LEED v4.1

Schools – New Construction

Sustainable Sites
Heat Island Reduction

Schools-NC-v4.1 SSc5: Heat Island Reduction

See all forum discussions about this credit » View the LEED v4 version of this credit »

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Choose one of the following options:

Option 1. Nonroof and Roof (2 points except Healthcare, 1 point Healthcare)
Meet the following criterion: Alternatively, an SRI and SR weighted average approach may be used to calculate compliance. Use any combination of the following strategies. Nonroof measures
  • Use the existing plant material or install plants that provide shade over paving areas (including playgrounds) on the site within 10 years of planting. Install vegetated planters. Plants must be in place at the time of occupancy permit and cannot include artificial turf.
  • Provide shade with structures covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines.
  • Provide shade with architectural devices or structures. If the device or structure is a roof, it shall have an aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28 as measured in accordance with ANSI/CRRC S100. If the device or structure is not a roof, or if aged solar reflectance information is not available, it shall have at installation an initial SR of at least 0.33 as measured in accordance with ANSI/CRRC S100.
  • Provide shade with vegetated structures.
  • Use paving materials with an initial solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.33.
  • Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% unbound).
High-reflectance roof Use roofing materials that have an aged SRI equal to or greater than the values in Table 1. If aged SRI is not available, the roofing material shall have an initial SRI equal to or greater than the values in Table 1.
Table 1. Minimum solar reflectance index value, by roof slope

 

Slope

Initial SRI

OR

Aged SRI

Low-sloped roof

≤ 2:12

82

 

64

Steep-sloped roof

> 2:12

39

 

32
Roof area that consists of functional, usable spaces (such as helipads, recreation courts, and similar amenity areas) may meet the requirements of nonroof measures. Applicable roof area excludes roof area covered by mechanical equipment, solar energy panels, skylights, and any other appurtenances. Vegetated Roof Install a vegetated roof using native or adapted plant species. OR
Option 2. Parking under Cover (1 point)
Place a minimum of 75% of parking spaces under cover. Any roof used to shade or cover parking must (1) have an aged SRI of at least 32 (if aged value information is not available, use materials with an initial SRI of at least 39 at installation), (2) be a vegetated roof, or (3) be covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines. The credit calculations must include all existing and new off-street parking spaces that are leased or owned by the project, including parking that is outside the project boundary but is used by the project. On-street parking in public rights-of-way is excluded from these calculations. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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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.

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Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

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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.

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Addenda

29/07/2022– Updated: 01/08/2022
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002551

Revise the second sentence of Option 2 to say the following:

"Any roof used to shade or cover parking must (1) have an aged SRI of at least 32 (if aged SRI information is not available..."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
09/04/2021– Updated: 20/04/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002529

Revise the below SS credit intents as follows:

SSp Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
"To reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, and airborne dust that disproportionately impact frontline communities."

SSc Site Assessment
"To assess site conditions, environmental justice concerns, and cultural and social factors, before design to evaluate sustainable options and inform related decisions about site design."

SSc Rainwater Management
"To reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region to avoid contributing to flooding downstream in frontline communities."

SSc Heat Island Reduction
"To minimize inequitable effects on microclimates and human, especially frontline communities, and wildlife habitats by reducing heat islands."

SSc Places of Respite
"To provide patients, all staff, and visitors with the health benefits of the natural environment by creating outdoor places of respite on the healthcare campus."

SSc Direct Exterior Access
"To provide patients, all staff, and visitors with the health benefits of the natural environment by creating outdoor places of respite on the healthcare campus."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
25/07/2019– Updated: 01/03/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002276 Equipment, solar panels, and appurtenances

For BD+C, revise language under Table 1 to read as follows. For O+M insert the language below under Table 1.

"Roof area that consists of functional, usable spaces (such as helipads, recreation courts, and similar amenity areas) may meet the requirements of nonroof measures. Applicable roof area excludes roof area covered by mechanical equipment, solar energy panels, skylights, and any other appurtenances."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/04/2015
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:

Can v4 projects use typical solar reflectance (SR) values, or data from a previous project, for documentation of hardscape materials?

Ruling:

The following typical SR values can be used for standard nonroof materials, in lieu of project-specific testing data:
Typical Solar Reflectance Values for Standard Nonroof Materials
Gray cement concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.26, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.18
White cement concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.70, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.35
Asphalt concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.05, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.10
*Three-year aged SR values are based on no cleaning.
Alternatively, documentation showing that the current concrete mix and sealant are equivalent to a tested mix and sealant from a previous project is acceptable, provided that all ingredients are the same and have not changed.

Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

emily reese moody

LEED AP BD+C, LFA, EcoDistricts AP, ENV SP, Fitwel Ambassador, WEDG Professional, ActiveScore AP, GGP, GPCP, GCP

Jacobs
Sustainability Director, Certifications & Compliance

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

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Choose one of the following options:

Option 1. Nonroof and Roof (2 points except Healthcare, 1 point Healthcare)
Meet the following criterion: Alternatively, an SRI and SR weighted average approach may be used to calculate compliance. Use any combination of the following strategies. Nonroof measures
  • Use the existing plant material or install plants that provide shade over paving areas (including playgrounds) on the site within 10 years of planting. Install vegetated planters. Plants must be in place at the time of occupancy permit and cannot include artificial turf.
  • Provide shade with structures covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines.
  • Provide shade with architectural devices or structures. If the device or structure is a roof, it shall have an aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28 as measured in accordance with ANSI/CRRC S100. If the device or structure is not a roof, or if aged solar reflectance information is not available, it shall have at installation an initial SR of at least 0.33 as measured in accordance with ANSI/CRRC S100.
  • Provide shade with vegetated structures.
  • Use paving materials with an initial solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.33.
  • Use an open-grid pavement system (at least 50% unbound).
High-reflectance roof Use roofing materials that have an aged SRI equal to or greater than the values in Table 1. If aged SRI is not available, the roofing material shall have an initial SRI equal to or greater than the values in Table 1.
Table 1. Minimum solar reflectance index value, by roof slope

 

Slope

Initial SRI

OR

Aged SRI

Low-sloped roof

≤ 2:12

82

 

64

Steep-sloped roof

> 2:12

39

 

32
Roof area that consists of functional, usable spaces (such as helipads, recreation courts, and similar amenity areas) may meet the requirements of nonroof measures. Applicable roof area excludes roof area covered by mechanical equipment, solar energy panels, skylights, and any other appurtenances. Vegetated Roof Install a vegetated roof using native or adapted plant species. OR
Option 2. Parking under Cover (1 point)
Place a minimum of 75% of parking spaces under cover. Any roof used to shade or cover parking must (1) have an aged SRI of at least 32 (if aged value information is not available, use materials with an initial SRI of at least 39 at installation), (2) be a vegetated roof, or (3) be covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines. The credit calculations must include all existing and new off-street parking spaces that are leased or owned by the project, including parking that is outside the project boundary but is used by the project. On-street parking in public rights-of-way is excluded from these calculations. 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.

For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium

Already a premium member? Log in now

Addenda

29/07/2022– Updated: 01/08/2022
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002551

Revise the second sentence of Option 2 to say the following:

"Any roof used to shade or cover parking must (1) have an aged SRI of at least 32 (if aged SRI information is not available..."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
09/04/2021– Updated: 20/04/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002529

Revise the below SS credit intents as follows:

SSp Construction Activity Pollution Prevention
"To reduce pollution from construction activities by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, and airborne dust that disproportionately impact frontline communities."

SSc Site Assessment
"To assess site conditions, environmental justice concerns, and cultural and social factors, before design to evaluate sustainable options and inform related decisions about site design."

SSc Rainwater Management
"To reduce runoff volume and improve water quality by replicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site, based on historical conditions and undeveloped ecosystems in the region to avoid contributing to flooding downstream in frontline communities."

SSc Heat Island Reduction
"To minimize inequitable effects on microclimates and human, especially frontline communities, and wildlife habitats by reducing heat islands."

SSc Places of Respite
"To provide patients, all staff, and visitors with the health benefits of the natural environment by creating outdoor places of respite on the healthcare campus."

SSc Direct Exterior Access
"To provide patients, all staff, and visitors with the health benefits of the natural environment by creating outdoor places of respite on the healthcare campus."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
25/07/2019– Updated: 01/03/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
100002276 Equipment, solar panels, and appurtenances

For BD+C, revise language under Table 1 to read as follows. For O+M insert the language below under Table 1.

"Roof area that consists of functional, usable spaces (such as helipads, recreation courts, and similar amenity areas) may meet the requirements of nonroof measures. Applicable roof area excludes roof area covered by mechanical equipment, solar energy panels, skylights, and any other appurtenances."

Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/04/2015
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:

Can v4 projects use typical solar reflectance (SR) values, or data from a previous project, for documentation of hardscape materials?

Ruling:

The following typical SR values can be used for standard nonroof materials, in lieu of project-specific testing data:
Typical Solar Reflectance Values for Standard Nonroof Materials
Gray cement concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.26, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.18
White cement concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.70, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.35
Asphalt concrete- Initial Solar Reflectance: 0.05, Three-Year Aged Solar Reflectance*: 0.10
*Three-year aged SR values are based on no cleaning.
Alternatively, documentation showing that the current concrete mix and sealant are equivalent to a tested mix and sealant from a previous project is acceptable, provided that all ingredients are the same and have not changed.

Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Guest expert

emily reese moody

LEED AP BD+C, LFA, EcoDistricts AP, ENV SP, Fitwel Ambassador, WEDG Professional, ActiveScore AP, GGP, GPCP, GCP

Jacobs
Sustainability Director, Certifications & Compliance

See all forum discussions about this credit » View the LEED v4 version of this credit »