I should know this, but....
Is it OK to run the WEc1 calcs with the same landscaped area (in square feet), but with different plantings in the baseline and design cases? In other words if the owner's baseline case assumes 100% turf grass, but the design case calls for 50% turf grass with the remaining 50% as drought tolerant grass that does not require permanent irrigation, is this approach valid? It seems to me it would be, but some members of the team have differing opinions.
Thanks
Brian
Andrey Kuznetsov
ESG consultant, LEED AP BD+CSelf Employed
34 thumbs up
April 18, 2016 - 3:16 pm
I suppose that your approach would not be accepted.
Creating/defining/understanding the baseline case in each particular case can be tricky. Reference guide says (p 185-186):
1. the area must be the same at design and baseline cases (and in the same project LEED-boundaries as used at other credits PIF's).
2. You must set at the base line case average values of Ks, Kd, IE representative of conventional equipment and baseline cases. Baseline case cannot be 100 % turfgrass if typical landscaping practices in the region include trees, shrubs and planting beds.
This "typical landscaping practices" you must demonstrate by yourself. Our team actually made some photos of similar project and random buildings in similar to proposed project urban area.
So, yes - the same area for both cases is ok.
Design case must be as designed. Baseline case - must be as regular practice for greening in the region, it can be 100 % turfrass only if you can prove, that it is regular and conventional practice in the region.