LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Explore this LEED credit
Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Prerequisites
1.1 Erosion controls during construction. Prior to construction, design and plan appropriate erosion control measures. During construction, implement these measures. Erosion control measures must include all of the following:- Stockpile and protect disturbed topsoil from erosion (for reuse).
- Control the path and velocity of runoff with silt fencing or comparable measures.
- Protect on-site storm sewer inlets, streams, and lakes with straw bales, silt fencing, silt sacks, rock filters, or comparable measures.
- Provide swales to divert surface water from hillsides.
- If soils in a sloped area (i.e., 25%, or 4:1 slope) are disturbed during construction, use tiers, erosion blankets, compost blankets, filter socks and berms, or some comparable approach to keep soil stabilized.
Credits
1.2 Minimize disturbed area of site (1 point). Minimize disturbance to the site by meeting the following: Where the site is not previously developed: a) Develop a tree or plant preservation plan with “no-disturbance” zones clearly delineated on drawings and on the lot (see Note 1 below). b) Leave at least 40% of the buildable lot area undisturbed, not including area under roof. Only softscapes can be counted toward this credit; projects cannot receive credit for preserving preexisting hardscapes, such as driveways.OR
Where the site is previously developed: c) Develop a tree or plant preservation plan with “no-disturbance” zones clearly delineated on drawings and on the lot (see Note 1 below), and rehabilitate the lot by undoing any previous soil compaction, removing existing invasive plants, and meeting the requirements of SS 2.2 (see Note 2, below). OR d) Build on site with a lot area of less than 1/7 acre, or with housing density for the project that is equal to or greater than 7 units per acre. For multifamily buildings, the average lot size shall be calculated as the total lot size divided by the number of units.Notes:- Any “no-disturbance” zones must also be protected from parked construction vehicles and building material storage. Soils compacted by vehicles or stored materials can cause major difficulties in establishing any new landscaping.
- Homes on previously developed lots that disturb the entire lot during construction can earn this credit by meeting the requirements in part (c) above.
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
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.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Prerequisites
1.1 Erosion controls during construction. Prior to construction, design and plan appropriate erosion control measures. During construction, implement these measures. Erosion control measures must include all of the following:- Stockpile and protect disturbed topsoil from erosion (for reuse).
- Control the path and velocity of runoff with silt fencing or comparable measures.
- Protect on-site storm sewer inlets, streams, and lakes with straw bales, silt fencing, silt sacks, rock filters, or comparable measures.
- Provide swales to divert surface water from hillsides.
- If soils in a sloped area (i.e., 25%, or 4:1 slope) are disturbed during construction, use tiers, erosion blankets, compost blankets, filter socks and berms, or some comparable approach to keep soil stabilized.
Credits
1.2 Minimize disturbed area of site (1 point). Minimize disturbance to the site by meeting the following: Where the site is not previously developed: a) Develop a tree or plant preservation plan with “no-disturbance” zones clearly delineated on drawings and on the lot (see Note 1 below). b) Leave at least 40% of the buildable lot area undisturbed, not including area under roof. Only softscapes can be counted toward this credit; projects cannot receive credit for preserving preexisting hardscapes, such as driveways.OR
Where the site is previously developed: c) Develop a tree or plant preservation plan with “no-disturbance” zones clearly delineated on drawings and on the lot (see Note 1 below), and rehabilitate the lot by undoing any previous soil compaction, removing existing invasive plants, and meeting the requirements of SS 2.2 (see Note 2, below). OR d) Build on site with a lot area of less than 1/7 acre, or with housing density for the project that is equal to or greater than 7 units per acre. For multifamily buildings, the average lot size shall be calculated as the total lot size divided by the number of units.Notes:- Any “no-disturbance” zones must also be protected from parked construction vehicles and building material storage. Soils compacted by vehicles or stored materials can cause major difficulties in establishing any new landscaping.
- Homes on previously developed lots that disturb the entire lot during construction can earn this credit by meeting the requirements in part (c) above.