Data-Centers-EBOM-v4.1 SSc2: Heat Island Reduction

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Intent

To minimize effects on microclimates and human and wildlife habitats by reducing heat islands.

Requirements

Have in place strategies to minimize the project’s overall contribution to heat island effects and that meet the following criterion:

Alternatively, an SRI and SR weighted average approach may be used to calculate compliance. Use any combination of the following strategies.

Nonroof Measures

• Plants that provide shade over paving areas (including playgrounds) on the site. For newly installed plants, base shade area on 10-year canopy width at noon.
• Vegetated planters.
• Shade with structures covered by energy generation systems, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaics, and wind turbines.
• Shade with architectural devices or structures that have a three-year aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28. If three-year aged value information is not available meet an initial SR of at least 0.33.
• Shade with vegetated structures.
• Paving materials with a three-year aged solar reflectance (SR) value of at least 0.28. If three-year aged value information is not available, meet an initial SR of at least 0.33.
• Open-grid pavement system (at least 50% unbound).

High-Reflectance Roof

Roofing materials with an SRI equal to or greater than the values in Table 1. Meet the three-year aged SRI value if available, otherwise, meet the initial SRI value.

Table 1. Minimum solar reflectance index value, by roof slope

Roof area that consists of functional, usable spaces (such as helipads, recreation courts, and similar amenity areas) may meet the requirements of nonroof measures. Applicable roof area excludes roof area covered by mechanical equipment, solar energy panels, skylights, and any other appurtenances.

Vegetated Roof

If newly installed, sufficient growing medium and plant material must be in place to provide full vegetative cover within 3-years. Have in place a maintenance program that ensures all high-reflectance surfaces are cleaned at least annually to maintain good reflectance, all vegetation is maintained for plant health, and any vegetated structures or vegetated roofs are maintained for good structural condition.

Frequently asked questions

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.

Checklists

Addenda