Trista Brown
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director
EBOM-2009 SSc5: Site development - protect or restore open habitat 1 point
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
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.Requirements
During the performance period, have in place native1 or adapted vegetation2 covering a minimum of 25% of the total site area (excluding the building footprint) or 5% of the total site area (including the building footprint), whichever is greater. Improving and/or maintaining off-site areas with native or adapted plants can contribute toward earning this credit provided the improvement and maintenance are documented in a contract with the owner of the off-site area. Every 2 square feet off-site can be counted as 1 square foot on-site. Other ecologically appropriate features that contribute to this credit are natural site elements beyond vegetation that maintain or restore the ecological integrity of the site, including water bodies, exposed rock, unvegetated ground or other features that are part of the historic natural landscape within the region and provide habitat value. See all forum discussions about this credit »Frequently asked questions
Is there a requirement for how long financial support or labor services must be provided to an off-site area?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 level of financial commitment do we need to make when pursuing the off-site 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.) |
Our organization owns, manages and protects a large parcel of land that meets the requirements of this credit. We only need a portion of the total parcel area to meet the credit space requirement. Do we have to allocate the entire parcel to this LEED projThe 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 potted native/adapted plants count towards this credit?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.) |
Is there a requirement for how close the off-site area must be to the LEED project location? We’re looking into supporting a habitat area in a different state or possibly a different country but we want to be sure this is acceptable.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.) |
We’re going to provide restoration/maintenance services to an off-site property. What should we do to document this?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.) |
Does the contract with an off-site property owner need to be in place before the performance period begins?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.) |
As part of our contract with the off-site property owner we will provide labor services to help restore/maintain the site. Does this work need to be performed and completed before the performance period begins, so that the restored habitat is in place oveThe 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 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 »For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Checklists
Step by step to LEED certification
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
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
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
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.Requirements
During the performance period, have in place native1 or adapted vegetation2 covering a minimum of 25% of the total site area (excluding the building footprint) or 5% of the total site area (including the building footprint), whichever is greater. Improving and/or maintaining off-site areas with native or adapted plants can contribute toward earning this credit provided the improvement and maintenance are documented in a contract with the owner of the off-site area. Every 2 square feet off-site can be counted as 1 square foot on-site. Other ecologically appropriate features that contribute to this credit are natural site elements beyond vegetation that maintain or restore the ecological integrity of the site, including water bodies, exposed rock, unvegetated ground or other features that are part of the historic natural landscape within the region and provide habitat value. See all forum discussions about this credit »Checklists
Step by step to LEED certification
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
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
Is there a requirement for how long financial support or labor services must be provided to an off-site area?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 level of financial commitment do we need to make when pursuing the off-site 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.) |
Our organization owns, manages and protects a large parcel of land that meets the requirements of this credit. We only need a portion of the total parcel area to meet the credit space requirement. Do we have to allocate the entire parcel to this LEED projThe 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 potted native/adapted plants count towards this credit?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.) |
Is there a requirement for how close the off-site area must be to the LEED project location? We’re looking into supporting a habitat area in a different state or possibly a different country but we want to be sure this is acceptable.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.) |
We’re going to provide restoration/maintenance services to an off-site property. What should we do to document this?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.) |
Does the contract with an off-site property owner need to be in place before the performance period begins?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.) |
As part of our contract with the off-site property owner we will provide labor services to help restore/maintain the site. Does this work need to be performed and completed before the performance period begins, so that the restored habitat is in place oveThe answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Guest expert
Trista Brown
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director