LEED v4
Data Centers – NC
Sustainable Sites

Open space

Data-Centers-NC-v4 SSc3: Open space

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Provide outdoor space greater than or equal to 30% of the total site area (including building footprint). A minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be vegetated (turf grass does not count as vegetation) or have overhead vegetated canopy. The outdoor space must be physically accessible and be one or more of the following:

  • a pedestrian-oriented paving or turf area with physical site elements that accommodate outdoor social activities;
  • a recreation-oriented paving or turf area with physical site elements that encourage physical activity;
  • a garden space with a diversity of vegetation types and species that provide opportunities for year-round visual interest;
  • a garden space dedicated to community gardens or urban food production;
  • preserved or created habitat that meets the criteria of SS Credit Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat and also includes elements of human interaction.
For projects that achieve a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio (FAR), and are physically accessible, extensive or intensive vegetated roofs can be used toward the minimum 25% vegetation requirement, and qualifying roof-based physically accessible paving areas can be used toward credit compliance. Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space if the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

For projects that are part of a multitenant complex only
Open space can be either adjacent to the building or at another location in the site master plan. The open space may be at another master plan development site as long as it is protected from development. If the open space is not adjacent to the building, provide documentation showing that the requirements have been met and the land is in a natural state or has been returned to a natural state and conserved for the life of the building. See all forum discussions about this credit »

Frequently asked questions

How can artificial turf contribute to the credit requirements?

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’s the difference between open space and vegetation? Are they not the same thing?

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 »

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Cost estimates for this credit

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Addenda

08/07/2017– Updated: 19/01/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
100002184 Artificial turf

Remove "or hardscape" from the 3rd bullet of Step 4.

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
08/07/2017– Updated: 10/07/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Artificial turf

Remove "or hardscape" from the 3rd bullet of Step 4.

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

Michael DeVuono

PE, CPESC, LEED AP BD+C

Arcadis North America
Regional Stormwater Leader

LEEDuser overview

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.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Provide outdoor space greater than or equal to 30% of the total site area (including building footprint). A minimum of 25% of that outdoor space must be vegetated (turf grass does not count as vegetation) or have overhead vegetated canopy. The outdoor space must be physically accessible and be one or more of the following:

  • a pedestrian-oriented paving or turf area with physical site elements that accommodate outdoor social activities;
  • a recreation-oriented paving or turf area with physical site elements that encourage physical activity;
  • a garden space with a diversity of vegetation types and species that provide opportunities for year-round visual interest;
  • a garden space dedicated to community gardens or urban food production;
  • preserved or created habitat that meets the criteria of SS Credit Site Development—Protect or Restore Habitat and also includes elements of human interaction.
For projects that achieve a density of 1.5 floor-area ratio (FAR), and are physically accessible, extensive or intensive vegetated roofs can be used toward the minimum 25% vegetation requirement, and qualifying roof-based physically accessible paving areas can be used toward credit compliance. Wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space if the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

For projects that are part of a multitenant complex only
Open space can be either adjacent to the building or at another location in the site master plan. The open space may be at another master plan development site as long as it is protected from development. If the open space is not adjacent to the building, provide documentation showing that the requirements have been met and the land is in a natural state or has been returned to a natural state and conserved for the life of the building. See all forum discussions about this credit »

Frequently asked questions

How can artificial turf contribute to the credit requirements?

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’s the difference between open space and vegetation? Are they not the same thing?

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 »

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.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now


Frequently asked questions

How can artificial turf contribute to the credit requirements?

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’s the difference between open space and vegetation? Are they not the same thing?

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

08/07/2017– Updated: 19/01/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
100002184 Artificial turf

Remove "or hardscape" from the 3rd bullet of Step 4.

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
08/07/2017– Updated: 10/07/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Artificial turf

Remove "or hardscape" from the 3rd bullet of Step 4.

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

Michael DeVuono

PE, CPESC, LEED AP BD+C

Arcadis North America
Regional Stormwater Leader