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NC-2009 MRc4:Recycled Content

LEED boundary and materials scope

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Janika McFeely
Associate, Sustainability Specialist
EHDD Architecture
LEEDuser Basic Member
78 thumbs up

A project we're working on is replacing some of the city sidewalk, which is outside our property line and LEED boundary. Should we include the concrete in our material calculations? Thanks, Janika

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Profile picture for user tristanroberts
Tristan Roberts
Representative
Vermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
7780 thumbs up

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 22:45

I assume that you are properly excluding the sidewalk from your LEED boundary because it is not associated with or support operations of the LEED building, in the words of the MPRs? You might want to review the supplemental guidance, particularly page 18.Given that that's correctly excluded, I would exclude it from your calcs, unless you wanted to use the concrete to earn MRc4, in which case I would say that MPRs would allow that.
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Janika McFeely
Associate, Sustainability Specialist
EHDD Architecture
LEEDuser Basic Member
78 thumbs up

Tue, 02/08/2011 - 23:59

Hi Tristan, Thank you for your quick reply! This is where I get confused. Page 12 of the MPRs says "2. The LEED project boundary may not include land that is owned by a party other than that which owns the LEED project unless that land is associated with and supports normal building operations for the LEED project building." What constitutes supporting normal building operations? The sidewalk is public and owned by the city but is adjacent to our project and will be used by our occupants. Point #1 on this page says that you must include "land that was or will be disturbed for the purpose of undertaking the LEED project." How does this apply to city streets that are affected by construction activities such as utilities or stormwater upgrades associated with the project? Seems like one point discounts the other? I've generally just held to the property line or scope of work line excluding these incursions onto property outside our owner's scope but now I'm not sure.
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David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED Specialist
SERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1361 thumbs up

Wed, 02/09/2011 - 00:24

Janika, You are asking good questions about some slightly vague language, but many projects have defined the LEED boundary at the property line, excluding the sidewalk, even when making sidewalk improvements in the public right of way. Some examples of land that is "associated with and supports normal building operations" and thus needs to be included could include an adjacent parking lot or garage that serves the project, or an easement on adjacent private land for a driveway that serves the project. Many urban projects are required to do utility or site work in the public right of way, but once built those are often not part of the project's area; they are often public infrastructure improvements that the developer is required by a municipal agency to provide.
Profile picture for user Janika
Janika McFeely
Associate, Sustainability Specialist
EHDD Architecture
LEEDuser Basic Member
78 thumbs up

Wed, 02/09/2011 - 00:42

Thanks David! That's always been my assumption but the MPR language made me concerned that sidewalks particularly might be a grey area. I think you're right though and will stick to the property line.

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