ad-100001768
Footnote 1, delete: "those that are not previously developed or graded and remain in a natural state."
Replace with: "sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture."
Healthcare-v2009 SSc5.1: Site development - protect or restore habitat
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Case 1. Greenfield sites1
Limit all site disturbance to the following parameters:- 40 feet (12 meters) beyond the building perimeter and parking garages;
- 10 feet (3 meters) beyond surface walkways, patios, surface parking and utilities less than 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter;
- 15 feet (4.5 meters) beyond primary roadway curbs and main utility branch trenches;
- 25 feet (8 meters) beyond constructed areas with permeable surfaces (such as pervious paving areas, stormwater detention facilities and playing fields) that require additional staging areas to limit compaction in the constructed area.
Case 2. Previously developed2 areas or graded sites
Restore or protect a minimum of 50% of the site area, excluding the building footprint, or 20% of the total site area, including building footprint, whichever is greater, with native or adapted vegetation.3 Projects earning SS Credit 2, Development Density and Community Connectivity, may include vegetated roof surface in this calculation if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat, and promote biodiversity. Projects earning SS Credit 9.1, Connection to the Natural World—Outdoor Places of Respite, may apply the planted areas to this calculation, if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat and promote biodiversity. Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance 'Land Trust Standards and Practices' 2004 Revision.1 Greenfield sites are sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture..
2 Native or adapted plants are plants indigenous to a locality or cultivars of native plants that are adapted to the local climate and are not considered invasive species or noxious weeds.
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Addenda
01/04/2013– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000968
Revise the text for "Building footprint" to be "Building footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint."
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
03/11/2010– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000737
Below this section, insert the following text:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsiteland in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area(including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPALevel III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust mustadhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land Trust Standards andPractices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
03/11/2010– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000737
Below this section, insert the following text:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsiteland in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area(including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPALevel III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust mustadhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land Trust Standards andPractices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000967
Revise the first bulleted item to say "40 feet beyond the building perimeter and parking garages"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
09/05/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000909
Replace the text to the right of the white square with, "Non-vegetated, pedestrian oriented hardscape & non-native vegetation areas, to be excluded from restored area"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/04/2013– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100001765
Delete footnote 2 (previously developed sites) and renumber footnotes
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000967
Revise the first bulleted item to say "40 feet beyond the building perimeter and parking garages"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
02/02/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000845
Below section add the following text as a new section:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donateoffsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developedarea (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land TrustStandards and Practices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/11/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100001058
Replace the definition of "Previously developed sites" with "Previously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development."
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/10/2012
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:
What qualities must a vegetated roof have in order to count towards SSc5.1? Can roofs that provide a plant mix shown to promote appropriate biodiversity be eligible to earn SSc5.1? Does an all-sedum plant mix meet the SSc5.1 intent of providing habitat and promoting biodiversity?
Ruling:
The primary goal of this credit is to provide habitat and promote biodiversity. To satisfy the intent of the credit, the vegetated roof must be an intensive roof system, where the depth of the growing medium is 6 inches or more. Where the vegetated roof is a combination of intensive and extensive roof systems, only the intensive portions of the roof can count towards SSc5.1 Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat. Applicable Internationally.Intensive roofs are vegetated roofs that support a wider variety of plants (including shrubs and trees) than extensive roofs, and have greater soil volume. The depth of the growing medium is an important factor in determining habitat value. The native or adapted plants selected for the roof should support the endemic wildlife populations of the site. More information on vegetated roofs can be found at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (http://greenroofs.org/).Sedums used on vegetated roofs should provide a level of species diversity similar to the native habitat of the project\'s region. Generally, green roofs with less than six varieties of sedum are considered a monoculture and cannot be used to earn this credit (though they may contribute to the achievement other credits). Project teams considering the use of sedum should note that the selected species should enhance the biodiversity of the region and blend with the local habitat.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
02/04/2014
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:
The November 2010 Addendum states that: “Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance ‘Land Trust Standards and Practices’ 2004 Revision. “
Is there Exemplary Performance for this new path?
Ruling:
For the Case 2, offsite path added via addenda on 11/3/2010, projects may earn an Innovation in Design credit for exemplary performance by donating offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 90% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance ‘Land Trust Standards and Practices’ 2004 Revision.
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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.
Requirements
Case 1. Greenfield sites1
Limit all site disturbance to the following parameters:- 40 feet (12 meters) beyond the building perimeter and parking garages;
- 10 feet (3 meters) beyond surface walkways, patios, surface parking and utilities less than 12 inches (30 centimeters) in diameter;
- 15 feet (4.5 meters) beyond primary roadway curbs and main utility branch trenches;
- 25 feet (8 meters) beyond constructed areas with permeable surfaces (such as pervious paving areas, stormwater detention facilities and playing fields) that require additional staging areas to limit compaction in the constructed area.
Case 2. Previously developed2 areas or graded sites
Restore or protect a minimum of 50% of the site area, excluding the building footprint, or 20% of the total site area, including building footprint, whichever is greater, with native or adapted vegetation.3 Projects earning SS Credit 2, Development Density and Community Connectivity, may include vegetated roof surface in this calculation if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat, and promote biodiversity. Projects earning SS Credit 9.1, Connection to the Natural World—Outdoor Places of Respite, may apply the planted areas to this calculation, if the plants are native or adapted, provide habitat and promote biodiversity. Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance 'Land Trust Standards and Practices' 2004 Revision.1 Greenfield sites are sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture..
2 Native or adapted plants are plants indigenous to a locality or cultivars of native plants that are adapted to the local climate and are not considered invasive species or noxious weeds.
Addenda
01/04/2013– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100001768
Footnote 1, delete: "those that are not previously developed or graded and remain in a natural state."
Replace with: "sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat, or agriculture."
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000968
Revise the text for "Building footprint" to be "Building footprint is the area on a project site used by the building structure, defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Parking lots, parking garages, landscapes, and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint."
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
03/11/2010– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000737
Below this section, insert the following text:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsiteland in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area(including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPALevel III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust mustadhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land Trust Standards andPractices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
03/11/2010– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000737
Below this section, insert the following text:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsiteland in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area(including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPALevel III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust mustadhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land Trust Standards andPractices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000967
Revise the first bulleted item to say "40 feet beyond the building perimeter and parking garages"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
09/05/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000909
Replace the text to the right of the white square with, "Non-vegetated, pedestrian oriented hardscape & non-native vegetation areas, to be excluded from restored area"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/04/2013– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100001765
Delete footnote 2 (previously developed sites) and renumber footnotes
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
01/08/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000967
Revise the first bulleted item to say "40 feet beyond the building perimeter and parking garages"
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
02/02/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
ad-100000845
Below section add the following text as a new section:Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donateoffsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developedarea (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance \'Land TrustStandards and Practices\' 2004 Revision.
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/11/2011– Updated: 14/02/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
ad-100001058
Replace the definition of "Previously developed sites" with "Previously developed sites are those altered by paving, construction, and/or land use that would typically have required regulatory permitting to have been initiated (alterations may exist now or in the past). Previously developed land includes a platted lot on which a building was constructed if the lot is no more than 1 acre; previous development on lots larger than 1 acre is defined as the development footprint and land alterations associated with the footprint. Land that is not previously developed and altered landscapes resulting from current or historical clearing or filling, agricultural or forestry use, or preserved natural area use are considered undeveloped land. The date of previous development permit issuance constitutes the date of previous development, but permit issuance in itself does not constitute previous development."
Inquiry:
Ruling:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
01/10/2012
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:
What qualities must a vegetated roof have in order to count towards SSc5.1? Can roofs that provide a plant mix shown to promote appropriate biodiversity be eligible to earn SSc5.1? Does an all-sedum plant mix meet the SSc5.1 intent of providing habitat and promoting biodiversity?
Ruling:
The primary goal of this credit is to provide habitat and promote biodiversity. To satisfy the intent of the credit, the vegetated roof must be an intensive roof system, where the depth of the growing medium is 6 inches or more. Where the vegetated roof is a combination of intensive and extensive roof systems, only the intensive portions of the roof can count towards SSc5.1 Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat. Applicable Internationally.Intensive roofs are vegetated roofs that support a wider variety of plants (including shrubs and trees) than extensive roofs, and have greater soil volume. The depth of the growing medium is an important factor in determining habitat value. The native or adapted plants selected for the roof should support the endemic wildlife populations of the site. More information on vegetated roofs can be found at Green Roofs for Healthy Cities (http://greenroofs.org/).Sedums used on vegetated roofs should provide a level of species diversity similar to the native habitat of the project\'s region. Generally, green roofs with less than six varieties of sedum are considered a monoculture and cannot be used to earn this credit (though they may contribute to the achievement other credits). Project teams considering the use of sedum should note that the selected species should enhance the biodiversity of the region and blend with the local habitat.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
02/04/2014
LEED Interpretation
Description of change:
Inquiry:
The November 2010 Addendum states that: “Projects with limited landscape opportunities may also donate offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 60% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance ‘Land Trust Standards and Practices’ 2004 Revision. “
Is there Exemplary Performance for this new path?
Ruling:
For the Case 2, offsite path added via addenda on 11/3/2010, projects may earn an Innovation in Design credit for exemplary performance by donating offsite land in perpetuity, equal to 90% of the previously developed area (including the building footprint), to a land trust within the same EPA Level III Ecoregion identified for the project site. The land trust must adhere to the Land Trust Alliance ‘Land Trust Standards and Practices’ 2004 Revision.
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes