You cannot count shading cast from the building itself, as your project building does not cover non-building hardscape area from an aerial view. However, you can count canopies that protrude from buildings and shade hardscapes.
The shading area used for this requirement is equivalent to the footprint of the covering as seen from above (not the average shading angle as used for trees).
When calculating the shading area of trees, you may need to use modeling software. Google Sketchup is a free, easy-to-use application that can help you determine shading area. (See Resources.)
Although an area of hardscape may meet two different requirements, the area can only be counted once. For example, pavement that is both light-colored and shaded may not be counted twice in credit calculations.
You won’t find it in the credit requirements, but the best strategy here is to limit the amount of hardscape and number of parking spaces provided in the first place. This not only reduces the hardscape square footage you must treat with light-colored paving, shading, open-grid paving, or covering, it can also help you earn:
This credit is fairly straightforward to achieve: You may comply by applying prescriptive design measures outlined by LEED to 50% of your project site’s hardscape or by covering 50% of your project's parking spaces.
Conduct your cleaning audit early enough in the LEED project timeline so that if you score lower than expected, you can work with your provider to improve cleanliness levels and then re-audit. If your appearance level is between 2.1 and 3, you’ll earn one point. If you score a 2 or less, you can earn an additional point for exemplary performance.
The audit is meant to help you improve your cleaning program. If you instruct your auditors to give each space a good score, you will not benefit from the honest results that will help you improve the cleanliness of the building.
Shading is calculated on the summer solstice (June 21). Take the average of the shaded areas measured at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. 
You won’t find it in the credit requirements, but the best strategy here is to limit the amount of hardscape and number of parking spaces provided in the first place. This not only reduces the hardscape square footage you must treat with light-colored paving, shading, open-grid paving, or covering, it can also help you earn: