Building Service

LEED Project Site Sustainability

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Instructor: Dr. Sahar Kharrufa

What does mean SITE SUSTAINABILITY ?

How does your project impact a site? Buildings have significant effects on their surroundings, including vegetation, wildlife habitats, and water movements (hydrology). A building can also influence a site's cultural history, urban density, and local infrastructure. The key is to realize that your development is not only sitting on the ground, affecting the site adjacent to it, but also radiating its affects on larger systems, both local and global.

Context
1. Site Selection 2. Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (prerequisite) 3. Development Density & Community Connectivity 4. Brownfield Redevelopment 5. Public Transportation Access 6. Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms 7. Low Emission & Fuel Efficient Vehicles 8. Parking Capacity 9.1. Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat 9.2. Site Development - Maximize Open Space 10.1. Storm water Design - Quantity Control 10.2. Storm water Design - Quality Control 11.1. Heat Island Effect - Non-Roof 11.2. Heat Island Effect - Roof 12. Light Pollution Reduction

Site Selection

Intention: To avoid development in inappropriate sites. To reduce environmental impact from the location of a building on a site. Implementation: DO NOT develop on sites: Prime farmland as defined by USDA1 Within 50ft. of a water body (lakes, seas, rivers, etc.) Comply with Clean Water Act. Habitat for any endangered or critical species. Public parkland (Park Authority projects are exempt)
Submittal Phase: Design

1- U.S. Department of Agriculture

Construction Activity Pollution Prevention (prerequisite )

Prevention This is a prerequisite credit. There are 7 overall prerequisites in the New Construction version 2.2 LEED-AP reference guide , Construction Activity Pollution Prevention is the first. Submittal Phase: Construction
1-Prerequisite credits are mandatory credits that MUST be accomplished for a building to become LEED certified.

Intention: During construction, there can be a lot of pollution going on, especially when it rains. Pollution on construction sites can be reduced by controlling: Soil erosion Airborne dust generation Waterway sedimentation

Implementation: (Erosion and Sedimentation Control) 1 Provide ESC plan into construction documents and specifications. Goal is to prevent the loss of soil, pollution, and sedimentation. Follow the EPA 2003 (Environmental Protection Agency) standards. Ways to control sedimentation: 1- stabilization : seeding and mulching 2- structural : silt fences , earth dikes , sediment traps

1- Erosion and Sedimentation Control

Development Density & Community Connectivity

Intention: To channel development to urban areas with existing infrastructure. Protect green fields and protect habitat and natural resources. Implementation: Density Development (OPTION1 ) 1 Minimum 60,000 sq.ft. per acre compare to 2 story downtown building previously developed site.
Community Connectivity (OPTION 2) previously developed site within 1/2 mile radius of 10 basic services such as Banks, churches, restaurants ,etc. within 1/2 mile of residential area averaging density 10/units per acre
1-unit of area used to measure plots of ground

Brownfield Redevelopment
This credit happens to be one of the most expensive to implement. Thusly there are many government incentives / tax breaks to help.
Intention: Rehabilitate damaged sites (environmentally contaminated sites) Reduce pressure on undeveloped land Implementation: Rebuild on a contaminated site as documented by ASTM E1903-07 or local codes. 1 Brownfield definition by the EPA and CERCLA .
2

1-ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 2- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act

Public Transportation Access

Intention: Reduce Pollution from auto use and Reduce land development from auto use Implementation: Case 1: locate project within 1/2 mi. from existing or future planned (and funded) train or subway station Case 2: locate project within 1/4 mi. from two public or campus bus lines

Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms

This is the first credit that deals with FTE1 occupants. The definition of FTE is a sort of calculation explained here: Calculate the full-time equivalent (FTE) building occupants based on a standard 8-hour occupancy period. An 8-hour occupant has an FTE value of 1.0, while a parttime occupant has an FTE value based on their hours per day divided by 8. FTE Occupants = Occupant Hours / 8 This calculation must be consistent for all LEED for New Construction credits.

1- Full-Time Equivalent

Intention: Reduce Pollution from auto use . Reduce land development from auto use .
Implementation: Case 1: provide bike rack (based on 0.05 FTE measured at PEAK periods) within 200 yards AND provide changing room and shower (based on 0.005 FTE) within 200 yards Case 2 (residential): provide bike rack for 15% of residents

Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Intention: Reduce Pollution from auto use Reduce land development from auto use
Implementation: Option 1: provide low emission cars (yes, provide cars to people), with preferred parking (0.03 FTE) Option 2: provide preferred parking for low emission cars Option 3: provide charging station and refuel stations for low emission cars low emission car = ZEV (zero emission vehicle) = minimum energy star of 40. preferred parking EXCLUDES handicap spaces

Parking Capacity
Intention:
Reduce Pollution from auto use Reduce land development from auto use Implementation: Option 1 (non-residential): do not exceed local parking requirements in proposed parking scheme . provide carpool parking Option 2 (non-residential): for projects that provide parking for less than 5% of FTE building occupants: provide carpool parking Option 3 (residential): do not exceed local codes shared vehicle program Option 4 (all): provide no new parking

Protect or Restore Habitat

Intention: Conserve existing natural areas Restore damaged areas Provide habitat space Promote biodiversity 1 Implementation: Green field sites : protect by limiting site disturbance beyond: 40 ft. of building perimeter 25 ft. of constructed areas 15 ft. of roadways 10 ft. of walkways 15 ft. of main utility trenches & 10ft. for utilities less than 12in. diameter previously developed sites : keep 50% of site green (using native species) exclude building footprint in calculation zero-lot-line: projects earning SS2 (60,000 sq.ft. min/acre) and using vegetated roofs may apply vegetated roof surface for this calculation 20% of site area to be green include building footprint in calculation 1- variation in life forms

Maximize Open Space

Intention: A high open space to footprint ratio Promote biodiversity Implementation: Case 1: there IS a local code for open space restriction open space should exceed local code by 25% Case 2: there is NO code (campuses or military bases) open space is to be same size as building footprint Case 3: there IS a local code, but ZERO open space requirement: open space should be 20% of site area

Storm water Design - Quantity Control

Intention:
Limit the disruption of natural hydrology Increase on-site filtration Manage storm water runoff Eliminate sources of contaminants Reduce impervious cover Reduce/eliminate pollution Remove pollutants from storm water runoff Storm water Design (for reduction of impervious surface) alternative surfaces: rain gardens, vegetated swales, rainwater recycling non-structural surfaces: vegetated roofs, pervious pavement, grid pavers .

Implementation:
case 1: impervious surface1 less than or equal to 50% of total site area post-development peak discharge rate and quantity equal to or less than predevelopment implement a storm water management plan that protect receiving stream channels from excessive erosion by implementing a stream channel protection strategy and quantity control strategies. case 2: impervious surface more than 50% of total site area post-development peak discharge rate and quantity 25% less than predevelopment
1-artificial structures, such as pavements and building roofs, which replace naturally pervious soil with impervious construction materials.

Storm water Design - Quality Control

Intention:
Limit the disruption of natural hydrology Increase on-site filtration Manage storm water runoff Eliminate sources of contaminants Reduce impervious cover Reduce/eliminate pollution Remove pollutants from storm water runoff Storm water Design (for reduction of impervious surface) alternative surfaces: rain gardens, vegetated swales, rainwater recycling non-structural surfaces: vegetated roofs, pervious pavement, grid pavers

Implementation: treat and capture 90% storm water runoff 1 remove 80% TSS2 use acceptable BMPs considering the following: sustainable design strategies: low impact, environmentally sensitive design) alternative surfaces: vegetated roofs, swales natural and mechanical treatment: constructed wetlands, vegetated filters and open channels
1- Total suspended solids 2- Best Management Practices

Heat Island Effect - Non Roof

The Heat Island effect occurs when warm temperatures are experienced in urban areas compared to adjacent rural areas1 because of solar energy retention on constructed surfaces. Basically, all of that black asphalt and concrete on the ground makes areas a lot warmer. This credit reduces this effect. This credit also mentions the Solar Reflectance Index (SRI). Its a way to measure a materials ability to reject solar heat. It ranged from 0 (black) to 100 (white). This is not to be confused with emissivity, which is the ratio of the radiation emitted by a surface to the radiation emitted by a black body at the same temperature.
1- are sparsely settled places away from the influence of large cities. (Countrysides)

Intention: Reduce heat islands Minimize impact on microclimate and habitats Implementation: option 1: provide shade to 50% of site area (within 5 years of occupancy) provide open grid area (parking, roads, sidewalks) with paving material of SRI 29 or higher. option 2: provide 50% parking underground or under roof provide paving material with SRI 29 or higher.

Heat Island Effect - Roof

Intention: Reduce heat islands Minimize impact on microclimate and habitats Implementation: option 1: 75% roof material should be: SRI 78 for a slope less than 2:12 (low-sloped roof) SRI 29 for a slope more than 2:12 (steep-sloped roof) option 2: Install a vegetated roof for at least 50% of the roof area option3: combination of options 1 & 2: Calculation of (Area of SRI roof /0.75) + (Area of vegetated roof / 0.5) is greater than total roof area.

Light Pollution Reduction

Intention: Minimize light trespass from building and site Reduce sky glow Improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction Reduce development impact on nocturnal environments

Implementation: 4 Light Zones LZ1: dark, density less than 200 people per square mile LZ2: low (residential) LZ3: medium (commercial, industrial and high-density residential) LZ4: high major city centers, entertainment districts) Interior Lighting:
stays inside non-emergency lights shut down at non-business hours

Exterior Lighting:
provide for comfort and safety only DO NOT exceed 80% of lighting power densities for exterior area and 50% for building facades and landscape features. DO NOT install lighting more than 2.5 times building height from property line Credit does not apply to 3 story buildings, warehouses, and manufactured homes.

Done by
Mahmood Rashed Siyavash