Schematic Design

You can use ponds or wetlands as part of the open-space calculation, but only if they have vegetated slopes with an incline ratio of 1:4 (vertical: horizontal) or less. The rationale here is to avoid giving credit to projects with a fenced, concrete detention basin that does not enhance biodiversity or offer a recreational amenity.

If your project does not achieve SSc2, then all of the open space must be vegetated—consider providing pocket parks or sports fields.

Once you have outlined your LEED project boundary, determined your project’s open space zoning requirements, and know whether or not you are achieving SSc2, then you can begin incorporating the required amount of open space into the design.

Adding a green roof to meet this credit could be costly, but it will help with many other LEED credits and green building strategies. (See LEEDuser’s green roofs strategy page for more detail.)

Many urban projects find this credit difficult to achieve without a green roof or pedestrian-oriented hardscape.  

Typically, pedestrian-oriented hardscapes include areas for passive and active recreational use. This includes plazas, usable roof decks, and courtyards. A roof deck only counts as a pedestrian-oriented hardscape if it is accessible and usable by all building occupants. Private balconies, for example, do not count. 

If you are counting pedestrian-oriented hardscapes in your credit calculations (through SSc2), you need to make sure that at least 25% of the total open space area is vegetated. Be sure that you calculate the vegetated area based on ground coverage and not using tree drip lines.

Make sure that all vegetated and hardscape open spaces are included in the LEED site boundary, and that the boundary for this credit is consistent with the boundary for all LEED credits. 

Will your project achieve SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity? Find out as soon as possible. Pursuing SSc2 makes the open space credit easier, because you can count pedestrian-oriented hardscapes and green roofs towards your open space area.

Define your LEED project boundary to determine how much area you must designate as open space. The LEED project boundary encompasses a contiguous area that includes all areas affected by the project pursuing certification. Refer to the Rating System document (p. xvii) for specific guidelines on how this is determined. (See Resources.)