Trista Brown
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director
CS-v4.1 SSc2: Protect or Restore Habitat 1-2 points
See
all forum discussions about this credit »
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.Requirements
Preserve and protect from all development and construction activity 40% of the greenfield area on the site (if such areas exist).AND
Restore a portion of the site, including the building footprint, identified as previously disturbed (if such areas exist) and follow vegetation and soil requirements below. Vegetated roof surfaces may be included in the habitat area calculations if the plants are native or adapted and provide habitat. Points are awarded according to Table 1.
Table 1. Points for percentage of area restored
| Restored Area | Points BD+C (except Healthcare) | Points BD+C (Healthcare) |
|---|---|---|
| 15% of previously disturbed area | 1 | 1 |
| 25% of previously disturbed area | 2 | - |
Soil Restoration
Restore disturbed soils in areas that will later serve as the final habitat area.
-
Imported soils may not include the following:
- soils defined regionally by the Natural Resources Conservation Service web soil survey (or local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) as prime farmland, unique farmland, or farmland of statewide or local importance;
- soils from other greenfield sites; or
- sphagnum peat moss.
Plant a minimum of 6 species of vegetation that are native or adapted to the project’s EPA Level III ecoregion (or local equivalent for projects outside of the U.S.). Include a minimum of 2 out of the following plant categories: tree, shrub, and ground cover. Designate a portion of the habitat area for a pollinator garden consisting of native flowering plants and totaling at least 30 square feet (3 square meters). See all forum discussions about this credit »
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LEEDuser overview
Frank advice from LEED experts
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.Requirements
Preserve and protect from all development and construction activity 40% of the greenfield area on the site (if such areas exist).AND
Restore a portion of the site, including the building footprint, identified as previously disturbed (if such areas exist) and follow vegetation and soil requirements below. Vegetated roof surfaces may be included in the habitat area calculations if the plants are native or adapted and provide habitat. Points are awarded according to Table 1.
Table 1. Points for percentage of area restored
| Restored Area | Points BD+C (except Healthcare) | Points BD+C (Healthcare) |
|---|---|---|
| 15% of previously disturbed area | 1 | 1 |
| 25% of previously disturbed area | 2 | - |
Soil Restoration
Restore disturbed soils in areas that will later serve as the final habitat area.
-
Imported soils may not include the following:
- soils defined regionally by the Natural Resources Conservation Service web soil survey (or local equivalent for projects outside the U.S.) as prime farmland, unique farmland, or farmland of statewide or local importance;
- soils from other greenfield sites; or
- sphagnum peat moss.
Plant a minimum of 6 species of vegetation that are native or adapted to the project’s EPA Level III ecoregion (or local equivalent for projects outside of the U.S.). Include a minimum of 2 out of the following plant categories: tree, shrub, and ground cover. Designate a portion of the habitat area for a pollinator garden consisting of native flowering plants and totaling at least 30 square feet (3 square meters). See all forum discussions about this credit »
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.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Guest expert
Trista Brown
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director