Taking greater leadership in reducing excessive parking

Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

The Location and Planning Technical Advisory Group (LP TAG) believes that the current version of LEED parking credits (i.e. SSc4.4: Alternative Transportation – Parking Capacity) does not sufficiently motivate project teams to supply leadership-type reductions in parking supply.  Meeting local zoning requirements often results in an excessive amount of parking.

Primarily for larger multifamily projects

Efforts to reduce vehicle miles traveled, via encouraging bicycling and other forms of alternative transportation, are rewarded by USGBC in the commercial LEED rating sys-tems. This credit is primarily appropriate for larger multifamily projects.  Carbon emissions associated with private vehicle travel is a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and around the globe.

Improving environmental quality for neighboring units

Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

Leakage to the outdoors has always been a requirement for LEED for Homes. However, leakage between units has not been accounted for. Although there is typically not a significant energy penalty for leakage between units, excessive connectivity between units decreases the indoor environmental quality of occupants by allowing a pathway for odor and sound transfer.

HIgher scrutiny of quality and durability

Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

Since the inception of LEED for Homes, ENERGY STAR for Homes has not just been a prerequisite, but it has guided how LEED is implemented in the field. With this most recent update to ENERGY STAR version 3, EPA expanded on the scope of the program to not just concentrate on energy performance, but all aspects of quality building, including durability. Fewer trade-offs are allowed for energy modeling, and higher scrutiny is paid to the installation of HVAC equipment.

Revised to encourage more participation

Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

The new options (Option 2 and Option 3) in this credit will potentially be added to the current Option 1, found in LEED 2009 for Neighborhood development.  The credit has been revised to encourage more project teams to pursue the credit by finding ways to eliminate, reuse, or recover resources from wastewater. 

Focus on quality of view

Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of August 15, 2011.

This pilot credit is based upon the LEED 2009 Daylight and Views—Views credit; with a refined focus on the quality of the view occupants can access.  It places a focus on specific outdoor elements and movement as criteria for appropriate views.