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
![USGBC logo](/sites/all/themes/leeduser/images/usgbc_170.png)
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment as described in ASTM E1527–05 (or a local equivalent) to determine whether environmental contamination exists at the site. If contamination is suspected, conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment as described in ASTM E1903–11 (or a local equivalent).
If a site is contaminated, remediate the site to meet local, state, or national environmental protection agency region residential (unrestricted) standards, whichever are most stringent.
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
Can we skip the Phase I ESA and move straight onto a Phase II ESA?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.) |
My site has an existing Phase I ESA from several years ago. Can I use this to demonstrate compliance with this prerequisite?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.) |
My city has a requirement to perform an assessment that is very similar to the Phase I ESA. Can I use this assessment to document this prerequisite?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.) |
Addenda
Can ASTM E1527-13 be substituted for ASTM E1527-05?
For SS Prerequisite Environmental Site Assessment, projects may use ASTM E1527-13 (or local equivalent) in place of ASTM E1527-05.
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.
Get the inside scoop
Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.
![USGBC logo](/sites/all/themes/leeduser/images/usgbc_170.png)
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment as described in ASTM E1527–05 (or a local equivalent) to determine whether environmental contamination exists at the site. If contamination is suspected, conduct a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment as described in ASTM E1903–11 (or a local equivalent).
If a site is contaminated, remediate the site to meet local, state, or national environmental protection agency region residential (unrestricted) standards, whichever are most stringent.
Can we skip the Phase I ESA and move straight onto a Phase II ESA?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.) |
My site has an existing Phase I ESA from several years ago. Can I use this to demonstrate compliance with this prerequisite?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.) |
My city has a requirement to perform an assessment that is very similar to the Phase I ESA. Can I use this assessment to document this prerequisite?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 ASTM E1527-13 be substituted for ASTM E1527-05?
For SS Prerequisite Environmental Site Assessment, projects may use ASTM E1527-13 (or local equivalent) in place of ASTM E1527-05.