In previous versions of LEED, it seems as if the open space credit allowed for project developers to improve/restore off-site areas to achieve this credit (with 2 square feet offsite = 1 square foot onsite). However, in the v4 version, there is no mention of off-site allowances.
With v4, could a project owner still conduct restoration off-site and allow this to count for the open space credit? Could they give financial support to a land trust to do this off-site and fulfill the credit? Or would this fall under the "Protect or Restore Habitat" credit?
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
454 thumbs up
June 19, 2019 - 6:17 pm
Hi Abigail,
I am not aware of the exception you mention being allowed under previous versions or v4 for the Open Space credit. If you had that occur on a project and it was approved as alternative compliance, it was likely specific only to that project.
From the LEEDuser page for v3:
"Can a project designate open space off-site and not within the LEED project boundary to meet the credit requirements?
To date, we are not aware of a project using LEED 2009 being able to achieve the credit requirements by allocating open space outside of the LEED project boundary. This is also not allowed as an exception under MPR3, although campus settings with no local zoning requirements do have an exception noted in the LEED Reference Guide. The credit requires the open space be adjacent to the building and within the project boundary. However, this approach has been used to meet SSc5.1 credit requirements. This approach has also been used successfully on LEED-NC v2.2 campus projects."
For the v4 language, they do still have an exception for multitenant complexes/campuses, but offer no other options related to off-site locations or other financial support.
I believe, then, that the off-site option is only applicable under the Protect or Restore Habitat credit, as you mention.
Abigail Chan
June 21, 2019 - 11:55 am
I was referring to this previous version of the credit, found here with this specific language:
Improving/maintaining off-site areas with native or adapted plants or other ecologically appropriate features can count toward earning both SS Credit 4.1 and 4.2. Every 2 square feet off-site will be counted as 1 square foot on-site. Off-site areas must be documented with a contract with the owner of the off-site area that specifies the required improvement and maintenance of the off-site area.
But given that projects will be mostly following v4 language, this was a helpful answer. Thanks!
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
454 thumbs up
July 9, 2019 - 10:19 pm
Weird! Ok, this has piqued my curiosity about the older text
When I click on your link, the page it takes me to seems to have some serious IT errors going on, as it repeats the same requirements 3-4 times all down the page. I tried it in Chrome and Firefox with the same issues showing in both.
In any case, I found the language you cited on the page, which also has some weirdness of its own. It references earning SS 4.1 and 4.2, but those credits in v2.2 and v3 are for Alternative Transportation options; I assume there are typos there, and they meant to say 5.1 and 5.2. If you use this link instead (the one users can navigate to in the Credit Library), it shows the language the way it should be read, though only the summary. I wonder if somehow you happened upon an archived page? I don't have the off-site option in my PDF copy, though it could have been an addendum after my copy was purchased, which happens pretty regularly.
Best way to be certain would be to inquire with GBCI directly, and provide them the link you used here for reference, asking about the applicability to both v3 and v4-4.1 projects for clarity. I'm curious to see what they say. If you do contact them, please let us know the answer for sure!