LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Frank advice from LEED experts
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
Credit language
Requirements
Designate 5% of all parking spaces used by the project as preferred parking for green vehicles. Clearly identify and enforce for sole use by green vehicles. Distribute preferred parking spaces proportionally among various parking sections (e.g. between short-term and long-term spaces).
Green vehicles must achieve a minimum green score of 45 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide (or local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) [Europe ACP: Green Vehicles] [South America ACP: Green Vehicles].
A discounted parking rate of at least 20% for green vehicles is an acceptable substitute for preferred parking spaces. The discounted rate must be publicly posted at the entrance of the parking area and permanently available to every qualifying vehicle.
In addition to preferred parking for green vehicles, meet one of the following two options for alternative-fuel fueling stations:
Option 1. Electric vehicle charging
Install electrical vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) in 2% of all parking spaces used by the project. Clearly identify and reserve these spaces for the sole use by plug-in electric vehicles. Parking spaces that include EVSE must be provided separate from and in addition to preferred parking spaces for
green vehicles.
The EVSE must:
- Provide a Level 2 charging capacity (208 – 240 volts) or greater.
- Comply with the relevant regional or local standard for electrical connectors, such as SAE Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J1772, SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler or IEC 62196 of the International Electrotechnical Commission for projects outside the U.S.
- Be networked or internet addressable and be capable of participating in a demand-response program or time-of-use pricing to encourage off-peak charging.
OR
Option 2. Liquid, gas, or battery facilities
Install liquid or gas
alternative fuel fueling facilities or a battery switching station capable of refueling a number of vehicles per day equal to at least 2% of all parking spaces.
Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)
Europe ACP: Green Vehicles
Projects in Europe may use vehicles meeting the Euro 6 limit values of Regulation (EC) No. 715/2007.
South America ACP: Green Vehicles
Vehicles in South America may qualify as
green vehicles by meeting both of the following conditions:
- A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) Nota Verde Program.
- An A from INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles.
SITES-LEED Equivalency
This LEED credit (or a component of this credit) has been established as equivalent to a SITES v2 credit or component. For more information on using the equivalency as a substitution in your LEED or SITES project, see this article and guidance document.
See all forum discussions about this credit »
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »
Frequently asked questions
If our garage has multiple levels of parking, how do I select “preferred” spaces?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
Can my EV charging stations be used as my preferred spaces for green vehicles?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
Do the alternative fueling stations need to be in a preferred location?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
I have occupant and visitor parking in separate areas on our project site. Do the preferred spaces need to be located in the visitor parking as well?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
What if my ESVE manufacturer does not offer a demand-response or time-of-use pricing option?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
Can I install manufacturer-specific ESVE equipment? For example, Tesla EV charging stations?
The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members.
Start a free trial »
(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
|
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Addenda
10/1/2014 – Updated: 3/29/2018
Regional ACP
Description of change: Add the following below the footnotes for this credit:
"Vehicles in South America may qualify as low-emitting and fuel-efficient by meeting both of the following conditions:
1. A score of Four Stars or above from IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis - Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) Nota Verde Program.
2. An A from INMETRO (Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia - National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology) Brazilian Labeling Program for Vehicles."
**Updated on 4/1/2015 to include applicability to LEED v4
Internationally Applicable: Yes
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: Various projects, including residential and data center projects, have an increased demand for EV charging stations. Can such projects provide a combination of EV charging spaces in a preferred location and reserved spaces for Green Vehicles in a preferred location, such that the total equals 7% of total parking capacity and neither percentage will be less than 2% of total parking capacity?
Ruling: Projects may use the following compliance path if pursuing Option 1 of the Green Vehicles credit:
Provide preferred green vehicle parking and parking spaces with electric vehicle supply equipment in any combination such that it equals 7% of the total parking capacity and such that no percentage is less than 2% of the total parking capacity.
Project teams must still comply with the EVSE requirements:
- Provide a Level 2 charging capacity (208 – 240 volts) or greater.
- Comply with the relevant regional or local standard for electrical connectors, such as SAE Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J1772, SAE Electric Vehicle Conductive Charge Coupler or IEC 62196 of the International Electrotechnical Commission for projects outside the U.S.
- Be networked or internet addressable and be capable of participating in a demand-response program or time-of-use pricing to encourage off-peak charging.
Internationally Applicable: No
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
