Sustainable Sites
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Sustainable Sites Credits
The sustainable sites category rewards projects for designing the site to minimize adverse impacts on the site location.  There are 6 categories in LEED for Homes related to Sustainable Sites.

  • Stewardship
           Intent:  Minimize long-term environmental damage to building lot
           Prerequisites:
           1.1  - Erosion Controls During Construction
               
CPESC - Certified Professional Erosion and Sedimentation  Control
                EPA Erosion

               a) Stockpile and protect disturbed topsoil
               b) Control runoff with silt fencing, or similar measures
               c)  Protect on-site storm sewer inlets, streams, and lakes
                      e.g. - straw bales, silt fencing, silt sacks, rock filters
               d) If soils in sloped area disturbed- use tiers, erosion blankets, compost
                   blankets, filter socks, and berms
                Erosion Control Technology Council
                International Erosion Control Association
                Soil Erosion and Sedimentation in the Great Lakes Region


            Credits:
            1.2 - Minimize disturbed Area of Site (1 point)

               Where site not previously disturbed:
               a) Develop tree or plant preservation with "no disturbance zone"
               b) Leave at least 40% of buildable lot undisturbed, not including area
                   under roof- only counts softscapes, e.g. not driveways (hardscapes)
             OR
             Where site previously developed:
              c) Develop tree or plant preservation with "no disturbance zone" and
                  rehabilitate lot by undoing soil compaction and meeting requirement 2.2
             
Ecological Restoration
              Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center
              North American Native Plant Society
              Plant Native
              Society for Ecological Restoration International
              Soil and Water Conservation Society
             OR
             d) Build on site with a lot area of less than 1/2 acre, or with housing
                 density that => 7 units/acre.  For multifamily - lot size calculated as total
                 lot size/number of units.

         
  • Landscaping
          Intent: Design landscape features to avoid invasive species, minimize water
                      demand and synthetic chemicals.
           Prerequisites:
           2.1 No Invasive Plants:

               US Department of Agriculture
           Credits:
           2.2 Basic Landscape Design (2 points)
             a) Turf must be drought tolerant
             b) No turf in densely shaded areas
             c) No turf in areas with slope of 25% (i.e., 4:1)
             d) Add mulch or soil amendments as appropriate
             e) All compacted soil (e.g. from construction) tilled to at least 6 inches
           2.3 Limited Conventional Turf (maximum 3 points)
               American Society of Landscape Architects
           And/Or
           2.4 Drought-Tolerant Plants (maximum 2 points)    

                Extension Service Offices      
           2.5 Reduce Overall Irrigation Demand (minimum of 25%)
  • Local Heat Island Effects
          Intent: Reduce local heat island effects.
          Prerequisites: None
          Credits:
           3 Reduce Local Heat Island Effects (1 point)
               a) Locate trees or plants to provide shade for at least 50% of sidewalks,
                   patios, driveways 50 feet from home- based on 5 years growth.
               b) High albedo materials for at least 50% of sidewalks, patios, driveways
                   within 50 fee of home, e.g. white concrete, gray concrete, open pavers
                   (any material solar reflectance index (SRI) at least 29.
                American Concrete Pavement
                EPA Heat Island
  • Surface Water Management
          Intent: Minimize erosion and runoff from the home site
          Prerequisites: None
          Credits:
          4.1 Permeable Lot (maximum 4 points)
          Permeable Pavement NAHB Research Center
          4.2 Permanent Erosion Controls (1 point)
          Storm Water Center
          4.3 Management of Runoff from Roof (maximum 2 points) 
          Greenroofs
                 
  • Non Toxic Pest Control
          Intent: Minimize need for poisons to control insects, rodents, other pests
          Prerequisites: None
          Credits:
          5  Pest Control Alternatives (1/2 point each, maximum 2 points)
          Bio-Integral Resource Center
          Integrated Pest Management Practitioners Association
  • Compact Development
           Intent:  Conserve land by compact development
           Prerequisites:
None
           Credits:
              6.1 Moderate Density (2 points)
              6.2 High Density (3 points)
              6.3 Very High Density (4 points)

              Affordable Housing Design Advisor






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