LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction 2009

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.

LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction

For the Design, Construction and Major Renovations of Commercial and

Institutional Buildings Including Core & Shell and K–12 School Projects

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and

productivity. Breakthroughs in building science, technology, and operations are now available to designers, builders, operators, and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.

Through the LEED®_{green building certification program, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)}

is transforming the built environment. The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non sustainable and expensive sources of energy, and threats to human health. The work of innovative building professionals is a fundamental driving force in the green building moment. Such leadership is a critical component to achieving USGBC’s mission of a sustainable built environment for all within a generation.

USGBC MeMBerShip

USGBC’s greatest strength is the diversity of our membership. USGBC is a balanced, consensus-based nonprofit with more than 18,000 member companies and organizations representing the entire building industry. Since its inception in 1993, USGBC has played a vital role in providing a leadership forum and a unique, integrating force for the building industry. USGBC’s programs have three distinguishing characteristics:

Committee-based

The heart of this effective coalition is our committee structure, in which volunteer members design strategies that are implemented by staff and expert consultants. Our committees provide a forum for members to resolve differences, build alliances, and forge cooperative solutions for influencing change in all sectors of the building industry.

Member-driven

Membership is open and balanced and provides a comprehensive platform for carrying out important programs and activities. We target the issues identified by our members as the highest priority. We conduct an annual review of achievements that allows us to set policy, revise strategies, and devise work plans based on members’ needs.

Consensus-focused

We work together to promote green buildings, and in doing so, we help foster greater economic vitality and environmental health at lower costs. We work to bridge ideological gaps between industry segments and develop balanced policies that benefit the entire industry.

Contact the U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street, NW

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CopyriGht

The U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. (USGBC) devoted significant time and resources to create this LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009 Edition. USGBC authorizes individual use of the Reference Guide. In exchange for this authorization, the user agrees:

(1) to retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the Reference Guide, (2) not to sell or modify the Reference Guide, and

(3) not to reproduce, display, or distribute the Reference Guide in any way for any public or commercial purpose, including display on a website or in a networked environment.

Unauthorized use of the Reference Guide violates copyright, trademark, and other laws and is prohibited.

The text of the federal and state codes, regulations, voluntary standards, etc., reproduced in the Reference Guide is used under license to USGBC or, in some instances, in the public domain. All other text, graphics, layout, and other elements of content in the Reference Guide are owned by USGBC and are protected by copyright under both United States and foreign laws.

NOTE: for downloads of the Reference Guide:

Redistributing the Reference Guide on the internet or otherwise is STRICTLY prohibited even if offered free of charge. DOWNLOADS OF THE REFERENCE GUIDE MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED. THE USER OF THE REFERENCE GUIDE MAY NOT ALTER, REDISTRIBUTE, UPLOAD OR PUBLISH THIS REFERENCE GUIDE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AND HAS NO RIGHT TO LEND OR SELL THE DOWNLOAD OR COPIES OF THE DOWNLOAD TO OTHER PERSONS.

DiSClaiMer

None of the parties involved in the funding or creation of the Reference Guide, including the USGBC, its members, its contractors, or the United States government, assume any liability or responsibility to the user or any third parties for the accuracy, completeness, or use of or reliance on any information contained In the Reference Guide, or for any injuries, losses, or damages (including, without limitation, equitable relief) arising from such use or reliance. Although the information contained in the Reference Guide is believed to be reliable and accurate, all materials set forth within are provided without warranties of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to warranties of the accuracy or completeness of information contained in the training or the suitability of the information for any particular purpose.

As a condition of use, the user covenants not to sue and agrees to waive and release the U.S. Green Building Council, its members, its contractors, and the United States government from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action for any injuries, losses, or damages (including, without limitation, equitable relief) that the user may now or hereafter have a right to assert against such parties as a result of the use of, or reliance on, the Reference Guide.

U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street, NW

Suite 500

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.

traDeMark

LEED®_{is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.}

LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction

For the Design, Construction and Major Renovations of Commercial and Institutional Buildings Including Core & Shell and K–12 School Projects

2009 Edition

ISBN # 978-1-932444-14-8

aCknowleDGMentS

The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009 Edition, has been made possible only through the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, staff members, and others in the USGBC community. The Reference Guide drafting was managed and implemented by USGBC staff and consultants and included review and suggestions by many Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members. We especially extend our deepest gratitude to all of our LEED committee members who participated in the development of this guide, for their tireless volunteer efforts and constant support of USGBC’s mission:

leeD Steering Committee

Scot Horst, Chair, LSC Horst, Inc Joel Ann Todd, Vice-Chair, LSC Joel Ann Todd

Muscoe Martin M2 Architecture

Stuart Carron JohnsonDiversey, Inc.

Holley Henderson H2 Ecodesign, LLC

Christine Magar Greenform

Kristin Shewfelt Architectural Energy Corporation

Jessica Millman Agora DC

Bryna Dunn Moseley Architects

Neal Billetdeaux JJR

Greg Kats Managing Good Energies

Mark Webster Simpson Gumpertz & Heger

Bob Thompson EPA Indoor Environment Management Branch Malcolm Lewis Constructive Technologies Group, Inc.

John Boecker 7Group

Sara O’Mara Choate Construction Company

Alex Zimmerman Rep Canada Green Building Council Ian Theaker Rep Canada Green Building Council Sustainable Sites taG

Bryna Dunn, Chair Moseley Architects

Stewart Comstock, Vice-Chair Maryland Department of the Environment

Michele Adams Cahill Associates

Gina Baker Burt Hill

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Ron Hand E/FECT. Sustainable Design Solutions

Richard Heinisch Acuity Lighting Group

Michael Lane Lighting Design Lab

Marita Roos HNTB

Zolna Russell Hord Coplan Macht, Inc.

Alfred Vick Ecos Environmental Design, Inc.

water efficiency taG

Neal Billetdeaux, Chair JJR John Koeller, Vice-Chair Alliance for Water Efficiency

David Carlson Columbia University Bill Hoffman H.W. Hoffman and Associates, LLC Geoff Nara Civil & Environmental Consultants Stephanie Tanner U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Daniel Yeh University of South Florida David Bracciano Tampa Bay Water Robert Rubin NCSU-BAE and McKim & Creed Winston Huff SSR Engineers Robert Benazzi Jaros Baum & Bolles Gunnar Baldwin TOTO USA, INC

Heather Kinkade Forgotten Rain, LLC

Shabbir Rawalpindiwala Kohler Company

Bill Wall Clivus New England, Inc.

energy and atmosphere taG

Greg Kats, Chair GoodEnergies

Marcus Sheffer, Vice-Chair 7group

Drury Crawley US Department of Energy

Jay Enck Commissioning & Green Building Solutions, Inc.

Ellen Franconi IPMVP and AEC

Mark Frankel New Buildings Institute

Nathan Gauthier Harvard Green Campus Initiative

Rusty Hodapp Dallas/Fort Worth, Energy & Transportation Management John Hogan City of Seattle Department of Planning & Development Bion Howard Building Environmental Science and Technology Dan Katzenberger Engineering, Energy, and the Environment

Bob Maddox Sterling Planet

Brenda Morawa BVM Engineering, Inc.

Erik Ring LPA, Inc.

Michael Rosenberg Oregon Department of Energy

Mick Schwedler Trane

Gord Shymko IPMVP and G.F. Shymko & Associates

Gail Stranske CTG Energetics

Michael Zimmer Thompson Hine LLP

Materials and resources taG

Mark Webster, Chair Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc. Steven Baer, Vice-chair Five Winds International

Paul Bertram NAIMA

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Ann Edminster Design AVEnues

Lee Gros Lee Gros Architect and Artisan, Inc

Theresa Hogerheide-Reusch Reusch Design Services

Nadav Malin BuildingGreen, LLC.

Nancy Malone Siegel & Strain Architects

Kirsten Ritchie Gensler

Wayne Trusty Athena Sustainable Materials Institute Denise Van Valkenburg MASCO Retail Cabinet Group

Gabe Wing Herman Miller, Inc.

indoor environmental Quality taG

Bob Thompson, Chair EPA Indoor Environment Management Branch Steve Taylor, Vice-Chair Taylor Engineering

Nancy Clanton Clanton and Associates

Alexis Kurtz Ove Arup &Partners

George Loisos Loisos+ Ubelohde

Prasad Vaidya The Weidt Group

Daniel Bruck BRC Acoustics & Tech. David Lubman David Lubman & Associates

Charles Salter Salter Associates

Ozgem Ornektekin DMJM Harris

Jude Anders Shoreline Concepts, LLC

Brian Cloward Mithun Architects+Designers+Planners

Larry Dykhuis Herman Miller, Inc

Francis (Bud) Offerman Indoor Environmental Engineering Christopher Schaffner The Green Engineer

Dennis Stanke Trane Company

This edition of the reference guide builds on the work of those who helped create previous versions:

leeD for new Construction Version 2.2 Core Committee James H. Goldman, Chair Turner Construction Tom Scarola, Vice-Chair Tishman Speyer Properties

Lee Burgett Trane Company

Craig Kneeland New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

Joe Higgins Fidelity Real Estate Company

Harry Gordon Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates Muscoe Martin Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC

Chris Dixon Mithun

Bill Odell HOK Architects

Chris Schaffner The Green Engineer

Wayne Trusty Athena Sustainable Materials Institute Jerry Yudelson Greenway Consulting Group, LLC

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leeD for Core & Shell Version 2.0 Core Committee

Jerry Lea, Chair Hines Corporation

Christine Magar, Vice-Chair Greenform

Peter Bartels Power Construction Company, LLC

Clark Bisel Flack + Kurtz

Gary Gardner Davis Gardner Gannon Pope Architecture

Art Gensler Gensler

Russell Perry SmithGroup

Joe Van Belleghem BuildGreen Developments, Inc.

Ken Wilson Envision Design

Sally Wilson CB Richard Ellis

Jerry Yudelson Greenway Consulting Group, LLC leeD for Schools Core Committee

Robert Kobet, Chair Sustainaissance International Jyoti Sharma, Vice-Chair Wake County Public Schools Anja Caldwell Montgomery County Public Schools Gregory Churchill Oregon State Energy Office

Charles Eley Architectural Energy Corporation

Deane Evans, NJIT Center for Architecture and Building Science Research William Orr California Integrated Waste Management Board Larry Schoff Energy Efficient Solutions

Katrina Shum-Miller Green Building Services

Timothy Sisson York International

Brenda Stokes Bibb County Public Schools

A special thanks to USGBC staff for their invaluable efforts in developing this LEED Reference Guide especially Sonia Punjabi for her technical expertise and extraordinary commitment, Lauren Riggs for her dedication and hard work, and Brendan Owens and Peter Templeton for their vision and guidance.

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preface i

introduction xi

i. Why Make Your Building Green? xi

ii. LEED®_{Green Building Rating system}™ _xi

iii. overview and Process xiii

iV. LEED-online Documentation Requirements xviii

V. certification application xviii

Vi. certification strategy xix

Vii. Exemplary Performance strategies xx

Viii. Regional Priority xxi

iX. core & shell appendixes xxii

X. tools for Registered Projects xxii

Xi. How to use this Reference Guide xxiii

Sustainable Sites (SS) 1

Prerequisite 1 construction activity Pollution Prevention 5

Prerequisite 2 * Environmental site assessment 11

credit 1 site selection 17

credit 2 Development Density and community connectivity 23

credit 3 Brownfield Redevelopment 35

credit 4.1 alternative transportation—Public transportation access 41

credit 4.2 alternative transportation—Bicycle storage and changing Rooms 49

credit 4.3 alternative transportation—Low-Emitting and fuel-Efficient Vehicles 61

credit 4.4 alternative transportation—Parking capacity 71

credit 5.1 site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat 77

credit 5.2 site Development—Maximize open space 85

credit 6.1 stormwater Design—Quantity control 91

credit 6.2 stormwater Design—Quality control 101

credit 7.1 Heat island Effect—nonroof 109

credit 7.2 Heat island Effect—Roof 119

credit 8 Light Pollution Reduction 129

credit 9 * tenant Design and construction Guidelines 143

credit 9 * site Master Plan 149

credit 10 * Joint use of facilities 153

water efficiency (we) 161

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credit 3 Water use Reduction 203

credit 4 * Process Water use Reduction 207

energy and atmosphere (ea) 213

Prerequisite 1 fundamental commissioning of Building Energy systems 217

Prerequisite 2 Minimum Energy Performance 237

Prerequisite 3 fundamental Refrigerant Management 251

credit 1 optimize Energy Performance 257

credit 2 on-site Renewable Energy 289

credit 3 Enhanced commissioning 299

credit 4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management 305

credit 5 * Measurement and Verification 315

credit 5.1 * Measurement and Verification—Base Building 316

credit 5.2 * Measurement and Verification—tenant submetering 317

credit 6 Green Power 325

Materials and resources (Mr) 335

Prerequisite 1 storage and collection of Recyclables 339

credit 1/1.1 Building Reuse—Maintain Existing Walls, floors, and Roof 347

credit 1.2 * Building Reuse—Maintain interior nonstructural Elements 351

credit 2 construction Waste Management 357

credit 3 Materials Reuse 363

credit 4 Recycled content 369

credit 5 Regional Materials 379

credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials 387

credit 6/7 certified Wood 393

indoor environmental Quality (ieQ) 401

Prerequisite 1 Minimum indoor air Quality Performance 407

Prerequisite 2 Environmental tobacco smoke (Ets) control 415

Prerequisite 3 * Minimum acoustical Performance 423

credit 1 outdoor air Delivery Monitoring 435

credit 2 increased Ventilation 443

credit 3/3.1 construction indoor air Quality Management Plan—During construction 453

credit 3.2 * construction indoor air Quality Management Plan—Before occupancy 461

credit 4.1 Low-Emitting Materials—adhesives and sealants 471

credit 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and coatings 481

credit 4.3 Low-Emitting Materials—flooring systems 487

credit 4.4 Low-Emitting Materials—composite Wood and agrifiber Products 495

credit 4.5 * Low-Emitting Materials—furniture and furnishings 501

credit 4.6 * Low-Emitting Materials—ceiling and Wall systems 507

credit 5 indoor chemical and Pollutant source control 511

credit 6.1 * controllability of systems—Lighting 519

credit 6/6.2 controllability of systems—thermal comfort 527

credit 7/7.1 thermal comfort—Design 535

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credit 7.2 * thermal comfort—Verification 543

credit 8.1 Daylight and Views—Daylight 549

credit 8.2 Daylight and Views—Views 565

credit 9 * Enhanced acoustical Performance 575

credit 10 * Mold Prevention 583

innovation in Design (iD) 591

credit 1 innovation in Design 593

credit 2 LEED®_{accredited Professional} ₅₉₇

credit 3 *the school as a teaching tool 601

regional priority (rp) 607

credit 1 Regional Priority 609

Core & Shell appendixes 611

appendix 1. Default occupancy counts 611

appendix 2. core & shell Energy Modeling Guidelines 615

appendix 3. LEED for core & shell Project scope 617

appendix 4. tenant Lease or sales agreement 619

appendix 5. LEED for core & shell Precertification Guidance 621

Glossary 623

______________________________________________________________

leeD 2009 for new Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools

100 base points; 6 possible innovation in Design and 4 Regional Priority points

certified 40–49 points

silver 50–59 points

Gold 60–79 points

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i. why Make yoUr BUilDinG Green?

The environmental impact of the building design, construction, and operations industry is enormous. Buildings annually consume more than 30% of the total energy and more than 60% of the electricity used in the United States. In 2006, the commercial building sector produced more than 1 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide, an increase of more than 30% over 1990 levels.1_{Each day 5}

billion gallons of potable water are used solely to flush toilets. A typical North American commercial building generates about 1.6 pounds of solid waste per employee per day2_{; in a building with 1,500}

employees, that can amount to 300 tons of waste per year. Development alters land from natural, biologically diverse habitats to hardscape that is impervious and devoid of biodiversity. The far-reaching influence of the built environment necessitates action to reduce its impact.

Green building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative environmental impacts through high-performance, market-leading design, construction, and operations practices. As an added benefit, green operations and management reduce operating costs, enhance building marketability, increase workers’ productivity, and reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality problems.

Examples abound. Energy efficiency measures have reduced operating expenses of the Denver Dry Goods building by approximately $75,000 per year. Students in day-lit schools in North Carolina consistently score higher on tests than students in schools using conventional lighting fixtures. Studies of workers in green buildings reported productivity gains of up to 16%, including less absenteeism and higher work quality, based on “people-friendly” green design. Karges Faulconbridge, Inc., renovated a former grocery store for its new headquarters and diverted 88% of the construction waste from landfills through reuse or recycling. The largest high-rise real estate project in Sacramento, the Joe Serna Jr. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building (Cal/EPA), was able to save $610,000 a year by implementing energy efficiency measures, making it 34% more energy efficient than required by California’s 1998 energy code. In short, green design, construction, and operations have environmental, economic, and social elements that benefit all building stakeholders, including owners, occupants, and the general public.

ii. leeD

®

_{Green BUilDinG ratinG SySteM}

Background on leeD®

Following the formation of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in 1993, the organization’s members quickly realized that the sustainable building industry needed a system to define and measure “green buildings.” USGBC began to research existing green building metrics and rating systems. Less than a year after formation, the members acted on the initial findings by establishing a committee to focus solely on this topic. The composition of the committee was diverse; it included architects, real estate agents, a building owner, a lawyer, an environmentalist, and industry

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Rating System Version 2.0 was released in March 2000, with LEED Version 2.1 following in 2002 and LEED Version 2.2 following in 2005.

As LEED has evolved and matured, the program has undertaken new initiatives. In addition to a rating system specifically devoted to building operational and maintenance issues (LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance), LEED addresses the different project development and delivery processes that exist in the U.S. building design and construction market, through rating systems for specific building typologies, sectors, and project scopes: LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, LEED for Neighborhood Development, LEED for Retail, LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Homes, and LEED for Commercial Interiors.

Project teams interact with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) for project registration and certification. GBCI was established in 2008 as a separately incorporated entity with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council. GBCI administers credentialing and certification programs related to green building practice. These programs support the application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry systems such as LEED.

The green building field is growing and changing daily. New technologies and products are being introduced into the marketplace, and innovative designs and practices are proving their effectiveness. The LEED rating systems and reference guides will evolve as well. Project teams must comply with the version of the rating system that is current at the time of their registration.

USGBC will highlight new developments on its website on a continual basis at www.usgbc.org. Features of leeD®

The LEED Green Building Rating Systems are voluntary, consensus-based, and market-driven. Based on existing and proven technology, they evaluate environmental performance from a whole-building perspective over a whole-building’s life cycle, providing a definitive standard for what constitutes a green building in design, construction, and operation.

The LEED rating systems are designed for rating new and existing commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. They are based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strike a balance between known, established practices and emerging concepts. Each rating system is organized into 5 environmental categories: Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. An additional category, Innovation in Design, addresses sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered under the 5 environmental categories. Regional bonus points are another feature of LEED and acknowledge the importance of local conditions in determining best environmental design and construction practices.

the leeD Credit weightings

In LEED 2009, the allocation of points between credits is based on the potential environmental impacts and human benefits of each credit with respect to a set of impact categories. The impacts are defined as the environmental or human effect of the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the building, such as greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel use, toxins and carcinogens, air and water pollutants, indoor environmental conditions. A combination of approaches, including energy modeling, life-cycle assessment, and transportation analysis, is used to quantify each type of impact. The resulting allocation of points among credits is called credit weighting.

LEED 2009 uses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s TRACI3_{environmental impact}

categories as the basis for weighting each credit. TRACI was developed to assist with impact evaluation for life-cycle assessment, industrial ecology, process design, and pollution prevention.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. LEED 2009 also takes into consideration the weightings developed by the National Institute of

Standards and Technology (NIST); these compare impact categories with one another and assign a relative weight to each. Together, the 2 approaches provide a solid foundation for determining the point value of each credit in LEED 2009.

The LEED 2009 credit weightings process is based on the following parameters, which maintain consistency and usability across rating systems:

n All LEED credits are worth a minimum of 1 point.

n All LEED credits are positive, whole numbers; there are no fractions or negative values. n All LEED credits receive a single, static weight in each rating system; there are no individualized

scorecards based on project location.

n All LEED rating systems have 100 base points; Innovation in Design (or Operations) and Regional Priority credits provide opportunities for up to 10 bonus points.

Given the above criteria, the LEED 2009 credit weightings process involves 3 steps:

1. A reference building is used to estimate the environmental impacts in 13 categories associated with a typical building pursuing LEED certification.

2. The relative importance of building impacts in each category are set to reflect values based on the NIST weightings.4

3. Data that quantify building impacts on environmental and human health are used to assign points to individual credits.

Each credit is allocated points based on the relative importance of the building-related impacts that it addresses. The result is a weighted average that combines building impacts and the relative value of the impact categories. Credits that most directly address the most important impacts are given the greatest weight, subject to the system design parameters described above. Credit weights also reflect a decision by LEED to recognize the market implications of point allocation. The result is a significant change in allocation of points compared with previous LEED rating systems. Overall, the changes increase the relative emphasis on the reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions associated with building systems, transportation, the embodied energy of water, the embodied energy of materials, and where applicable, solid waste.

The details of the weightings process vary slightly among individual rating systems. For example, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance includes credits related to solid waste management but LEED for New Construction does not. This results in a difference in the portion of the environmental footprint addressed by each rating system and the relative allocation of points. The weightings process for each rating system is fully documented in a weightings workbook. The credit weightings process will be reevaluated over time to incorporate changes in values ascribed to different building impacts and building types, based on both market reality and evolving scientific knowledge related to buildings. A complete explanation of the LEED credit weightings system is available on the USGBC website, at www.usgbc.org.

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Prerequisites and credits in the LEED Green Building Rating Systems address 7 topics: n Sustainable Sites (SS)

n Water Efficiency (WE) n Energy and Atmosphere (EA) n Materials and Resources (MR) n Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) n Innovation in Design (ID)

n Regional Priority (RP)

LEED prerequisites and credits have identical structures; see Section XI of this Introduction. Minimum program requirements

A project must adhere to LEED’s Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs), or possess minimum characteristics in order to be eligible for certification under LEED 2009. These requirements define the categories of buildings that the LEED rating systems were designed to evaluate, and taken together serve three goals: (1) give clear guidance to customers, (2) protect the integrity of the LEED program, and (3) reduce challenges that occur during the LEED certification process. The MPRs will evolve over time in tandem with the LEED rating systems. In order to be eligible for certification under any LEED 2009 Rating System, projects must comply with each associated MPR. The MPRs can be found in the LEED 2009 Rating Systems. In addition, definitions and more extensive guidance on certain issues are provided in a separate document, titled Supplemental Guidance, available on the USGBC website.

The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) reserves the right to revoke LEED certification from any LEED 2009 project upon gaining knowledge of non-compliance with any applicable MPRs. If such a circumstance occurs, no registration or certification fees paid to GBCI will be refunded. when to Use leeD for new Construction

LEED for New Construction was designed primarily for new commercial office buildings, but it has been applied to many other building types by LEED practitioners. All commercial buildings, as defined by standard building codes, are eligible for certification as LEED for New Construction buildings. Examples of commercial occupancies include offices, institutional buildings (libraries, museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings of 4 or more habitable stories.

LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings. A major renovation involves major HVAC renovation, significant envelope modifications, and major interior rehabilitation. For a major renovation of an existing building, LEED for New Construction is the appropriate rating system. If the project scope does not involve significant design and construction activities and focuses more on operations and maintenance activities, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is more appropriate because it addresses operational and maintenance issues of working buildings.

Some projects are designed and constructed to be partially occupied by the owner or developer, and partially occupied by other tenants. In such projects, the owner or developer has direct influence over the portion of the work that they occupy. For such a project to pursue LEED for New Construction certification, the owner or tenant must occupy more than 50% of the building’s leasable square footage. Projects in which 50% or less of the building’s leasable square footage is occupied by an owner should pursue LEED for Core & Shell certification.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. when to Use leeD for Core & Shell

The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System is a market-specific application that recognizes the unique nature of core and shell development. The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System acknowledges the limited level of influence a developer can exert in a speculatively developed building.

LEED for Core & Shell was developed to serve the speculative development market, in which project teams do not control all scopes of a whole building’s design and construction. Depending on how the project is structured, this scope can vary significantly from project to project. The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System addresses a variety of project types and a broad project range.

LEED for Core & Shell can be used for projects in which the developer controls the design and construction of the entire core and shell base building (e.g., mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems) but has no control over the design and construction of the tenant fit-out. Examples of this type of project can be a commercial office building, medical office building, retail center, warehouse, and lab facility.

If a project is designed and constructed to be partially occupied by the owner or developer,then the owner or developer has direct influence over that portion of the interior build-out work. For these projects to pursue LEED for Core & Shell certification, the owner must occupy 50% or less of the building’s leasable square footage. Projects in which more than 50% of the building’s tenant space is occupied by a owner should pursue LEED for New Construction certification.

Because of the nature of the core and shell project type and scope, LEED for Core & Shell certification has some unique aspects. Further guidance on these can be found in the appendixes to the Reference Guide. Project teams should review these appendixes for guidance.

core & shell appendix 1 – Default occupancy counts

n Guidance is provided for Core & Shell projects, which typically do not know what the actual building occupancy, for how for determining FTE and transient occupants.

core & shell appendix 2 – core & shell Energy Modeling Guidelines

n Guidance is provided on how to model building systems that are beyond the developer’s scope of work.

core & shell appendix 3 – core & shell Project scope

n This checklist is to be provided to GBCI for certification and precertification, and is intended to show what portions of the work is within the developer’s control.

core & shell appendix 4 – tenant Lease or sales agreement

n The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System allows developers to achieve compliance with the requirements for certain credits through a binding tenant lease or sales agreement. core & shell appendix 5 – LEED for core & shell Precertification Guidance

n Precertification, signifying the developer’s commitment to achieving full certification upon completion of construction, enables a Core & Shell project to market the advantages of a green building to potential tenants.

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LEED for Schools must be used for the construction or major renovation of an academic building on K–12 school grounds. Other projects on a school campus may qualify under 2 or more LEED rating system project scopes; for example, nonacademic buildings on a school campus, such as administrative offices, maintenance facilities, or dormitories, are eligible for either LEED for New Construction and LEED for Schools. Projects involving postsecondary academic buildings or prekindergarten buildings may also choose to use either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools.

If the project scope does not involve significant design and construction activities and focuses more on operations and maintenance activities, LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is the appropriate rating system.

Many projects neatly fit the defined scope of only 1 LEED rating system; others may be eligible for 2 or more. The project is a viable candidate for LEED certification if it can meet all prerequisites and achieve the minimum points required in a given rating system. If more than 1 rating system applies, the project team can decide which to pursue. For assistance in choosing the most appropriate LEED rating system, please e-mail [email protected].

registration

Project teams interested in earning LEED certification for their buildings must first register the project with GBCI. Projects can be registered on the GBCI website (www.gbci.org). The website also has information on registration costs for USGBC national members as well as nonmembers. Registration is an important step that establishes contact with GBCI and provides access to software tools, errata, critical communications, and other essential information.

leeD-online

Online is the primary resource for managing the LEED documentation process. From LEED-Online, project teams can manage project details, complete documentation requirements for LEED credits and prerequisites, upload supporting files, submit applications for review, receive reviewer feedback, and ultimately earn LEED certification. LEED-Online provides a common space where members of a project team can work together to document compliance with the LEED rating system. All project teams pursuing LEED certification are required to use LEED-Online and its submittal documentation paths. LEED submittals are instrumental in demonstrating credit compliance because they contain all the documentation requirements for any given LEED credit. Additionally, LEED-Online contains embedded calculators and tables to ensure that the submittal package delivered to GBCI is complete and accurate.

LEED-Online also features several support capabilities. It enables team members to view and submit credit interpretation requests, contact customer service, generate project-specific reports, and consult supplementary LEED resources, such as FAQs, tutorials, offline calculators, and sample documentation. Applicants with multiple projects will have access to reporting tools that use data from projects across their entire LEED portfolio. LEED certificates for successful projects are also issued through LEED-Online.

Credit interpretation requests and rulings

In some cases, a LEED project team may encounter challenges when interpreting the requirements of a prerequisite or credit for their project, perhaps because the reference guide does not sufficiently address a specific issue or a conflict requires resolution. To address such issues, a credit interpretation ruling process has been established for each LEED rating system. See the GBCI website for more information, at www.gbci.org.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. Credit interpretation requests must be submitted online. Provide a brief but clear description of the

challenge encountered, refer to the prerequisite or credit information found in the rating system and reference guide, and emphasize the intent of the prerequisite or credit. If possible, the project team should offer potential solutions to the problem or a proposed interpretation. Follow the detailed instructions in LEED-Online.

Communications related to credit interpretation requests will be in electronic format. review and Certification

To earn LEED certification, the applicant project must satisfy all the prerequisites and credits worth the minimum number of points to warrant the desired project rating under LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, or Schools. Projects must comply with the version of the rating system that is current in LEED-Online at the time of project registration.

appeals

Appeals may be filed after the design phase review, the construction phase review, or the full application review. Please see the GBCI website for more information on appeals.

Fees

Information on certification fees can be found on the GBCI website. GBCI will acknowledge receipt of the application and proceed with application review when all project documentation and payments have been received and processed. Registration fees, appeal review fees, and any additional fees required to expedite LEED certification are not refundable.

Updates and addenda

This is the first edition of the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009. As building science and technology continue to improve and evolve, updates and addenda will be made available. USGBC cannot be held liable for any criteria set forth herein that may not be applicable to later versions of LEED rating systems, and GBCI reserves the right to modify its policies from time to time. Updates and addenda will be accumulated between revisions and will be formally incorporated in major revisions. In the interim, between major revisions, USGBC may issue updates or addenda to clarify criteria.

The prerequisites, credits, amendments and addenda current at the time of project registration will continue to guide the project throughout its certification process

information privacy & policy Guidelines

For more information on the privacy policy of the U.S. Green Building Counil, Inc. (USGBC), refer to the Policies and Guidelines section of the USGBC website, at www.usgbc.org. With the support of its members, volunteers, and other stakeholders, USGBC is the developer of the LEED rating systems.

Green Building Certification Institute, Inc. (GBCI) implements the LEED rating systems and carries out credentialing programs relating to LEED. For more information on the privacy policy of GBCI including the privacy policy on documentation submitted through LEED-Online, refer to the

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iV. leeD-online DoCUMentation reQUireMentS

All LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools certification applications must include the required LEED-Online documentation: general documentation requirements, documentation requirements for all prerequisites, and documentation requirements for all pursued credits.

General requirements

LEED certification application requires the submission of an overall project narrative with the completed LEED-Online documentation requirements. The project narrative describes the applicant’s organization, building, site, and team. This narrative helps the LEED review team understand the major elements of the project and building performance, and it also aids in highlighting projects in future communications efforts. General documentation also requires the basic details pertaining to project site conditions, construction scope and timeline, occupant and usage data, and project team identification. Project teams must address all the elements in the general documentation requirements, providing details and clarifications where appropriate, and they may include any optional elements that are helpful in describing the project.

Credit Substitution

The LEED 2009 rating systems do not allow credit substitution using another version. Currently registered LEED projects that want to use LEED 2009 credits need to switch to the new version in entirety. USGBC expects that most projects will find this switch feasible and advantageous.

V. CertiFiCation appliCation

leeD for Core & Shell precertification application

Precertification is formal recognition by GBCI that the owner or developer has established LEED for Core & Shell certification as a goal. Precertification is unique to LEED for Core & Shell, and projects may pursue it, or not, at their discretion. It gives core and shell building owners and developers a marketing tool to attract potential tenants and financiers who recognize the benefits of a LEED-certified building. Precertification generally occurs early in the design process and is based on declared goals and the intent to use green strategies, systems, and/or features, not actual achievement of these features.

Once a project is registered as a LEED Core & Shell project with GBCI, a project team that chooses to seek precertification may complete the LEED Core & Shell precertification documentation requirements and submit the project for review. Because much of the value of precertification occurs early in a project’s development, the project team’s documentation and GBCI’s review is necessarily less rigourous and comprehensive than the LEED Core & Shell certification application. Project teams must confirm that the project intends to meet the requirements of a credit. For detailed information on Core & Shell precertification, refer to Appendix 5.

Precertificaiton is not required for a documented and completed building, nor is it confirmation of, or a commitment to achieve, LEED for Core & Shell certification. Precertification is not LEED Certification. Please see Appendix 5 for further information on LEED for Core & Shell precertification.

leeD for new Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools Certification application

To earn LEED certification, the applicant project must satisfy all the prerequisites and qualify for a minimum number of points to attain the established project ratings as listed below. Having satisfied the basic prerequisites of the program, applicant projects are then rated according to their degree of compliance within the rating system.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. After registration, the project design team should begin to collect information and perform

calculations to satisfy the prerequisite and credit documentation requirements. Because documentation should be gathered throughout design and construction, it is helpful to designate a LEED team leader who will be responsible for managing its compilation.

LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools provides the option of splitting a certification application into two phases: design and construction. Documentation for design phase credits, identified in LEED-Online, can be submitted for review at the end of the design phase; the submittals for these credits can be fully evaluated based on documentation available during this phase of the project. For example, if a project site meets the requirements of LEED for New Construction SS Credit 3, Brownfield Redevelopment, the likelihood of credit achievement can be assessed before construction is complete. The LEED credit itself, however, is not awarded at the design review stage.

Design phase review

Each project is allotted a design phase review that consists of a preliminary design phase review and a final design phase review.GBCI formally rules on the design phase application by designating each attempted credit as either anticipated or denied. Participating in a design phase review does not guarantee award of any credit and will not result in LEED certification. This process enables project teams to assess the likelihood of credit achievement and requires follow-through to ensure the design is executed in the construction phase according to design specifications.

Construction phase review

At the completion of construction, the project team submits all attempted credits for review, including any newly attempted design credits. If the project team has had a design phase review and any of the design phase anticipated credits have since changed, additional documentation must be submitted to substantiate continued compliance with credit requirements. Upon receipt of the full certification application and fee, a final review will be conducted. All applicant-verified design phase credits that were designated as anticipated and have not changed since the design phase review will be declared as awarded. All other credits will be designated as either awarded or denied.

Project teams should refer to LEED-Online and the rating system scorecards to get information on credits that can be submitted for design phase review and credits that must be submitted for construction phase review.

LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools certifications are awarded according to the following scale:

certified 40–49 points

silver 50–59 points

Gold 60–79 points

Platinum 80 points and above

GBCI recognizes buildings that achieve 1 of these rating levels with a formal letter of certification.

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correspond to the architectural design and planning steps commonly used in the construction industry:

1. Predesign entails gathering information, recognizing stakeholder needs, and establishing

project goals.

2. Schematic design explores several design options and alternatives, with the intent to

establish an agreed-upon project layout and scope of work.

3. Design development begins the process of spatial refinement and usually involves the first

design of a project’s energy systems.

4. Construction documents carry the design into the level of details for all spaces and systems

and materials so that construction can take place. 5. Construction.

6. Substantial completion is a contractual benchmark that usually corresponds to the point at

which a client could occupy a nearly completed space. 7. Final completion.

8. Certificate of occupancy is the official recognition by a local building department that a

building conforms to applicable building and safety codes. related Credits

When pursuing LEED certification, it is important to consider how credits are interconnected and how their synergies and trade-offs will ultimately affect both the project and the other credits the team may consider pursuing. Consult the Related Credits section of each prerequisite and credit to help inform design and construction decisions leading to certification.

Consistent Documentation across Credits

Several kinds of project information are required for consistent LEED documentation across various credits. Pay special attention to overlapping project data; doing so will help the application and review process go smoothly.

operations and Maintenance in leeD for new Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools Certified Buildings

The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction contains information on operations and maintenance to help project teams streamline green O&M practices once the LEED design and construction project has been completed. Although not required as part of the LEED certification process, upfront planning for green operations and maintenance can help building owners, operators, and maintenance staff ensure that the building continues to operate in a sustainable manner.

Vii. exeMplary perForManCe StrateGieS

Exemplary performance strategies result in performance that greatly exceeds the performance level or expands the scope required by an existing LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, or Schools credit. To earn exemplary performance credits, teams must meet the performance level defined by the next step in the threshold progression. For credits with more than 1 compliance path, an Innovation in Design point can be earned by satisfying more than 1 compliance path if their benefits are additive. See the Innovation in Design credit section for further details.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. The credits for which exemplary performance points are available through expanded performance

are noted throughout this reference guide and in LEED-Online by the logo shown below.

Exemplary performance option 2

The list for exemplary performance points available is as follows: Sustainable Sites

ss credit 2 Development Density and community connectivity

ss credit 4 alternative transportation

ss credit 5 site Development

ss credit 6 stormwater Design

ss credit 7 Heat island Effect

ss credit 10 Joint use of facilities (schools only)

water efficiency

WE credit 2 innovative Wastewater technologies

WE credit 3 Water use Reduction

WE credit 4 Process Water use Reduction (schools only)

energy and atmosphere

Ea credit 1 optimize Energy Performance

Ea credit 2 on-site Renewable Energy

Ea credit 3 Enhanced commissioning

Ea credit 6 Green Power

Materials and resources

MR credit 1 Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, floors, and Roof (core & shell only)

MR credit 2 construction Waste Management

MR credit 3 Materials Reuse

MR credit 4 Recycled content

MR credit 5 Regional Materials

MR credit 6 Rapidly Renewable Materials (new construction and schools only)

MR credit 7 certified Wood (core & shell, MR credit 6)

indoor environmental Quality

iEQ credit 3 construction indoor air Quality Management Plan (core & shell only)

iEQ credit 8 Daylight and Views

iEQ credit 9 Enhanced acoustical Performance (schools only)

iEQ credit 10 Mold Prevention (schools only)

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based on its zip code. If the project achieves more than 4 Regional Priority credits, the team can choose the credits for which these points will apply. The USGBC website also contains a searchable database of Regional Priority credits.

ix. Core & Shell appenDixeS

appendix 1

Default Occupancy Counts: presents default occupancy counts for Core & Shell projects. Because of the nature of core and shell development, the project team may not know the tenant makeup and occupancy during the building’s design phase. For some credits, the team will need to refer to the default occupancy count table to determine credit compliance. The occupancy counts must be consistent across all credits.

appendix 2

Core & Shell Energy Modeling Guidelines: gives guidelines for Core & Shell energy modeling. These guidelines are intended to ensure that projects in different markets approach the energy modeling requirements in a similar manner and to establish a minimum benchmark for energy optimization. Consult this appendix when modeling both the designed core and shell spaces and the tenant spaces that are not part of the project design and construction scope.

appendix 3

Core & Shell Project Scope Checklist: contains a checklist for tenant interiors to help Core & Shell teams define the owner-tenant division in the project design and certification and precertification review process.

appendix 4

Tenant Lease or Sales Agreement: offers a way for Core & Shell projects to earn points by making credit requirements part of a binding sales agreement or tenant lease. This expands the area of project owner and design team “control” from design and construction to tenant sales and lease agreement negotiation, and is designed to give Core & Shell projects with a limited scope of work the ability to achieve credits that would otherwise be beyond their control, by committing the tenant(s) to green building practices in the tenant’s scope of work.

appendix 5

LEED for Core & Shell Precertification Guidance: explains how Core & Shell project teams can earn precertification by making a commitment to comply with the requirements for full certification. Precertification can help attract financing and enhance a building’s appeal to potential tenant.

x. toolS For reGiStereD projeCtS

LEED offers additional resources for LEED project teams on the USGBC website, at www.usgbc. org/projecttools. The Registered Projects Tools website provides resources for starting the project, including rating system errata, documentation requirements, and referenced industry standards. Also consult the website for the following:

Declarant definitions and other definitions. This resource describes the team members who are required to sign off on certain documentation requirements and indicates the prerequisites and credits for which each team member is responsible. The required declarant is noted in the corresponding credit documentation section of LEED-Online.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. Licensed Professional Exemption Form. The Licensed Professional Exemption Form can be used

by a project team’s registered professional engineer, registered architect, or registered landscape architect as a streamlined path to certain credits, bypassing otherwise-required submittals. This form is used in conjunction with the declarations in LEED-Online to document any exemptions. The form is required for any eligible submittal requirements the project team wishes to waive; the exemption is invalid without a properly executed Licensed Professional Exemption Form. Licensed Professional Exemptions are noted in the corresponding credit documentation section of LEED-Online.

xi. how to USe thiS reFerenCe GUiDe

The LEED for Green Building Design and Construction Reference Guide is a supporting document to the LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools rating systems. The guide helps project teams understand the criteria, the reasons behind them, strategies for implementation, and documentation requirements. It includes examples of strategies that can be used in each category, case studies of buildings that have implemented these strategies successfully, and additional resources. It does not provide an exhaustive list of strategies for meeting the criteria or all the information that a project team needs to determine the applicability of a credit to the project. rating System pages

The rating system, published in its entirety on the USGBC website, is imbedded in this reference guide. Each prerequisite and credit discussion begins with a gray page that mirrors the rating systems’ Intent and Requirements. This Reference guide addresses the Intents and Requirements for the following Rating Systems: LEED 2009 for New Construction, LEED 2009 for Core & Shell and LEED 2009 for Schools.

In instances where a particular Rating system has a unique intent and/or requirements, the layout of the rating system pages will highlight the intent or requirements. The following is an example of where certain New Construction and Schools requirements are identical (i.e., NC & Schools), but where there are additional New Construction-specific requirements (i.e., NC: Additional Requirement):

nc & scHooLs

Achieve IEQ Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort—Design

Agree to conduct a thermal comfort survey of building occupants (adults and students of grades 6 and above) within 6 to 18 months after occupancy. This survey should collect anonymous responses about thermal comfort in the building, including an assessment of overall satisfaction with thermal performance and identification of thermal comfort problems. Agree to develop a plan for corrective action if the survey results indicate that more than 20% of occupants are dissatisfied with thermal comfort in the building. This plan should include measurement of relevant environmental variables in problem areas in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 55-2004 (with errata but without addenda).

nc additional Requirement

new construction and schools requirements

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prerequisite and Credit Format

Each prerequisite or credit is organized in a standardized format for simplicity and quick reference. The first section summarizes the main points regarding the green measure and includes the intent, requirements, required submittals for certification, and a summary of any referenced industry standard. Subsequent sections provide supporting information to help interpret the measure and offer links to resources and examples. The sections for each credit are described in the following paragraphs.

Intent identifies the main sustainability goal or benefit of the prerequisite or credit.

Requirements specifies the criteria that satisfy the prerequisite or credit and the number of points

available. The prerequisites must be achieved; the credits are optional, but each contributes to the overall project score. Some credits have 2 or more paths with cumulative points. Other credits have several options from which the project team must choose. For example, Energy & Atmosphere Credit 1, Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance, has 3 options, but a project can apply for only 1, depending on the type of building.

Benefits and Issues to Consider addresses the environmental benefits of the activity encouraged

by the prerequisite or credit, and economic considerations related to first costs, life-cycle costs, and estimated savings.

Related Credits acknowledges the trade-offs and synergies within the LEED rating system credit

categories. Achieving a particular credit may make it worthwhile and comparatively easy to pursue related credits; the converse is also possible.

The Summary of Referenced Standards, where applicable, introduces the required standards

used to measure achievement of the credit intent. Teams are strongly encouraged to review the full standard and not rely on the summary.

Implementation discusses specific methods or assemblies that facilitate achievement of the

requirements.

Timeline and Team guides the project team by identifying who should lead an effort and when the

tasks should begin.

Calculations offers sample formulas or computations that determine achievement of a particular

prerequisite or credit. Most calculations are facilitated in LEED-Online.

The Documentation Guidance section provides the first steps in preparing to complete the

LEED-Online documentation requirements.

Examples illustrates strategies for credit achievement.

Exemplary Performance, if applicable, details the level of performance needed for the award of

points in addition to those for credit achievement.

Regional Variations outlines concerns specific to the geographic location of the building.

Resources offers suggestions for further research and provide examples or illustrations, detailed

technical information, or other information relevant to the prerequisite or credit. The resources include websites, online materials, and printed books and articles that can be obtained directly from the organizations listed.

Definitions clarifies the meaning of certain terms relevant to the prerequisite or credit. These may

be general terms or terms specific to LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools. A complete glossary is found at the end of this reference guide.

Throughout these sections, the rating system specific information is called out by enclosing the information in a gray box; the relevant rating systems are identified by NC (New Construction), CS

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. (Core & Shell) or Schools as printed in the top left corner of the gray box. Similarly, rating system

specific intents and requirements are identified in the Rating System Pages. This method provides clarity to the credit discussions and provides the relevant information needed for different project types where necessary.

Endnotes

1_{Energy Information Administration. “Emissions of Greenhouse Gas Report.” Report DOE/} EIA-0573(2006). Released 28 November 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/carbon. html#commercial

2_{Office of the Federal Environmental Executive. <http://ofee.gov/wpr/wastestream.asp> Last} modified 24 April 2008.

3_{Tools for the Reduction and Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts} (TRACI). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development. http:// www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/sab/traci/.

4_{Relative impact category weights based on an exercise undertaken by NIST (National Institute} of Standards and Technology) for the BEES program. http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/ bees/.

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For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. overview

The selection and development of a building’s site are fundamental components of sustainable building practices. Environmental damage caused by construction may take years of work to remedy.

The Sustainable Sites credit section addresses environmental concerns related to building landscape, hardscape, and exterior building issues. The LEED Sustainable Sites credits for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools promote the following measures:

selecting and Developing the site Wisely

Buildings affect ecosystems in a variety of ways. Development of a greenfield, or previously undeveloped site, consumes land. Development projects may also encroach on agricultural lands and wetlands or water bodies and compromise existing wildlife habitats. Choosing a previously developed site or even a damaged site that can be remediated reduces pressure on undeveloped land. Developing a master plan for the project site helps engrain environmental considerations as adaptations or expansions of site facilities occur over time. Planning for joint use of facilities integrates the project into the surrounding community and conserves material and land resources though optimized use of infrastructure.

Reducing Emissions associated with transportation

Environmental concerns related to buildings include vehicle emissions and the need for vehicle infrastructure as building occupants travel to and from the site. Emissions contribute to climate change, smog, acid rain, and other air quality problems. Parking areas, roadways, and building surfaces increase stormwater runoff and contribute to the urban heat island effect. In 2006, 76% of commuters in America ages 16 and older drove to work alone. Of the remaining 24% who used alternative means of transportation (including working from home), only 5% used public transportation and 11% carpooled.1_{Locating the project near residential areas, providing occupants}

with cycle racks, changing facilities, preferred parking, and access to mass transit and alternative-fuel alternative-fueling stations can encourage use of alternative forms of transportation. Promoting mass transit reduces the energy required for transportation as well as the space needed for parking lots, which encroach on green space.

Planting sustainable Landscapes

Conventional plant designs and landscape maintenance practices often require irrigation and chemicals. Sustainable practices minimize the use of irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides and can prevent soil erosion and sedimentation. Erosion from precipitation and wind causes degradation of property as well as sedimentation of local water bodies—and building sites can be major sources of sediment. Loss of nutrients, soil compaction, and decreased biodiversity of soil organisms can severely limit the vitality of landscaping. Sedimentation caused by erosion increases turbidity levels, which degrades aquatic habitats, and the buildup of sediments in stream channels can lessen flow capacity, increasing the possibility of flooding. Sustainable landscaping involves using