Similar question as above, but this time it's roof slab, a foot of soil, another slab and 4" of water above mechanical space. One space is not conditioned at all, the other space is barely conditioned to keep it above freezing. The heat by the sun would be mostly absorbed by the moving water.
Do we need to count the area above these spaces as roof?
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Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11475 thumbs up
May 3, 2010 - 10:12 pm
Like your other question, seems like roof to me. Encloses a conditioned, functional space. What is the argument for its not being roof?
77 thumbs up
May 4, 2010 - 10:14 am
The intent of the credit is that it doesn't heat up spaces inside the building through sunshine and causing more cooling energy, correct?
So, the water is absorbing the solar heat and it doesn't go into the space below. Also the space below is not being cooled at all. Anyway, I could argue that all spaces are a roof, but because of water and tree shading, it should be considered as being excluded much like mechanical equipment on the roof can be excluded. I think Water is also reflective, but not sure if it meets SRI78.
77 thumbs up
May 17, 2010 - 2:18 pm
A follow up on if water features are roofs: CIRs dated 2/7/2006 and 5/23/2005 are for LEED NC2.1 and deals with the non-roof credit, but it's feasable that it would also apply to NC2.2 and apply to roofs as well. it says that water feature are excluded from calculations for non-roofs:
http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Credit/CIRDetails.aspx?RequirementID=13
Thought this might help for people that may have the same question. Obviously things are subject to change, but it's certainly something to go by.
James Weiner
PrincipalCollaborative Project Consulting
52 thumbs up
September 23, 2010 - 4:47 pm
Hi Ben,
you write "The intent of the credit is that it doesn't heat up spaces inside the building through sunshine and causing more cooling energy, correct?"
Not the intent of this particular credit. The energy issue is picked up in EA. Heat island effect in the context of sites is an issue concerning altered microclimates.
Your note reminds us that good design practices can have synergistic positive effects recognized across multiple credits in LEED.