Building Service

LEED Project
Site Sustainability

. Instructor: Dr. Sahar Kharrufa

 What does mean SITE
SUSTAINABILITY ?
How does your project impact a site? Buildings have
significant effects on their surroundings, including
vegetation, wildlife habitats, and water movements
(hydrology). A building can also influence a site's cultural
history, urban density, and local infrastructure. The key is to
realize that your development is not only sitting on the
ground, affecting the site adjacent to it, but also radiating its
affects on larger systems, both local and global.
 Context
1. Site Selection
2. Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (prerequisite)
3. Development Density & Community Connectivity
4. Brownfield Redevelopment
5. Public Transportation Access
6. Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms
7. Low Emission & Fuel Efficient Vehicles
8. Parking Capacity
9.1. Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat
9.2. Site Development - Maximize Open Space
10.1. Storm water Design - Quantity Control
10.2. Storm water Design - Quality Control
11.1. Heat Island Effect - Non-Roof
11.2. Heat Island Effect - Roof
12. Light Pollution Reduction
 Site Selection
Intention:
To avoid development in inappropriate
sites.
To reduce environmental impact from the
location of a building on a site.

Implementation:
DO NOT develop on sites:
Prime farmland as defined by USDA1
Within 50ft. of a water body (lakes, seas,
rivers, etc.) Comply with Clean Water Act.
Habitat for any endangered or critical
species.
Public parkland (Park Authority projects
are exempt)

Submittal Phase:
Design

1- U.S. Department of Agriculture

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (prerequisite1)

Prevention
This is a prerequisite
credit. There are 7 overall
prerequisites in the New
Construction version 2.2
LEED-AP reference guide ,
Construction Activity
Pollution Prevention is the
first.

Submittal Phase:
Construction

1-Prerequisite credits are mandatory

credits that MUST be accomplished for
a building to become LEED certified.
 Intention:
During construction, there can be a lot of
pollution going on, especially when it
rains. Pollution on construction sites can
be reduced by controlling:
Soil erosion
Airborne dust generation
Waterway sedimentation

Implementation: (Erosion and

Sedimentation Control)
Provide ESC1 plan into construction
documents and specifications.
Goal is to prevent the loss of soil,
pollution, and sedimentation.
Follow the EPA 2003 (Environmental
Protection Agency) standards.

Ways to control sedimentation:

1- stabilization : seeding and mulching
2- structural : silt fences , earth dikes ,
sediment traps

1- Erosion and Sedimentation Control

 Development Density & Community Connectivity
Intention:
To channel development to urban
areas with existing infrastructure.
Protect green fields and protect
habitat and natural resources.
Implementation:
Density Development (OPTION1 )
Minimum 60,000 sq.ft. per acre1
compare to 2 story downtown
building previously developed site.

Community Connectivity (OPTION 2)

previously developed site
within 1/2 mile radius of 10 basic
services such as Banks, churches,
restaurants ,etc.
within 1/2 mile of residential area
averaging density 10/units per acre

1-unit of area used to measure plots of ground

 Brownfield Redevelopment
This credit happens to be one of the most
expensive to implement. Thusly there
are many government incentives / tax
breaks to help.

Intention:
Rehabilitate damaged sites
(environmentally contaminated sites)
Reduce pressure on undeveloped land

Implementation:
Rebuild on a contaminated site as
documented by ASTM E1903-07 or local
codes.
Brownfield definition by the EPA1 and
CERCLA2 .

1-ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

2- Comprehensive Environmental Response,

Compensation, and Liability Act
 Public Transportation Access

Intention:
Reduce Pollution from auto use
and Reduce land development from
auto use

Implementation:
Case 1:
locate project within 1/2 mi. from
existing or future planned (and
funded) train or subway station
Case 2:
locate project within 1/4 mi. from
two public or campus bus lines
 Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms
This is the first credit that deals
with FTE1 occupants. The
definition of FTE is a sort of
calculation explained here:
Calculate the full-time equivalent
(FTE) building occupants based
on a standard 8-hour occupancy
period. An 8-hour occupant has
an FTE value of 1.0, while a part-
time occupant has an FTE value
based on their hours per day
divided by 8.
FTE Occupants = Occupant
Hours / 8
This calculation must be
consistent for all LEED for New
Construction credits.

1- Full-Time Equivalent
 Intention:
Reduce Pollution from auto use .
Reduce land development from auto
use .

Implementation:

Case 1:
provide bike rack (based on 0.05 FTE
measured at PEAK periods) within
200 yards AND
provide changing room and shower
(based on 0.005 FTE) within 200
yards

Case 2 (residential):
provide bike rack for 15% of
residents
 Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles
Intention:
Reduce Pollution from auto use
Reduce land development from auto
use

Implementation:
Option 1:
provide low emission cars (yes,
provide cars to people), with
preferred parking (0.03 FTE)
Option 2:
provide preferred parking for low
emission cars
Option 3:
provide charging station and refuel
stations for low emission cars
low emission car = ZEV (zero
emission vehicle) = minimum energy
star of 40.
preferred parking EXCLUDES
handicap spaces
 Parking Capacity
Intention:
Reduce Pollution from auto use
Reduce land development from auto
use
Implementation:
Option 1 (non-residential):
do not exceed local parking
requirements in proposed parking
scheme .
provide carpool parking
Option 2 (non-residential):
for projects that provide parking for
less than 5% of FTE building
occupants: provide carpool parking

Option 3 (residential):
do not exceed local codes
shared vehicle program
Option 4 (all):
provide no new parking
 Protect or Restore Habitat
Intention:
Conserve existing natural areas
Restore damaged areas
Provide habitat space
Promote biodiversity 1
Implementation:
Green field sites : protect by limiting site
disturbance beyond:
40 ft. of building perimeter
25 ft. of constructed areas
15 ft. of roadways
10 ft. of walkways
15 ft. of main utility trenches & 10ft. for
utilities less than 12in. diameter
previously developed sites :
keep 50% of site green (using native species)
exclude building footprint in calculation
zero-lot-line:
projects earning SS2 (60,000 sq.ft. min/acre)
and using vegetated roofs may apply
vegetated roof surface for this calculation
20% of site area to be green
include building footprint in calculation

1- variation in life forms

 Maximize Open Space
Intention:
A high open space to footprint
ratio
Promote biodiversity
Implementation:
Case 1: there IS a local code
for open space restriction
open space should exceed
local code by 25%
Case 2: there is NO code
(campuses or military bases)
open space is to be same
size as building footprint
Case 3: there IS a local code,
but ZERO open space
requirement:
open space should be 20%
of site area
 Storm water Design - Quantity Control
Intention:

Limit the disruption of natural

hydrology
Increase on-site filtration
Manage storm water runoff
Eliminate sources of
contaminants
Reduce impervious cover
Reduce/eliminate pollution
Remove pollutants from storm
water runoff
Storm water Design (for
reduction of impervious surface)
alternative surfaces: rain
gardens, vegetated swales,
rainwater recycling
non-structural surfaces:
vegetated roofs, pervious
pavement, grid pavers .
Implementation:
case 1: impervious surface1 less
than or equal to 50% of total site
area
post-development peak
discharge rate and quantity
equal to or less than pre-
development
implement a storm water
management plan that protect
receiving stream channels from
excessive erosion by
implementing a stream channel
protection strategy and
quantity control strategies.
case 2: impervious surface more
than 50% of total site area
post-development peak
discharge rate and quantity
25% less than pre-development

1-artificial structures, such as pavements and

building roofs, which replace naturally
pervious soil with impervious construction
materials.
 Storm water Design - Quality Control
Intention:
Limit the disruption of natural
hydrology
Increase on-site filtration
Manage storm water runoff
Eliminate sources of
contaminants
Reduce impervious cover
Reduce/eliminate pollution
Remove pollutants from storm
water runoff
Storm water Design (for reduction
of impervious surface)
alternative surfaces: rain gardens,
vegetated swales, rainwater
recycling
non-structural surfaces: vegetated
roofs, pervious pavement, grid
pavers
Implementation:
treat and capture 90% storm
water runoff
remove 80% TSS1 use
acceptable BMPs2 considering
the following:
sustainable design strategies:
low impact, environmentally
sensitive design)
alternative surfaces: vegetated
roofs, swales
natural and mechanical
treatment: constructed
wetlands, vegetated filters and
open channels

1- Total suspended solids

2- Best Management Practices
 Heat Island Effect - Non Roof
The Heat Island effect occurs
when warm temperatures are
experienced in urban areas
compared to adjacent rural areas1
because of solar energy retention
on constructed surfaces. Basically,
all of that black asphalt and
concrete on the ground makes
areas a lot warmer. This credit
reduces this effect.
This credit also mentions the Solar
Reflectance Index (SRI). Its a way
to measure a materials ability to
reject solar heat. It ranged from 0
(black) to 100 (white). This is not to
be confused with emissivity, which is
the ratio of the radiation emitted by
a surface to the radiation emitted by
a black body at the same
temperature.

1- are sparsely settled places away from the

influence of large cities. (Countrysides)
 Intention:
Reduce heat islands
Minimize impact on microclimate
and habitats
Implementation:
option 1:
provide shade to 50% of site
area (within 5 years of
occupancy)
provide open grid area (parking,
roads, sidewalks) with paving
material of SRI 29 or higher.
option 2:
provide 50% parking
underground or under roof
provide paving material with
SRI 29 or higher.
 Heat Island Effect - Roof
Intention:
Reduce heat islands
Minimize impact on microclimate
and habitats
Implementation:
option 1:
75% roof material should be:
SRI 78 for a slope less than
2:12 (low-sloped roof)
SRI 29 for a slope more than
2:12 (steep-sloped roof)
option 2:
Install a vegetated roof for at least
50% of the roof area
option3:
combination of options 1 & 2:
Calculation of (Area of SRI
roof /0.75) + (Area of
vegetated roof / 0.5) is
greater than total roof area.
 Light Pollution Reduction

Intention:
Minimize light trespass from
building and site
Reduce sky glow
Improve nighttime visibility
through glare reduction
Reduce development
impact on nocturnal
environments
Implementation:
4 Light Zones
LZ1: dark, density less than 200
people per square mile
LZ2: low (residential)
LZ3: medium (commercial, industrial
and high-density residential)
LZ4: high major city centers,
entertainment districts)
Interior Lighting:
stays inside
non-emergency lights shut down at
non-business hours
Exterior Lighting:
provide for comfort and safety only
DO NOT exceed 80% of lighting
power densities for exterior area and
50% for building facades and
landscape features.
DO NOT install lighting more than 2.5
times building height from property
line
Credit does not apply to 3 story
buildings, warehouses, and
manufactured homes.
 Done by

Mahmood
Rashed
Siyavash