Heat Island reduction provided by the building itsself

Is the shade provided by an architectural shading device or structure? If yes, that would fall under Nonroof strategies.

Carmen: My sense is that you will not likely be allowed to consider the shade provided by the building itself. Consider the site/roof in plan view, assume direct sunlight overhead.

Carmen: You could submit this strategy under alternative compliance path during credit review or you could submit this strategy for a formal LEED Interpretation Inquiry. If you do please follow up and let us know how it goes.

Dear Carmen Mielecke, How did it end with you? We have a similar situation in our project and I am also of the opinion that an integral building design that creates self-shading for large parts of the courtyard must be rewarded here. Question to everyone: If hardscapes never get direct sunlight, the influence of SR is certainly marginal, right?

Carmen, I am 100% with you on this.  It is extremely frustrating to me to think that LEED may ignore the most fundamental principle in sustainable design - design for your climate/site conditions.  They also seem to have forgotten how the sun works.  "At noon" does not mean "directly overhead." In my location (Fairbanks Alaska), the solar angle at noon varies from ~3 degrees to ~47 degrees from the horizon.  It will never be anywhere close to 90 degrees from the horizon.  The sun will never be directly overhead for every location on Earth outside of the Tropics. We rightfully take climate and location considerations into account for energy modeling, daylight modeling, regional prioritization, local materials, and bike network/public transit access.  Each and every one of those things is far less certain and far less permanent than the angle of the sun. Can someone from USGBC please explain why fundamental science is being ignored in this credit? Frankly, it is embarrassing.