This credit offers numerous options for demonstrating compliance.
Projects that already meet one of the available options are best suited for this credit, as it may be costly and time consuming to make modifications necessary to earn the credit.
This credit comprehensively addresses practices for maintaining your project site. Because this credit covers so much ground, it’s important for teams to thoroughly review all requirements and get a clear understanding of who is responsible for overseeing the different operational areas.
In some instances, a single requirement may be especially challenging to meet, and may end up being a deal-breaker for pursuing the credit. For example, projects that experience harsh winters may have trouble meeting the deicer requirement.
This prerequisite is highly achievable, and worth doing, because it will give you valuable information on the performance and efficiency of your building systems and operations.
This credit isn’t a good fit for every project. However, it can be very beneficial in both the near-term and long-term for projects with larger site areas and a higher degree of control over their site’s design and development.
Teams should be aware that at least 5% of the total site area must be vegetated in order to pursue this credit. Additionally, the improvement plan must be created with the help of site design professionals, so remember to include their fees in your budgeting process.
This credit is earned by having strategies in place that enable rainwater to be collected and reused onsite.
This credit can be earned by any building, even those that don’t have large amounts of vegetation onsite. Projects that do have sufficient vegetation onsite earn two points, while projects that pursue the financial support option max out at one point.
Teams should be aware that the financial support option is not just a one-time contribution, and should plan budgets accordingly. Remember to retain documentation confirming your annual contributions for your future EBOM recertification efforts.
Your team must develop and adopt a compliant Site Management Policy to achieve LEED certification, since this is a prerequisite policy. However, you only have to demonstrate actual compliance with the policy if you pursue SSc5: Site Management.
This credit can be straightforward to achieve for most projects. If the occupant owns the space, the credit is automatically earned with proof of ownership.
If the occupant is a leasing tenant, then the term of the lease must be at least ten years.
The intent of the credit is to reduce space turnover, thus reducing the amount of materials that are used in successive tenant fit-outs and churn, and eliminating the waste that is generated by moves and new construction.
This credit rewards projects that exceed the requirements specified in the indoor water use reduction prerequisite.
Additional points are earned if your building’s water use is at least 10% less than the prerequisite baseline. An additional Innovation point can be earned for exemplary performance for projects that achieve savings of 35% or greater for Option 1, or 25% or greater for Option 2.
The purpose of this credit is to build community by sharing school resources with non-school groups, and vice versa. In addition, sharing spaces and services among schools and other community entities can cut down on construction costs and operating expenses, while helping everyone get access to resources they need.