Shading using Photovoltatic (PV) panels is a great way to contribute to this credit, but the PV panels have the potential to create a lot of glare. Be sure to orient the PV panels in a way that does not affect building occupants or drivers (while still making sense from the perspective of exposure to the sun to generate electricity).
It is helpful to plant trees in vegetated strips within hardscape areas to maximize the shading potential. Strips can be placed between parking rows, or as a vegetated buffer between surface parking and walkways.
Consult with a landscape architect to specify native and adapted tree species with large canopies. This strategy can reduce the number of trees that need to be planted, watered, and maintained—while providing the maximum shading potential.
The custodial effectiveness audit should be performed during a period of normal business operations (although it need not be performed during business hours), when occupant loads and activities are anticipated to reflect normal levels and patterns. The auditors should not perform their inspection during the day, as custodial staff have no control over things like occupants leaving a mess at lunchtime.
You are only required to include space types that are cleaned on a regular basis. If you have storage areas, mechanical rooms, or any other spaces that are not cleaned regularly, you don't need to audit them. Therefore, the total area included in your square footage calculations for required audit space does not have to match the gross square-footage value you provided for other LEED credit submittals. In the provided tracking worksheet, the non-audited space can be entered to ensure that your project remains consistent with your other credit submittals.
