This credit goes beyond assigning parking spaces for green vehicle, i.e., low-emitting and fuel-efficient cars. Although that is one component, teams must also install alternative-fuel stations onsite in order to earn the credit.
Alternative-fuel stations can be electric vehicle charging stations, liquid or gas alternative fueling stations, or a battery switching station that is capable of servicing multiple vehicles each day.
This prerequisite requires teams to design water-efficient landscapes, and encourages a multi-faceted and integrated approach. Outdoor water use is impacted by vegetation type, vegetation density, overall planted area, and irrigation efficiency, so consider all of these variables in approaching prerequisite compliance.
Minimizing turf grass, installing native and drought-tolerant plants, and using efficient irrigation systems will typically align with meeting the prerequisite requirements.
This prerequisite requires teams to design water-efficient landscapes, and encourages a multi-faceted and integrated approach. Outdoor water use is impacted by vegetation type, vegetation density, overall planted area, and irrigation efficiency, so consider all of these variables in approaching prerequisite compliance.
Minimizing turf grass, installing native and drought-tolerant plants, and using efficient irrigation systems will typically align with meeting the prerequisite requirements.
This credit rewards projects that exceed the requirements specified in the indoor water use reduction prerequisite. Additional points are earned for every 5% of additional savings over the prerequisite requirement of 20%, up to 50% savings. An additional Innovation point can be earned for exemplary performance for projects that achieve savings of 55% or greater. Core & Shell projects follow the same point structure; however, achievement is capped at 40% savings.
This credit rewards projects that exceed the requirements specified in the indoor water use reduction prerequisite. Additional points are earned for every 5% of additional savings over the prerequisite requirement of 20%, up to 50% savings. An additional Innovation point can be earned for exemplary performance for projects that achieve savings of 55% or greater.
On the surface, the basic credit requirements to meter whole building energy sources and major energy end uses seem accessible.
However, the requirements for advanced metering are more rigorous than standard practice. For example, all metering for your building energy sources— including electricity, gas, steam, and so on—must be connected to a communications infrastructure such that you can access the data remotely.
This credit addresses materials reuse and optimization for the interior nonstructural elements of your project, as well as furniture and furnishings. Teams should evaluate their new space early in the design process to identify elements that can be reused or refurbished.
Option 3 is available for projects that cannot reuse existing materials, or that want to design for flexibility in addition to meeting one or both of the reuse options. This path allows teams to increase the life of the project space by designing elements that can be easily moved around and reconfigured.
This credit is an extension of the outdoor water use prerequisite. As with the prerequisite, Option 1 is for projects where the landscape design does not require permanent irrigation. This option is the most straightforward way to maximize points for this credit, as long as programming and operations and maintenance practices align with a non-irrigated landscape. And teams should remember that there is a two-year establishment period for new vegetation where hand watering and/or temporary irrigation can be used.
This credit is an extension of the outdoor water use prerequisite. As with the prerequisite, Option 1 is for projects where the landscape design does not require permanent irrigation. This option is the most straightforward way to maximize points for this credit, as long as programming and operations and maintenance practices align with a non-irrigated landscape. And teams should remember that there is a two-year establishment period for new vegetation where hand watering and/or temporary irrigation can be used.
Many buildings already have meters in place that measure whole-building potable water use and therefore satisfy this prerequisite. Those projects simply need to record meter readings monthly, compile performance period water use, and commit to sharing water data with USGBC for five years in order to meet the remaining requirements of this prerequisite.