Facility alterations and additions have specific definitions in the LEED-EBOM program. Alterations must involve more than one trade specialty AND make substantial changes to at least one entire room. Teams often mistakenly think the credit can be earned by having more than one trade on a job, but this alone does not meet the credit requirements. Double-check that your facility construction activities are eligible for this credit by consulting the requirements on page xxiii of the 2009 EBOM Reference Guide. The requirements are summarized below:

Consider extending the performance period for this credit back to include qualifying alterations or additions. The performance period for any prerequisite or credit can last for a maximum of 24 months, at the discretion of the project team. Remember that all performance periods must overlap and terminate within 30 days of each other. Consult pages xix–xx of the 2009 EBOM Reference Guide for additional guidance.

It is unlikely that potted plants provide habitat value and promote biodiversity sufficient to meet the credit intent.

Only the portion of the parcel needed to meet the credit requirements must be allocated to the LEED project. Once this area has been allocated it may not be used for any other LEED project. To support credit achievement in this scenario, provide appropriate documentation to demonstrate that no double counting will occur.

There is no requirement for how much money you must spend. Work with the owner of the off-site property to develop a cost based on what it actually takes to support/restore/maintain that site. Given that site needs and goals are different, costs will vary from site to site.

There is no requirement that speaks to this directly. The commitment should be long enough to deliver meaningful benefit to the off-site property and must cover the minimally applicable performance period for the LEED project. Many project teams choose to do either a one- or two-year contract. Consult with the property owner and consider your restoration goals when determining the appropriate length of time for your contract.

You are not required to have a “completed” restoration project in place before the performance period begins, however some restoration activities must be performed during the performance period under this scenario.

No, the contract can be executed during or after the performance period if necessary. Remember, however, that some restoration/maintenance activities must be performed during the performance period. This can either occur through a service commitment or through restoration/maintenance activities performed by an outside party that are then offset through a financial contribution (either in advance or retroactively).

To demonstrate that your off-site restoration project meets the credit intent, develop a contract with the property owner that clearly communicates the level and nature of improvement support you will provide. In this case, number of work hours is a fairly common type of commitment to include in the contract. Additionally, provide documentation of the type of restoration/maintenance services that will take place.

There is currently no requirement for where the off-site area must be located.