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NC-2009 SSc5.2:Site Development—Maximize Open Space

Pedestrian oriented hardscape on a vegetated roof

Hello, My project is getting SSc2 and is also going for SSc5.2. We are working on our diagram of our open space right now and had a few questions about our vegetated roof area. Our vegetated roof area includes some walkable space that is accessible to all occupants. It also includes vegetated area. Can I include the total roof area as my open space because it falls under vegetated area and pedestrian oriented hardscape? Also, this LEEDuser guidance confuses me a bit: "How should I count planters and vegetation on balconies? If counting vegetation on balconies and roof areas, only consider green roof and open-bottom planters towards SSc5.2 vegetation requirements. Closed bottom planters do not count towards the credit." Our vegetated roof garden is a healing garden for hospital patients and doctors. Why does it matter if some planters are open or closed bottomed? Where does the Reference Guide state this as a requirement? Thanks for your guidance in helping me determine how much of our roof area we can include in our Maximize Open Space calculation.

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Thu, 06/20/2013 - 21:04

Hi Lauren, I have had good luck in the past counting both pedestrian hardscape and vegetated areas towards this credit (assuming compliance with SSc2). Of course past success can't guarantee future success, but I think that is a reasonable approach. Regarding the open/closed bottom planters, I agree that it is confusing and I don't know where this language originated either. I think ultimately what they want to see is some degree of permanence with the vegetation - they don't want individual portable planters that can easily be moved/ removed after certification is complete. It sounds like in your situation with the healing garden, that will not be the case.

Thu, 06/20/2013 - 21:05

Thanks Ellen.

Tue, 07/09/2013 - 19:23

Wanted to share a response I received from the GBCI: "Since you have earned SSc2, you are correct that vegetated roof area can contribute to this credit and hardscape is allowed as long as it is pedestrian oriented and accessible to all building occupants. Pedestrian hardscape is not necessarily inherently accessible to all - often there are maintenance paths and such that are restricted to regular building occupants or even maintenance workers. The rest of the roof wouldn't need to be accessible - only the hardscape claimed would need to be accessible to all. You also asked about closed-bottom planters. The only explicit guidance regarding planters is in regard to WEc3 - there was a ref guide addendum. So planters would be looked at on a case-by-case basis to ensure that they truly promote biodiversity. For example, small planters wouldn't be acceptable as they fragment the habitat too much. Also, extrapolating from the WEc3 planter guidance, planters should be permanently affixed - if they can be moved, that pretty much defeats the purpose."

Tue, 07/09/2013 - 21:53

Thanks for the update Lauren! The case by case evaluation statement always makes me nervous because I can't advise with confidence whether a strategy will work. But aside from that, their explanation makes sense.

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