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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce heat islands1 to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.
Requirements
Option 1
Use any combination of the following strategies for 25% or 50% of the site hardscape (including roads, sidewalks, courtyards, and parking lots):- Provide shade from the existing tree canopy or within 5 years of landscape installation. Landscaping (trees) must be in place at the time of occupancy.
- Provide shade from structures covered by solar panels that produce energy used to offset some nonrenewable resource use.
- Provide shade from architectural devices or structures that have a solar reflectance index (SRI)2 of at least 29.
- Use hardscape materials with an SRI of at least 29.
- Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% pervious).
OR
Option 2
Place a minimum of 25% or 50% of parking spaces under cover.2 Any roof used to shade or cover parking must have an SRI of at least 29, be a vegetated green roof, or be covered by solar panels that produce energy used to offset some nonrenewable resource use. Project teams earn points by achieving the following percentages of site hardscape or parking under cover: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
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce heat islands1 to minimize impacts on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats.
Requirements
Option 1
Use any combination of the following strategies for 25% or 50% of the site hardscape (including roads, sidewalks, courtyards, and parking lots):- Provide shade from the existing tree canopy or within 5 years of landscape installation. Landscaping (trees) must be in place at the time of occupancy.
- Provide shade from structures covered by solar panels that produce energy used to offset some nonrenewable resource use.
- Provide shade from architectural devices or structures that have a solar reflectance index (SRI)2 of at least 29.
- Use hardscape materials with an SRI of at least 29.
- Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% pervious).
OR
