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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Prerequisites
2.1 No invasive plants. Introduce no invasive plant species into the landscape. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive.Credits
Note: Points shown below are for homes that are fully landscaped. A project that has not completed the designed landscaping may earn up to 50% of the points for each credit as long as 50% or more of the designed landscaping is completed upon certification. In this case, 100% completion of the landscaping must be required by homeowner association or other rules within a specific time period not to exceed one year after occupancy. Erosion controls and soil stabilization measures must be robust enough to be effective for one year. The builder or project team must also develop a landscaping plan that meets the requirements in SS 2 and provide it to the homeowner.2.2 Basic landscape design (2 points). Meet all of the following requirements for all designed landscape softscapes:- Any turf must be drought-tolerant.
- Do not use turf in densely shaded areas.
- Do not use turf in areas with a slope of 25% (i.e., 4:1 slope).
- Add mulch or soil amendments as appropriate. Mulch is defined as a covering placed around plants to reduce erosion and water loss and to help regulate soil temperature. In addition, upon decomposition, organic mulches serve as soil amendments. The type of mulch selected can affect soil pH.
- All compacted soil (e.g., from construction vehicles) must be tilled to at least 6 inches.
AND/OR
2.3 Limit conventional turf (maximum 3 points, as specified in Table 1). Limit the use of conventional turf in the designed landscape softscapes.Table 1. Limited Conventional Turf
Percentage of designed landscape softscape area that is |
Points |
|---|---|
41–60% |
1 |
21–40% |
2 |
20% or less |
3 |
AND/OR
2.4 Drought-tolerant plants (maximum 2 points, as specified in Table 2). Install drought-tolerant plants.Table 2. Drought-Tolerant Plants
Percentage of installed plants that are drought-tolerant |
Points |
|---|---|
45–89% |
1 |
90% or more |
2 |
OR
2.5 Reduce overall irrigation demand by at least 20% (maximum 6 points, as specified in Table 3). Design the landscape and irrigation system to reduce overall irrigation water usage. The estimates must be calculated and prepared by a landscape professional, biologist, or other qualified professional using the method outlined below.Table 3. Reduction in Water Demand
Reduction in estimated irrigation water usage |
SS 2.5 points |
WE 2.3 points |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
20–24% |
2 |
0 |
2 |
25–29% |
3 |
0 |
3 |
30–34% |
4 |
0 |
4 |
35–39% |
5 |
0 |
5 |
40–44% |
6 |
0 |
6 |
45–59% |
6 |
1 |
7 |
50–54% |
6 |
2 |
8 |
55–59% |
6 |
3 |
9 |
60% or more |
6 |
4 |
10 |
Method for calculating reduction in irrigation demand
Step 1. Calculate the baseline irrigation water usage: Baseline Usage = Landscaped Area * ET0 * 0.62 where ET0 = Baseline Evapotranspiration Rate (available from local and state Departments of Agriculture) Step 2. Calculate the design case irrigation water usage: Design Case Usage = (Landscaped Area * ETL ÷ IE) * CF * 0.62 where ETL = ET0 * KL and KL = KS * KMC . Refer to Tables 4 and 5 for values for KS and KMC, and to Table 6 for values for IE. For CF, use estimated value based on manufacturer’s specifications for percentage water savings. Step 3.Calculate the percentage reduction in irrigation water usage: Percentage Reduction = (1 – Design Case Usage ÷ Baseline Usage) * 100 Step 4. Refer to Table 3, above, to determine points earned.Table 4. Species Factor
Vegetation type |
Species factor (KS) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Low |
Average |
High |
|
Trees |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.9 |
Shrubs |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Groundcover |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Turf |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
Table 5. Microclimate Factor
Example microclimate impacts |
Microclimate factor (KMC) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Low |
Average |
High |
|
Shading |
0.5 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
High sun exposure |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
Protection from wind |
0.8 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
Windy area |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
Table 6. Irrigation Efficiency
Irrigation type |
Irrigation efficiency (IE) |
|
|---|---|---|
Low |
High |
|
Fixed spray |
0.4 |
0.6 |
Impact and microspray |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Rotors |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Multistream rotators |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Low volume and point source (e.g., drip) |
0.7 |
0.9 |
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
2.1 No invasive plants. Introduce no invasive plant species into the landscape. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive. Note: Invasive plant species vary by region. Consult the local Cooperative Extension Service or state agencies. A list of regional resources is available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/unitedstates/state.shtml. Not all nonnative species are considered invasive.Credits
Note: Points shown below are for homes that are fully landscaped. A project that has not completed the designed landscaping may earn up to 50% of the points for each credit as long as 50% or more of the designed landscaping is completed upon certification. In this case, 100% completion of the landscaping must be required by homeowner association or other rules within a specific time period not to exceed one year after occupancy. Erosion controls and soil stabilization measures must be robust enough to be effective for one year. The builder or project team must also develop a landscaping plan that meets the requirements in SS 2 and provide it to the homeowner.2.2 Basic landscape design (2 points). Meet all of the following requirements for all designed landscape softscapes:- Any turf must be drought-tolerant.
- Do not use turf in densely shaded areas.
- Do not use turf in areas with a slope of 25% (i.e., 4:1 slope).
- Add mulch or soil amendments as appropriate. Mulch is defined as a covering placed around plants to reduce erosion and water loss and to help regulate soil temperature. In addition, upon decomposition, organic mulches serve as soil amendments. The type of mulch selected can affect soil pH.
- All compacted soil (e.g., from construction vehicles) must be tilled to at least 6 inches.
AND/OR
2.3 Limit conventional turf (maximum 3 points, as specified in Table 1). Limit the use of conventional turf in the designed landscape softscapes.Table 1. Limited Conventional Turf
Percentage of designed landscape softscape area that is |
Points |
|---|---|
41–60% |
1 |
21–40% |
2 |
20% or less |
3 |
AND/OR
2.4 Drought-tolerant plants (maximum 2 points, as specified in Table 2). Install drought-tolerant plants.Table 2. Drought-Tolerant Plants
Percentage of installed plants that are drought-tolerant |
Points |
|---|---|
45–89% |
1 |
90% or more |
2 |
OR
2.5 Reduce overall irrigation demand by at least 20% (maximum 6 points, as specified in Table 3). Design the landscape and irrigation system to reduce overall irrigation water usage. The estimates must be calculated and prepared by a landscape professional, biologist, or other qualified professional using the method outlined below.Table 3. Reduction in Water Demand
Reduction in estimated irrigation water usage |
SS 2.5 points |
WE 2.3 points |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|
20–24% |
2 |
0 |
2 |
25–29% |
3 |
0 |
3 |
30–34% |
4 |
0 |
4 |
35–39% |
5 |
0 |
5 |
40–44% |
6 |
0 |
6 |
45–59% |
6 |
1 |
7 |
50–54% |
6 |
2 |
8 |
55–59% |
6 |
3 |
9 |
60% or more |
6 |
4 |
10 |
Method for calculating reduction in irrigation demand
Step 1. Calculate the baseline irrigation water usage: Baseline Usage = Landscaped Area * ET0 * 0.62 where ET0 = Baseline Evapotranspiration Rate (available from local and state Departments of Agriculture) Step 2. Calculate the design case irrigation water usage: Design Case Usage = (Landscaped Area * ETL ÷ IE) * CF * 0.62 where ETL = ET0 * KL and KL = KS * KMC . Refer to Tables 4 and 5 for values for KS and KMC, and to Table 6 for values for IE. For CF, use estimated value based on manufacturer’s specifications for percentage water savings. Step 3.Calculate the percentage reduction in irrigation water usage: Percentage Reduction = (1 – Design Case Usage ÷ Baseline Usage) * 100 Step 4. Refer to Table 3, above, to determine points earned.Table 4. Species Factor
Vegetation type |
Species factor (KS) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Low |
Average |
High |
|
Trees |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.9 |
Shrubs |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Groundcover |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Turf |
0.6 |
0.7 |
0.8 |
Table 5. Microclimate Factor
Example microclimate impacts |
Microclimate factor (KMC) |
||
|---|---|---|---|
Low |
Average |
High |
|
Shading |
0.5 |
0.8 |
1.0 |
High sun exposure |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
Protection from wind |
0.8 |
0.9 |
1.0 |
Windy area |
1.0 |
1.2 |
1.5 |
Table 6. Irrigation Efficiency
Irrigation type |
Irrigation efficiency (IE) |
|
|---|---|---|
Low |
High |
|
Fixed spray |
0.4 |
0.6 |
Impact and microspray |
0.5 |
0.7 |
Rotors |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Multistream rotators |
0.6 |
0.8 |
Low volume and point source (e.g., drip) |
0.7 |
0.9 |
