I know this has come up before, but haven't been able to find a precise answer. What exactly is an open bottom planter?
My assumption is that they are planters with perimeter walls only,constructed on landscaped/lawn,green roofs, or other soil areas...in other words,the earth in the planter must be in contact with the earth beneath the planter. So planters with perimeter walls and bottoms, formed/placed on hardscape areas, would not qualify as "vegetative area" for this credit; correct?
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Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
November 27, 2015 - 11:00 pm
Charles, I have actually not seen a definition of this term anywhere, but your image is about what I have. However, I do wonder if you can have an open-bottom planter over hardscape. After all, the language doesn't say anything about the substrate under the planter.
Charles Nepps
NH Green Consulting97 thumbs up
November 29, 2015 - 5:10 pm
Tristan, my guess is that closed bottom planters are probably excluded because they are not considered permanent installations. Extending that logic, open bottom planters sitting on hardscape would probably be viewed in much the same light. It would still be worth seeing if it would fly with the review team, since, as you point out, the language is a bit vague.