Plan:

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• Prevent loss of soil during construction by stormwater
runoff & wind erosion, including protecting topsoil

• Prevent sedimentation of storm sewer or receiving streams

• Prevent polluting the air with dust & particulate matter

Shadi Abou Samra

Site Assessment

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Intent

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Assess site conditions before design to evaluate

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sustainable options and inform related decisions about

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site design.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Site Assessment

Requirements

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Complete and document a site assessment that includes the following information:

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• Topography. Contour mapping, unique topographic features, slope stability risks.

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• Hydrology. Flood hazard areas, delineated wetlands, lakes, streams, shorelines, rainwater collection and reuse

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opportunities, Initial water storage capacity of the site.

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• Climate. Solar exposure, heat island effect potential, seasonal sun angles, prevailing winds, monthly

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precipitation and temperature ranges.

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• Vegetation. Primary vegetation types, greenfield area, significant tree mapping, threatened or endangered

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species, unique habitat, invasive plant species.

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• Soils. Natural Resources Conservation Service soils delineation, Prime farmland, healthy soils, previous
development, disturbed soils.
• Human use. Views, adjacent transportation infrastructure, adjacent properties, construction materials with
existing recycle or reuse potential.
• Human health effects. Proximity of vulnerable populations, adjacent physical activity opportunities, proximity to
major sources of air pollution.

Shadi Abou Samra

Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat

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Intent

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Conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide

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habitat and promote biodiversity.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat

Requirements

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Preserve and protect from all development and construction activity 40% of the greenfield
area on the site (if such areas exist).
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AND

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OPTION 1. ON-SITE RESTORATION

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• Using native or adapted vegetation, restore 30% of all portions of the site identified as
previously disturbed.
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OPTION 2. Financial Support
• Provide financial support equivalent to at least US $ 0.40 per square foot ($ 4 per square
meter) for the total site area (including the building footprint).
Shadi Abou Samra
Open Space

Intent

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Create exterior open space that encourages
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interaction with the environment, social interaction,

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passive recreation and physical activities.
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Shadi Abou Samra

Open Space

Requirement

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Provide at least 30% outdoor space. A minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be

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vegetated or have overhead vegetated canopy.

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FOR PROJECTS THAT ARE PART OF A MULTITENANT COMPLEX ONLY

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Open space can be either adjacent to the building or at another location in the site
master plan. The open space may be at another master plan development site as long as

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it is protected from development.

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Shadi Abou Samra
Rainwater Management

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Intent

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Reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by

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replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the

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site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped
ecosystems in the region.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Rainwater Management

Requirements

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OPTION 1. PERCENTILE OF RAINFALL EVENTS (using LID and green infrastructure)

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LID (Low impact development)

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Path 1 and 2. 95th / 98 Percentile

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Manage on site the runoff from the developed site for the 95 %.- or 98%
OR

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Path 3. Zero Lot Line projects only—85th Percentile

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The following requirement applies to zero lot line projects in urban areas with a minimum density of 1.5 FAR.
Manage on site the runoff from the developed site for the 85 %.

Shadi Abou Samra

Heat Island Reduction

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Intent

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Minimize effects on microclimates, human and wildlife

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habitats by reducing heat islands.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Heat Island Reduction

The heat island effect is a situation where the absorption of heat by hardscapes, buildings and
dark materials then radiates to surrounding areas. The term describes the event where radiant air

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and surface temperatures in urban areas are higher than rural or suburban areas nearby.

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Shadi Abou Samra

Heat Island Reduction

How to minimize the Heat Island Effect ?

Light colour roofs with a high solar reflectance index (SRI)

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and low absorbance such as:
- White coated gravel

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- White coating paint

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- White cement tile
- Green Roofs

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- Avoid dark roofs and walls as they absorb and retain
solar energy.

Shadi Abou Samra

Heat Island Reduction

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OPTION 2. Parking Under Cover

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Place a minimum of 75% of parking spaces under cover (underground, under deck, under

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roof, or under a building).

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Any roof used to shade or cover parking must have either:
• Three year aged SRI ≥ 32

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• Vegetated green roof
• Covered by solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics and wind turbines

Shadi Abou Samra

 Albedo:
Is synonymous with solar reflectance. It is a measure of the ability of a surface material to
reflect sunlight in forms of visible, infrared, ultraviolet wavelengths, which is measured on a
scale of 0 to 1.
Black paint has an albedo of 0 and white paint has an albedo of 1.

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Solar Reflectance Index (SRI):

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Is a numerical representation of a material’s ability to reject or reflect solar heat. SRI is

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determined by measuring temperature changes or by using an ASTM standard based on

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the solar spectrum.

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The higher the SRI the better to reflect heat into the atmosphere to reduce the heat island
effect.

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Emissivity: s h
The ratio of radiation emitted by a surface to the radiation emitted by a black body at the
same temperature. It measures a material’s ability to radiate absorbed energy.

Shadi Abou Samra

Practice Questions

What does the use of light colored pervious paving help with?

A. Construction waste management

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B. Heat Island Effect
C. Irrigation

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D. Durability

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Shadi Abou Samra

Practice Questions

What does the use of light colored pervious paving help with?

A. Construction waste management

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B. Heat Island Effect
C. Irrigation

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D. Durability

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Shadi Abou Samra

Practice Questions

What site and/or project characteristics would contribute to maximizing open space?

A. Building on a Greenfield site

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B. Building on a previously developed site
C. Building next door to a park

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D. Creating a narrow 10 story building instead of a wider 5 story building

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Shadi Abou Samra

Practice Questions

What site and/or project characteristics would contribute to maximizing open space?

A. Building on a Greenfield site

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B. Building on a previously developed site
C. Building next door to a park

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D. Creating a narrow 10 story building instead of a wider 5 story building

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Shadi Abou Samra