Yes, this is an acceptable path to credit compliance per LEED Interpretation #5370, as long as no nearby offsite parking facilities are leased or owned by the building owner, property manager, or tenants for use by building occupants. See the Interpretation for additional information on demonstrating compliance through this path.

To adequately show that at least 45% of regularly occupied spaces comply with vision requirements, you’ll have to provide documentation showing line of sight for the spaces that are contributing to credit achievement, even if floor plans and cubical configurations vary throughout the building. If this is particularly onerous for your building, consider providing section plans for a representative sample of layouts and explaining the percent of regularly occupied spaces that these samples represent.

USGBC developed Reduced Occupancy Guidance for buildings that are 50% to 90% occupied (buildings under 50% occupied are not eligible for LEED-EBOM). This document gives the following guidance for IEQc2.4: “The credit performance threshold is based on the fully occupied and partially occupied portions of the building. Any spaces completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period make no contribution to the results and may be excluded.”

Regularly occupied spaces are areas where people normally spend time either seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities in the building. Some common space types that are not considered regularly occupied space are corridors, bathrooms, storage, mechanical rooms, and break rooms. Conference/meeting rooms, classrooms, and hotel guest rooms are considered regularly occupied.

The program needs to confirm that maintenance activities are conducted at least every two years in order to retain the roofing material’s SRI characteristics. Generally, the program should involve cleaning the roof according to the manufacturer recommended protocol.

The form is calculating a weighted high-albedo area based on the solar reflectance index of the roofing material. So, a low-sloped roof with an SRI value of 100 has a higher weighted area than a roof with an SRI value of 85. Because the required SRI value is 78 for at least 75% of the roof area, if you have SRI value greater than 78 or if you have more than 75% of the roof covered with high-albedo materials, your weighted average can easily be more 100%.

Yes, solar panels, including building integrated solar panels are treated the same as mechanical equipment and other roof appurtenances and are excluded from the credit applicable roof area. For example, if you have a 10,000 ft2 roof and 5,000 ft2 is covered by solar panels, only the remaining 5,000 ft2 of uncovered roof area is considered in the credit calculations.

It is not possible to assume that a light-colored roof or coating has a compliant or high SRI value. The SRI for different products vary even if they have a similar looking color. The SRI value of any coating has to been verified through manufacturer data or independent testing.

You should calibrate (or replace broken) meters before the performance period starts to ensure that the readings that are taken during the performance period are as accurate as possible.

Unfortunately, there is no specific guidance on how to go about this. Some recommended approaches that may be accepted are as follows: