Can crushed concrete, masonry, or asphalt being reused onsite qualify as materials reuse?
No. According to the LEED glossary, these materials are considered remanufactured, and therefore do not qualify as reuse.
How do you account for previously exposed structures that are finished as part of the project?
LEED Interpretation 10137 addresses this topic, though USGBC has not officially made it applicable to LEED v4. Previously exposed elements in a project space that are finished will not contribute to the credit as the original element was altered during construction.
What if we just have a little green area on our rooftop? Is there a minimum amount of landscaped area to earn the prerequisite and credit?
There is no minimum landscape area to earn the prerequisite or the credit.
One could argue that this discourages landscaping, but according to USGBC, hardscapes are addressed and, one could argue, discouraged by other credits, so this is considered a fair approach.
The EPA WaterSense methodology and calculator allows only certain types of irrigation to be assigned to certain vegetation types. Why is this and won’t it skew results?
The type of irrigation that can be assigned to certain vegetation types is pre-determined in the calculator, limiting user ability to make adjustments that might better reflect the design conditions. This is likely based on EPA’s assumptions about potential changes to the irrigation system and future use.
We didn’t claim one of our credits as an exemplary performance point during the preliminary review, but now we’d like to because it earned exemplary performance per the review comments. Is it possible to claim it now?
Yes, you can still get credit for meeting the exemplary performance threshold after the preliminary review is complete. As long as you haven’t maxed out your two exemplary performance points under this credit, you can still claim the EP point after the preliminary review.
We achieved exemplary performance for more than two credits. Can we claim more than two points?
While you can achieve the exemplary performance threshold for as many credits as you like, the maximum number of points you can receive for exemplary performance under this credit is two. The other points must be earned with either innovation strategies or pilot credits.
Does the LEED-ND site have to be certified, or can it be in the process of certification?
The site must be certified to achieve this credit. However, LEED v4 ND Plan is an acceptable certification for achieving this credit. The LEED for Neighborhood Development Pilot and LEED 2009 ND Stage 2 and Stage 3 certifications are also acceptable. Note that the LEED v4 ND Plan certification is available to neighborhood-scale projects that are currently in any phase of planning and design, and up to 75% constructed.
Can we earn Option 2 by adopting a phase-out plan of our old filters and replacing them with MERV 13 filters?
No, in order to earn the credit, all of the filters must be replaced with MERV 13 filters prior to the performance period. Additionally, teams must provide documentation confirming that filters were maintained and/or replaced during the performance period according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Do I have to achieve Option 1 if I want to pursue Option 2?
No, Option 1 and Option 2 are separate. You can pursue either option without earning the other, or both if you like. Achieving both options is worth 2 points total. To earn exemplary performance, you must earn Option 1 and earn Option 2 and incorporate an additional Option 2 strategy.
Is it possible to apply estimated energy consumption for a portion of the building or performance period?
Estimated energy consumption may not be applied under any circumstances. If you don’t have access to energy data or if your project isn’t metered, you must find a solution to track that data prior to the start of the 12-month performance period for this credit.