The BD+C, NC project we are applying for is a factory with manufacturing unit and office spaces, located in an developing industrial area with no mutimodel transportation facilities . The project is self sufficient in terms of transporting all its employees back and forth for different shifts to the factory, from various locations. This helps in reducing the need for everyone to use a private mode of transportation. But the shuttle service is exclusive to the employees only, not open to public.
Will providing proof for "reduced motor vehicle use, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and other environmental and public health harms associated with motor vehicle use" , because of the factories effective shuttle service operation , suffice in achieving this credit?
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
527 thumbs up
July 27, 2022 - 7:19 pm
I have tried to explain this point to usgbc/gbci and have been unsuccessful thus far.
At this time the private transit must be available to the public, meet the minimum number of daily trips, and provide transit stop shelters.
This credit option is currently written such that factories in rural areas would need to waste fuel in order to achieve the credit.
would be nice for LT TAG members to help influence improvements to the credit language on this one.
sompoche sirichote
18 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 3:05 am
Hi Amal, did you successfully submit for this credit? We are facing a simular situation and would like to find out possible strategies. Thanks in advance.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
527 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 8:26 am
update to my comment above, i have recently learned that the shuttle is not required to be available to the general public but rather the regular building occupants and visitors to the building. For example, employees use their badge to board the shuttle while visitors are provided with a pass on the day they visit the building. General public (without a pass) would not be admitted on the shuttle.
The minimum total daily trips are still enforced.
Marilyn Specht
Vice President & Managing Principal, US SustainabilityIntroba
LEEDuser Expert
51 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 12:22 pm
Hi Dave - can you please share your source for this? I've had many conversations over the years with GBCI and on the LP TAG about this topic. It has always been very clear that private shuttles were not allowed for this credit, but curious if you are aware of an update that changes this? thanks!
Umesh Atre
Sustainability LeadParkhill
10 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 12:28 pm
Hi Dave, could you please elaborate on your comment and where you heard this update from? That would be quite helpful since we have never been allowed to use this approach on our projects. Thanks!
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
527 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 12:52 pm
This is stated in the credit requirements on the USGBC website, within Path 2. Access to Project-Sponsored Transit Service.
Access to Quality Transit | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
"commit to providing year-round transit service for regular occupants and visitors".
If you have found that GBCI is enforcing that project-sponsored transit be available to the public (i.e., not regular occupants of the building and not visitors to the building) then they are enforcing the credit requirements incorrectly in my opinion.
Speculating here...perhaps the LEED reviewers may not like the term "private shuttles". Maybe change to "the project-sponsored transit service is available to all regular bulding occupants as well as building visitors - as is required by the credit language."
Umesh Atre
Sustainability LeadParkhill
10 thumbs up
August 2, 2023 - 4:16 pm
Thanks Dave. I clearly missed this new language under v4.1. Appreciate you pointing me to this as it could benefit some of our current and future work. Have a nice day.