Edit the guidance to read:
"Group Approach
All buildings in the group may be documented as one.
Campus Approach
Ineligible."
"Group Approach
All buildings in the group may be documented as one.
Campus Approach
Ineligible."
See all forum discussions about this credit »
View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »
View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »
SPECIAL REPORT
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Jenny Carney
LEED Fellow, RESET AP, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP
Vice President
SPECIAL REPORT
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Establishment
None.Performance
Demonstrate that the following performance criteria were met:- Use no calcium chloride or sodium chloride deicers, and/or establish reduced treatment areas equal to 50% of applicable paving area.
- Prevent erosion and sedimentation, and restore any eroded soils.
- Prevent air pollution from construction materials and activities.
- Divert from landfills 100% of plant material waste via low-impact means.
- Prevent the over application of nutrients. Use no ammonia-based fertilizers, biosolid-based fertilizers (for continuous application), synthetic quick-release fertilizers, or “weed and feed” formulations. Blanket applications of herbicides are prohibited; turf weeds may be controlled by spot spraying only.
- Monitor irrigation systems manually or with automated systems at least every two weeks during the operating season and correct any leaks, breaks, inappropriate water usage, or incorrect timing.
- Store materials and equipment to prevent air and site contamination.
AND
Meet one of the following options:Option 1. Limited turf area
Limit turf to 25% or less of the vegetated area. Playgrounds and athletic fields in schools or parks are excluded from this option.OR
Option 2. all manual or electric-powered equipment
Use all manual or electric-powered equipment in all site management operations.OR
Option 3. reduction in emissions from site management equipment
Show and maintain a 50% reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and a 75% reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from baseline conditions.What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »This article is BuildingGreen Premium content
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LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
( does not provide premium access to LEEDuser)
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Frequently asked questions
What exactly do I need to track during the performance period?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Is there a 20% performance threshold like in LEED 2009 SSc2?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
If all of the onsite landscaping is done by a contractor that only uses 100% electric equipment does the contractor need to document the maintenance of the equipment for the credit to be achieved? They have many items that are the same and so they do not keep track of which specific mower was brought to the site, for example.The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Addenda
7/1/2015 – Updated: 7/1/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2015 – Updated: 7/1/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Remove magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium acetate from the list of environmentally preferred deicers in the following locations:
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Best Practices for Operational Elements, Table 1. Site management best practices
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Example
SS Credit Site Management: Site Maintenance Activities for Operational Elements, Table 1. Snow and ice removal
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Best Practices for Operational Elements, Table 1. Site management best practices
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Example
SS Credit Site Management: Site Maintenance Activities for Operational Elements, Table 1. Snow and ice removal
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
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For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
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Get the inside scoop
Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.
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To read the full article, subscribe now to BuildingGreen Premium
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
( does not provide premium access to LEEDuser)
Go premium for just $... » Go premium for just $... » Firm or campus members – click here »Your 15-day free trial expired on
Already a premium member? Log in now
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Establishment
None.Performance
Demonstrate that the following performance criteria were met:- Use no calcium chloride or sodium chloride deicers, and/or establish reduced treatment areas equal to 50% of applicable paving area.
- Prevent erosion and sedimentation, and restore any eroded soils.
- Prevent air pollution from construction materials and activities.
- Divert from landfills 100% of plant material waste via low-impact means.
- Prevent the over application of nutrients. Use no ammonia-based fertilizers, biosolid-based fertilizers (for continuous application), synthetic quick-release fertilizers, or “weed and feed” formulations. Blanket applications of herbicides are prohibited; turf weeds may be controlled by spot spraying only.
- Monitor irrigation systems manually or with automated systems at least every two weeks during the operating season and correct any leaks, breaks, inappropriate water usage, or incorrect timing.
- Store materials and equipment to prevent air and site contamination.
AND
Meet one of the following options:Option 1. Limited turf area
Limit turf to 25% or less of the vegetated area. Playgrounds and athletic fields in schools or parks are excluded from this option.OR
Option 2. all manual or electric-powered equipment
Use all manual or electric-powered equipment in all site management operations.OR
Option 3. reduction in emissions from site management equipment
Show and maintain a 50% reduction in hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, and a 75% reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from baseline conditions.In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
- Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
- Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
- Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
This article is BuildingGreen Premium content
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Sign up for BuildingGreen Premium to access all our premium content
Join for just $.../month »Purchase this article to get online access and a printable PDF.
Buy it now for $... »Already a premium member? Log in now
To read the full article, subscribe now to BuildingGreen Premium
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
( does not provide premium access to LEEDuser)
Go premium for just $... » Go premium for just $... » Firm or campus members – click here »Your 15-day free trial expired on
Already a premium member? Log in now
What exactly do I need to track during the performance period?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Is there a 20% performance threshold like in LEED 2009 SSc2?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
If all of the onsite landscaping is done by a contractor that only uses 100% electric equipment does the contractor need to document the maintenance of the equipment for the credit to be achieved? They have many items that are the same and so they do not keep track of which specific mower was brought to the site, for example.The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
7/1/2015 – Updated: 7/1/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Edit the guidance to read:
"Group Approach
All buildings in the group may be documented as one.
Campus Approach
Ineligible."
"Group Approach
All buildings in the group may be documented as one.
Campus Approach
Ineligible."
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2015 – Updated: 7/1/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Remove magnesium chloride, potassium chloride, and potassium acetate from the list of environmentally preferred deicers in the following locations:
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Best Practices for Operational Elements, Table 1. Site management best practices
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Example
SS Credit Site Management: Site Maintenance Activities for Operational Elements, Table 1. Snow and ice removal
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Best Practices for Operational Elements, Table 1. Site management best practices
SS Prerequisite Site Management Policy: Example
SS Credit Site Management: Site Maintenance Activities for Operational Elements, Table 1. Snow and ice removal
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
LEEDuser expert
Jenny Carney
LEED Fellow, RESET AP, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP
Vice President
