LEED GA Study Guide-studio4.pdf

LEED Green Associate Study Guide

We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors...we borrow it from our children

A Study Resource for Green Building and LEED Core Concepts and the LEED Green Associate Exam Process

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

LEED Green Associate Study Guide 2009 Edition Addenda: 01 February, 2010

NOTICE DISCLAIMER THIS STUDY GUIDE IS PROVIDED BY Studio4, LLC ON AN “AS IS” BASIS. Studio4, LLC MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED AS TO THE INFORMATION, CONTENT, MATERIALS OR PRODUCTS INCLUDED IN THIS DOCUMENT. TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY APPLICABLE LAW, Studio4, LLC DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. Studio4, LLC WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OF ANY KIND ARISING FROM THE USE OF THESE MATERIALS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, PUNITIVE, AND CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. The materials herein are intended to be used as supplemental study materials for preparation of the LEED Green Associate examination. This study guide should be considered as a supplement to the study materials as recommended by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). Studio4, LLC makes no guarantees for passing the LEED Green Associate examination. As a condition of use, the user covenants not to sue and agrees to waive and release Studio4, LLC, its officers, directors and volunteers from any and all claims, demands and causes of action for any injuries or losses that the user may now or hereafter have a right to assert against such parties as a result of the use of, or reliance on, this study guide. COPYRIGHT All content included in this study guide is the property of Studio4, LLC and is protected by U.S. copyright laws. You are not permitted to modify, distribute, reproduce, publish, transmit or create derivative documents from any material in this document for any private, public or commercial purposes. You may download a copy of the study guide for personal, non-commercial use, provided that you do not remove any copyright, trademark or other proprietary notices from the downloaded materials without prior written approval from Studio4, LLC. USGBC® and U.S. Green Building Council® are trademarks owned by U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. (USGBC) GBCI™ and Green Building Certification Institute™ are trademarks of Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). LEED® is a registered trademark of USGBC, used by GBCI under license from USGBC. Studio4, LLC is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, USGBC®, GBCI™ or LEED®. The content of this study guide is the copyrighted property of Studio4, LLC. All other trademarks in this study guide are the property or their respective owners. If any person or entity believes this document contains copyrighted materials without their permission, please contact Studio4. Studio4, LLC Larry C. Sims principal SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

Table of Contents Notice Disclaimer Copyright

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CHAPTER | 1 Introductory conversations into sustainable design and construction and the associated benefits of the roles of the LEED AP and LEED rating sysems

Introduction

About this Study Guide Commentaries: the Value of LEED Why Bother with LEED® Certification? LEED® vs Green Integrated Design Process Green Trend Forecasting

2 2 3 4 5 6

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CHAPTER | 2 An analysis between conventional construction techniques versus green building strategies and the environmental impacts associated with each

Green Building

Why Green Building Green Buildings Green Building Core Principles Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Integrative Design Approach Integrative Process Building Program Credit Interactions Harvard University Office of Sustainability Green Building Resource Green Building Costs Hard Costs Soft Costs Life Cycle Costs Green Building Benefits Economic Benefits Health and Community Benefits Environmental Benefits ENERGY STAR Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep

Green Associate Study Guide SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Table of Contents 20

CHAPTER | 3 A review of the U.S. Green Building Council, Green Building Certification Institute, LEED and the processes required for, and associated with, LEED certification

USGBC and its Programs

Introduction USGBC’s Mission U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) The Triple Bottom Line Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) LEED Green Building Rating Systems LEED Rating Systems: Project Types LEED Rating Systems: Overview LEED Reference Guides Rating System Structure Prerequisite and Credit Structure LEED 2009 Credit Harmonization Credit Weightings Carbon Overlay Credit Interpretation Request (CIRs) Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) Registration and Certification Process GBCI LEED Online Credit Scorecard Credit Forms and Calculators Charrette Project Administrator LEED AP LEED Certification Certification Process: General Certification Process: Overview Certification Process: Detailed LEED for Homes LEED Accreditation USGBC Portfolio Program LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG) USGBC/GBCI Logo Policies


21 22 22 22 22 23 23 23 24 25 26 26 28 28 28 28 29 30 31 31 31 31 31 32 32 32 32 33 34 34 39 41 42 42 42

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Table of Contents The Appendix Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: the Program Narrative

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CHAPTER | 4 The goals of the Sustainable Sites credit category are to promote the following measures: select and develop a site wisely, reduce emissions associated with transportation, plant sustainable landscapes, protection of surrounding habitats, manage stormwater runoff, reduce heat island effects and eliminate light pollution

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Credit Matrix Site Related Boundaries Building Footprint Development Footprint Property Boundary Project Boundary LEED Project Boundary Introduction Transportation Site Selection Site Design and Management Low Impact Development (LID) Stormwater Management Heat Island Effect Light Pollution Reduction Development Density and Community Connectivity Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) Codes & Referenced Standards Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: Sustainable Sites

49 49 49 49 49 49 49 50 50 52 53 55 55 57 59 60 62 63 64 64 65 68

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CHAPTER | 5 The goals of the Water Efficiency credit category are to promote the following measures: monitor water consumption performance, reduce indoor potable water consumption, reduce water consumption to save energy and improve environmental well being, practice water efficient landscaping and, in Schools, use water efficient processes as a teaching tool

Water Efficiency (WE) Credit Matrix Introduction

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Table of Contents Water Type Definitions Reducing Indoor Potable Water Consumption Reducing Water to Save Energy and Improve Environmental Well Being Practicing Water Efficient Landscaping In Schools, Use Water efficient Processed as a Teaching Tool Water Efficient Strategies Codes & Referenced Standards Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: Water Efficiency

79 80 80 80 80 80 83 84 84 84 86

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CHAPTER | 6 The goals of the Energy & Atmosphere credit category are to promote three kinds of activities: tracking a building’s energy performance through design, commissioning and monitoring, managing refrigerants to eliminate CFCs and using renewable energy

Energy and Atmosphere (EA)

Credit Matrix Introduction Energy Demand Energy Efficiency Energy Simulation Managing Refrigerants to Eliminate CFCs Renewable Energy Ongoing Energy Performance Building Commissioning Monitoring and Verification Codes & Referenced Standards Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: Energy and Atmosphere

91 91 92 93 94 95 96 98 98 99 100 100 100 101 104

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CHAPTER | 7 The goals of the Materials and Resources credit category are to promote the following measures: select sustainable materials, practice waste reduction, reduce waste at its source and the reuse and recycling of materials

Materials and Resources (MR)

Credit Matrix Introduction Sustainable Materials Selection Waste Reduction Practices Waste Reduction at its Source

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Table of Contents Reuse and Recycling Waste Management Calculating Material Costs Materials and Resources Credit Metrics Sustainable Material Selection Strategies Storage and Collection of Recyclables: Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof Building Reuse: Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements Materials Reuse Recycled Content Regional Materials Rapidly Renewable Materials Certified Wood Consider purchasing third party certification sustainable products Life Cycle Impacts Codes & Referenced Standards Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: Materials and Resources

112 112 113 113 113 113 113 113 114 114 114 114 114 114 114 115 116 116 116 119

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CHAPTER | 8 The goals of the Indoor Environmental Quality credit category are to promote the following measures: improving ventilation, managing air contaminants, specifying less harmful materials, allowing occupants to control desired settings and to provide daylight and views

Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)

Credit Matrix Introduction Ventilation Improvement Air Contaminant Management Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Particulate Matter Material Selection Decisions Occupant Control of Systems Daylight and Views Core & Shell (CS) Schools Codes & Referenced Standards Final Thoughts Terminology to know Thoughts to keep Studio4 Office Project: Indoor Environmental Quality


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Table of Contents 142

CHAPTER | 9 The Innovation in Design credit category awards bonus points for projects that use new and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance and for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team

Innovation in Design (ID)

Credit Matrix Introduction ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design Innovation in Design (Innovative Performance) Exemplary Performance Rating System ID Points ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design Path 1: Innovation in Design (Innovative Performance) Path 2: Exemplary Performance ID Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional ID Credit 3: The School as a Teaching Tool Studio4 Office Project: Innovation in Design

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CHAPTER | 10 USGBC has identified environmental concerns that are important for every region of the country and offers bonus points for credits that address those regional priorities

Regional Priority (RP)

Credit Matrix Regional Priority Credits Studio4 Office Project: Regional Priority Studio4 Office Project: Certification Summary

149 149 150 152

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CHAPTER | 11 The LEED Green Associate accreditation is for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice denoting basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations

LEED Green Associate Exam

LEED Green Associate Exam Study Materials 4 Steps for Exam Preparation Getting Started Examination Eligibility Requirements Applying for the Exam Registration and Scheduling LEED Green Associate Application and Exam Fees Testing Rules & Regulations


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Table of Contents One Month Before Your Exam One Week Before Your Exam The Day of Your Exam Examination Format Miscellaneous Passing the Exam Failing the Exam Certificates Exam Specifications LEED Credentialing 5 Things Every Candidate Should Know Examination Question Format

158 158 158 158 158 159 159 159 159 161 162 162

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CHAPTER | 12 A directory of the seven primary areas of study recommended for preparation of the Green Associate examination

The Seven Domains

1. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process 2. Project Site Factors 3. Water Management 4. Project Systems and Energy Impacts 5. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials 6. Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation 7. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach

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CHAPTER | 13 Acronyms, abbreviations and definitions that may be unfamiliar or have specific meanings in the context of sustainability and green building

Acronyms & Glossary of Terms Acronyms & Abbreviations Glossary of Terms

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CHAPTER | 14 Green resource links, charts, processes, fees, credit interactions, referenced standards and miscellaneous support information

Appendix

Green Resources Websites Publications Blogs

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Table of Contents USGBC & GBCI Organizational Chart Six Steps to Certification Project Certification Fees LEED Rating Systems & Reference Guides LEED Rating Systems Reference Guides Project Checklist Sample Credit Form Sample Commissioning Process Commissioning Authority Tasks and Responsibilities Referenced Standards Credit Interactions LEED Rating Systems: Detailed LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations LEED for Core & Shell LEED for Commercial Interiors LEED for Schools LEED for Healthcare LEED for Retail LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance LEED for Homes LEED for Neighborhood Development


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ersonal involvement with sustainable ideals is a noble cause, regardless the philosophical differences we may have with regard to the issues at hand and how these issues are best addressed. Being committed to our sustainable goals in a responsible manner can deliver a process of educated dialog that will help safeguard the environment for this generation and beyond.

CHAPTER | 1

Introduction

»» About this Study Guide »» Commentaries: the Value of LEED »» Why Bother with LEED Certification »» LEED vs Green »» Integrated Design Process »» Green Trend Forecasting

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Introduction About this Study Guide It should be understood that this is a third party study guide and should be used as a supplement to USGBC and GBCI materials. USGBC has made a commitment to see that LEED processes and information highways are frequently updated to meet ever changing demands. As such, it is important to be connected in order to remain current. The first page of the Appendix section has a listing of USGBC and GBCI web sites as well as links to additional green resource sites. The Seven Domains chapter addresses each of the specific subject matter outlined in the Green Associate Candidate Handbook as being required areas for study. To assist in understanding green building and LEED’s relationship with sustainability, a LEED project has been developed that progressively builds at the end of each sustainable category chapter. The intent of creating a project from site selection to credit selection is to present a broad overview of the integrated design approach for achieving credits in order to produce a cost effective, high performance building. The intent of this project is to relate the sustainable items discussed in the chapter to the process of how they are implemented. The content is beyond that required for the Green Associate exam and need not be studied but read as a source to understand how LEED is used as a tool for the development of green projects. The Studio4 Office Project is introduced at the conclusion of the USGBC and its Programs chapter and continues at the conclusion of each sustainable category chapter.

Commentaries: the Value of LEED Most likely, we will continue the debates for years to come on climate change and carbon footprints and the impact of population and development growth on the environment. Regardless our position, consider the environmental consequences of an owner’s decision regarding the location of a new facility for their business. What if the owner decides to build in a location remote of any existing supporting infrastructures such as housing, mass transportation and community services like restaurants, gas stations, churches, post offices and grocery stores? The negative impact to natural resources such as forestry, fossil fuels and fresh water supplies could be profound. But what if the owner decided, instead, to relocate to an existing facility or construct a new building in a densely populated urban area? Housing, mass transportation and community services already in place would substantially reduce the burden on our natural resources. Even on a personal level, with minimal effort or initial cost, we can make a difference in helping preserve our natural resources. Recycling, automobile efficiency and travel habits along with water efficient landscaping and plumbing fixtures alone are easy and effective places to begin. There can be no argument that we must become more educated in our understanding how everyone can make a difference contributing both individually and collectively to the conservation of our natural resources, while providing more efficient and healthier places to live, work and play. We must all realize the consequences of standing by the wayside and doing nothing. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors... we borrow it from our children

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Introduction Why Bother with LEED® Certification? Part one: Intrinsic Benefits Building owners often question the additional time and expense involved with registering a building for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED (Registered)) certification through the United States Green Building Council (USGBC), versus just simply including ‘’green’’ features in a project. There are several reasons why owners choose to have their buildings certified through the various LEED Rating Systems. Some building owners feel that environmentally, it is the right thing to do. Others make the decision to pursue LEED due to requirements of their own governing body. Still other building owners pursue a financial incentive offered through their local government or parent organization. Essentially, there are three general reasons why building owners should seek Certification: commitment, legitimacy, and marketability. Commitment. By registering your project with the USGBC you are committing to design and construct your building to the standards and requirements outlined by the LEED Rating System. Your design team and your building’s contractor are then committed to integrating those design features to ensure that your building is more durable, healthy and more energy efficient. Through the rigors of budget, programming, or other project challenges, these ‘’green’’ features will remain because you and your team decided to produce a building that merits LEED Certification and national recognition for its sustainability. Legitimacy. In the face of widespread ‘’green washing’’ (i.e.: the attempt by businesses or individuals to mislead consumers as to the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service), LEED Certification tells your peers, clients and customers, that your building’s sustainable features have been verified by a third party to promote energy conservation, to ensure a healthier indoor environment and to reduce its impact on the environment. LEED is a consensus-based system, meaning one that was commented and voted upon by the USGBC’s diverse membership. It ensures that your project team didn’t just invent the ‘’green’’ requirements on your own or design your project to some arbitrary definition of sustainability. Instead, thousands of professionals (there are over 100,000 LEED Accredited Professionals within the USGBC) collaborated, discussed and agreed upon these requirements. Marketability. A LEED Certified headquarters, branch office, retail location, or elementary school is a strong marketing tool to show the community that your organization is committed to something greater than itself. It demonstrates that you were willing to make the extra effort to not only include those features, but also to have them confirmed - better yet Certified - by a nationally and internationally recognized leader in the field. The LEED Rating System is a tool that can help create a space that will enhance your employees’, clients’, or students’ everyday environment while reducing operating and maintenance costs as well as decreasing its impact on the environment. LEED Certification demonstrates how it was accomplished.

Michael Senger, LEED AP, is a Mechanical Engineer with Heapy Engineering. Involved in over 100 LEED projects and with +50 LEED Accredited Professional on staff, Heapy Engineering is one of the leading sustainable design firms in the country. Michael is also a Board Member of the Cincinnati Regional Chapter of the USGBC. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Introduction LEED® vs Green Three years ago, my team of graduate engineering students was presenting the energy, environmental, and economic analysis for the construction of a net-zero energy building. The client patiently listened, asked questions, and then dictated a verdict... we had the financial green light. Years of analysis, research, and calculations had paid off. Next, we assembled a professional design team to take the project from concept to concrete. The house would have it all: net-zero energy use, a sustainable project site, low water use, and sustainable materials. The idea of LEED certification was brought up and immediately dismissed by the team. Why would our building need such a stamp of approval when we knew just how good the design was? No one knew just how wrong we were. Throughout the various stages of design, our student team lamented as the green features were removed. Once completed, the building would retain its net-zero energy status, but had lost all other important green features. My current projects are larger and more expensive than that small house. But, the values of the lessons learned during my final years as a graduate student are greater than any that I have learned. I have come to realize the true value of the LEED rating system as a necessity to truly attain sustainable (‘’green’’) design. During my career, I have seen project teams make 70% of the design decisions while spending just the first 1% of the design budget. Thus, it becomes a daunting task to retroactively set project goals ... specifically sustainability goals. The less prominent the goal, the more likely the feature necessary to attain that goal will fall by the wayside or be ‘’value-engineered’’ from the project. The LEED Rating System is a tool that a design team uses in order to insure that a project’s green features are properly designed, constructed, and accounted for. Human error pervades the construction process. Examples of such errors include ordering the wrong product, calculation mistakes, or forgetting a step in a process. The LEED process, by no means ensures a perfect building. However, many portions of the LEED process act to significantly decrease such errors. One of the most prominent examples is the Commissioning process, which is a service that all owners will benefit from, regardless of project scope, size, or cost. Once the entire project has been completed, the owner asks, ‘’What insures that I now own and operate a green building?’’ If the project has achieved LEED Certification, the team can be certain of their answer. The entire project team knows which goals have been successfully achieved, how much energy and water the building should save, and what type of indoor environment has been created for the building occupants. A holistic perspective is necessary to grasp the true impact of a third-party rating system such as LEED. The LEED Rating system has two major components. First, LEED promotes general sustainability oriented features such as bike racks and daylighting. Second, LEED is a group of ‘’best-practice’’ codes and standards compiled to influence the construction industry. When projects pursue LEED Certification, the market is driven to provide goods and services that attain the standards that have been chosen. Each LEED-Certified project strengthens the green building movement, pushes for products that are less impactful on people and the environment, and enables property owners to truly know just how ‘’green’’ their building is.

Greg Raffio, LEED AP, is with Heapy Engineering SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Introduction Integrated Design Process The built and natural environments are inextricably and vitally linked. To create a high performance / sustainable facility, a collaborative design approach is essential for a successful outcome. The Integrated Design Process fosters knowledge-sharing among significant stakeholders during the development of a holistic design and leads to increased project value. These stakeholders should be comprised of the owner group, key users, facilities directors, programmers, real estate managers, architects, commissioning agents, civil engineers, planners, mechanical engineers, interior designers, structural engineers, construction managers, electrical engineers, plumbing designers, landscape architects, and / or key specialty consultants. The General Contractor and / or the Construction Manager should also be included in this process to encourage the sharing of cost, scheduling and construction knowledge. This will also familiarize the contractor with the construction intent resulting in a more accurate bid and more efficient construction period. During the traditional approach, design and construction professionals work somewhat independently on their respective area of expertise. One of two things can happen when consultants are added to the design process midstream. The new team member shares expertise that changes the project late in the process, requiring more time, effort and money to back track; or more commonly, the team decides not to pursue the new approach. In either case, the project and the owner suffer a consequence. ‘Value Engineering’ during design and construction becomes the norm, which leads to value loss. The Integrated Design Process deviates from this traditional approach as it leverages the collective expertise as early as the pre-design phase, where the highest potentials and greatest values are realized. ‘Value’ engineering tends to generate project cuts, which successfully lessen the construction costs, but usually lessen the true value. The Integrated Design Process is vital to a successful work process, which can lessen the damages of ‘value’ engineering. By bringing all the stakeholders to the design process early, intensive analysis and in-depth investigations can discover complementary and innovative project goals and design strategies when change costs less. This Integrated Design Team establishes project goals together while engaging in a productive exchange of ideas. The team understands, applies and tests these goals throughout the design process. Stakeholders share their knowledge in multi-day charrette (brainstorming) formats; trade-offs and connections are recognized. Problems are reframed and better solutions are generated by creating an innovative and collaborative environment where each opinion matters. The entire team establishes and meets the project goals, objectives and major solutions. These charrettes frequently become rather lively and informal without jurisdiction. They are investigatory by nature, thoughtfully critiqued and leverage the expertise and resources of the team. Connections are made that typically are not immediately understood, such as how paint color impacts the mechanical load or how building orientation affects human productivity. Sometimes the most effective solutions have the lowest construction cost implications and might be undiscovered in a traditional design process. By utilizing the Integrated Design Process, deep curiosity, thorough analysis and strategic, technical problem solving prevail, leading to a more comprehensive, cost effective and sustainable facility.

Chad Edwards, RA, LEED AP, is an Associate at Emersion Design and serves on the USGBC Cincinnati Regional Chapter Board of Directors. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Introduction Green Trend Forecasting Over the course of the last 8 years, Green talk has infiltrated everything. The number of ‘’Green Building’’ articles in newspapers has jumped from around 1,000 per year in 2000 to more than 9,000 in 2007. More cities and states are adopting green building incentives and policies (like Cincinnati and Ohio). Much of this has been attributed to the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Rating system and its success. The USGBC has had a huge impact on the building industry as membership in the organization has grown by 50% every year for the last ten years. But there is something much larger at work in our world than the impact of LEED. Companies ranging from Wal-Mart to Starbucks are touting their sustainability initiatives, and it isn’t just limited to the United States. There are now Green Building Councils in twelve countries on five continents. Somewhere along the way, ‘green’ has crossed the line between a fad and a movement. Motivations for companies going green vary widely, and aside from the obvious motivation of saving the planet, many organizations have gone green to save money, or even to simply improve their public image. Still others have started talking green just to ride the wave of dollars following as customers seek greener products, vehicles, homes, and offices. So what’s next? Amidst the green buzz, here are several trends in the green movement that visionary businesses should be preparing for. The first green trend and the reason LEED has been successful, is third party verification. In a time when Chevron and BP make commercials about their sustainability missions, and green-washing claims like ‘all natural’ are everywhere, it is important to have verifiable definitions for what green really is. For buildings, that is LEED, but there are many other important third party verifications for the rest of our lives and businesses. The International Organization for Standardization is developing the 14000 series of ISO standards to define vocabulary and validate processes for product manufacturing and environmental impact management. The second trend related to going green is rising energy costs. This should go without saying, but energy will only get more expensive before and if it ever gets cheaper. A comparison between investing the same amount of money in the S&P 500 or in energy efficiency for your building puts it all in perspective. Over the last ten years, the S&P 500 Index Fund has increased 36.8% while energy costs have risen 300%. The phrase ‘’Blue collar jobs to Green collar jobs’’ is one of the hottest topics for politicians, and represents the third trend. With the global push for sustainability, the need for solar panel manufacturing and installing, wind turbine manufacturing, green product manufacturing, and an endless list of sustainable business opportunities justifies the name ‘’the Next Industrial Revolution’’. Finally, savvy businesses recognize that by embracing sustainability at their core, employees will be proud to work there. When your job and your company is about more than just making widgets, a sense of loyalty and pride is inevitable, and as ‘Generation Y’ takes hold in the workforce, with their notorious ‘job-hopping’ tendencies, it is even more important for employers to recognize the recruitment potential of going green before their competitors do.

Shawn Hesse, of Emersion Design, was the 2008 Chair of the USGBC Cincinnati Chapter SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Annually, buildings account for 39% of the total energy used and 72% of the electricity consumed in the U.S. Each day 5 billion gallons of potable water are used to flush toilets. Green building practices can substantially reduce negative environmental impacts through high performance, market leading design, construction and operations practices. Green operations and management reduces operating costs and increases workers’ productivity by improving indoor air quality.

CHAPTER | 2 Green Building

»» Why Green Building »» Green Buildings »» Green Building Core Principles »» Life Cycle Assessment & Life Cycle Cost »» Integrative Design »» Integrative Process »» Building Program »» Credit Interaction »» Harvard University »» Green Building Costs »» Green Building Benefits »» ENERGY STAR »» Final Thoughts

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Green Building Why Green Building Legitimate question! Or, perhaps, better to ask Why not Green Building? Often an answer to a question is better understood when presented in the reverse. Simply stated, conventional building methods are not sustainable. They use too much energy, create too much waste and are not conducive to acceptable levels of satisfactory occupant health and comfort. The cumulative impact of the design, construction and operation of built environments has profound implications for human health, the environment and the economy. With conventional development and construction practices: • Clearing of land for development often destroys wildlife habitat • Extracting, manufacturing and transportation materials contribute to the pollution of water and air, the release of toxic chemicals and the emission of greenhouse gases • Building related transportation contributes to a wide range of impacts associated with vehicle use, energy consumption and harmful environmental effects In the U.S., conventional buildings account for a high portion of natural resource use and waste generation: • 14% of potable water consumption • 30% of waste output • 38% of carbon dioxide (CO2)emissions • 40% of raw material use • 39% of energy use • 72% of electrical consumption By definition, sustainability is the ability of the current generation to meet its own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. With the projected population growth coupled with the vast amount of resources that our buildings consume, we are going to have to get a lot smarter about how we build. The goal of sustainable design, or “green” design, is to create high performance buildings that result in minimal environmental impact, reduced infrastructure and efficient building operations through a coordinated team effort and intelligent design decisions. Green buildings lead to increased facility assets, increased worker productivity and reduction in risk management, often at little additional cost. Federal, state and local governments are adopting more sustainable building practices. Government agencies, utility companies and manufacturers increasingly offer financial incentives to developers and owners to enhance the environmental performance of their buildings. Studies on green building performance have shown substantial average savings and Improvements: • 13% lower maintenance costs • 26% less energy usage • 27% higher levels of occupant satisfaction • 33% lower carbon dioxide emissions Now, Why Green Building? SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Green Building Green Buildings Green building is an integrative effort to transform the way built environments are designed, constructed and operated. The scope of green building reaches from the earliest stages of planning to beyond the end of a structure’s life. Utilizing a holistic, or whole building, approach to the design and construction, green building produces high performance by focusing on sustainable categories as defined by LEED. With an integrative and holistic approach, the interaction, or synergies and trade-offs, between construction strategies is managed to provide maximum performance results. LEED channels green design through sustainable categories as determined by the environmental issues being addressed. The five sustainable categories of LEED (except LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development) plus the two categories for ID and RP: • Sustainable Sites (SS) • Water Efficiency (WE) • Energy and Atmosphere (EA) • Materials and Resources (MR) • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) • Innovation in Design (ID) • Regional Priority (RP)

The sustainable Categories of LEED

Green Building Core Principles • Optimize site selection to preserve green space and minimize transportation impacts • Orient building to take maximum advantage of sunlight and micro-climate • Use energy as efficiently as possible • Maximize the use of renewable energy • Use water as efficiently as possible • Minimize waste water and run-off • Minimize materials impacts by using green products • Design for a healthy indoor environment SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Green Building Life Cycle Assessment and Life Cycle Cost Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an informed choice of building materials and systems that minimizes the negative impacts of the building and land use on people and the environment. The process begins as early as planning and design, analyzes construction activities and then goes beyond convention by including building operations and the eventual retirement and renewal of materials. In essence, a life cycle assessment considers the building along with its materials and components, from their extraction, manufacture and transport, to their use, reuse, recycling and disposal. A cradle-to-grave analysis. Life Cycle Cost (LCC) analysis is a method for assessing the total cost of ownership. It takes into account all costs of acquiring, owning and operating, and the eventual disposal of a building. Sustainable design requires an analysis of a building over its entire life and life cycle cost analysis identifies which high performance building systems will save money over the life of the building. For example: Product A may cost less and have a life expectancy of 5 years whereas Product B may cost a little more but have a life expectancy of 15 years, making Product B a better choice due to it having a better life cycle cost. All of the building expenses that can be calculated are included in the analysis: • • • •

Initial costs (design and construction) Operating costs (energy, water, other utilities and personnel) Maintenance, repair and replacement costs Salvage value at the end of the building’s life

Value engineering is a method of calculating the value received for the dollars spent over the lifetime of a building, with the emphasis placed on obtaining the maximum life cycle value. These calculations must include the cost of construction, operation, and repair of the facility, and the efficient delivery of services. If value engineering is not applied until the later stages of design or after the design is completed, it may cause an examination of alternative design solutions; the substitution of materials, finishes, or systems; and a reevaluation of project priorities. The maximum life cycle value may result in increased initial construction costs in exchange for decreased operation costs over the useful life of the building system. Value engineering must not be a criteria for reducing the initial construction cost of the building. The construction cost per square foot is not the only measure of value when considering the efficiency of the total facility. The life-cycle cost of a building will reflect the efficiency of a building long after it is built and occupied.

Integrative Design Approach The building design process begins when the basic programmatic requirements for the project have been determined. A schematic design follows, formulating the basic theme that will be used to meet the project goals. During design development, the scheme is further refined into a design which is used for preparing the construction documents. Conventionally, the architect, engineers, contractors and others work independently of each other, with little or no coordination and communication between the various disciplines. This type of segregated design and communication limits integration and synergistic opportunities, often leading to under or over designed systems. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Green Building In an integrative design approach, all stakeholders, such as owners and facility managers, and design team members are brought into the project at the earliest stage to discuss the project goals and requirements. At various stages of the design process, reviews are conducted to verify that the owner’s requirements and goals are being met. Integrative design allows the stakeholders and design team to coordinate the design process so that each member is aware of all decisions made. This is critical as most decisions made relative to one discipline will have an effect on other disciplines. If the owner decides to omit day lighting controls, this will most likely cause a change to the building heat gain, requiring additional cooling capacity while also increasing the electrical loads and energy consumption. Integrative and holistic design and understanding synergies are essential to meeting the sustainable goals of a green building. All interested parties must be gathered early, communicate often and coordinate their efforts collectively to ensure success.

Integrative Process The success of the integrative design process is dependant upon the makeup of the project team and its integration into the project at the earliest stages possible. For a typical project, the team members involved would include: • Project Owner: defines the parameters of the project and participates in the selection of the project team • Architect: responsible for the design of the building and the overall coordination of the design team • Engineers: responsible for the design of the site development plan, building structural, building mechanical systems such as HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical and Lighting • Commissioning Authority: represents the owner and oversees the commissioning process, ensuring construction and operational compliance with the Contract Documents • General Contractor: responsible for construction activities in accordance with the Contract Documents • Facilities Staff: oversees and maintains the building after occupancy but Involved early in the design and construction process • Building Occupants: users of the building after occupancy and often involved in determining project requirements Another important process is a properly formulated and executed design and construction phase plan: • Predesign: collecting project requirements, establishing project goals (green strategies, target certification level) and site selection • Design: • Schematic Design (SD): prepare design options to establish project layout and scope • Design Development (DD): refinement of preliminary spaces and begin design of buildings energy systems • Construction Documents (CD): completed detailed documents ready for permitting SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Green Building • Bidding: CDs sent for bids and subsequent award of contracts to prepare for construction • Construction: the processes involved with construction from beginning until occupancy • Substantial Completion: construction has been completed and could be occupied • Final Completion: All construction activities completed • Certificate of Occupancy: legal authorization by local building officials that project conforms to applicable codes • Occupancy: buildings can only be legally occupied after the Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.

Building Program The Project Team’s building program should include: the physical constraints of the project; general room by room description; the project’s environmental vision and goals and it’s design criteria and priorities; criteria for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials selection, waste and demolition recylcing as well as other green requirements; consideration of the local cultural and climatic factors including ease of pedestrian and mass transit access; budget; schedule

Credit Interactions One of the most critical aspects of a successful green project strategy is to understand the credit interactions, or synergies, that may develop when a credit is being considered. It would be difficult, at best, to recognize all the behind-the-scenes interactions taking place without developing an integrative project team. How one credit impacts other areas can have both positive, synergies, and negative, trade-offs, implications. A good project team will consider the fact that every decision they make will have, to some degree, an impact somewhere along the chain. Recognizing the importance of understanding synergies and trade-offs is just simply being a responsible professional. An argument can be made that every action has an opposite and equal reaction. Certainly, every action has some degree of reaction and the importance here is, first, to recognizing these reactions and, second, analyzing the overall impact to the project as a whole. One of the simpler examples to use would be the issues related with ‘cool’ roofs. Obviously a cool roof with a lighter color will be of great value in a hot environment such as Florida. The roof would reflect much of the sun’s energy - allowing the building to be cooler - requiring less cooling - reducing the size of required HVAC equipment - resulting in less energy consumption. Great! This is what we’re striving for. Now take that ‘cool’ roof to the upper limits of Michigan. The absolute same reactions but NOT what we want in a colder climate. Cooler buildings equate to increased heating - requiring additional energy. This example, obviously, plays to the extreme side of the issues, but what about that cool roof somewhere in the middle of the country in a more moderate climate zone. Some decisions will be, as they say, no brainers. However, many will require a careful analysis into the pros and cons. This is why an integrative project team is important. The Appendix has several charts listing all credits and their potential for interacting with other credits. Reviewing these credit interactions and understanding just the basics of synergies and trade-offs is important to understanding green LEED. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Green Building Harvard University Office of Sustainability Green Building Resource The Harvard University Office of Sustainability Green Building Resource website is a treasure cove of information about sustainability. From Green Building Guidelines, the Integrated Design Approach, Implementation Tools, Credit-by-Credit LEED Roadmap, Energy Modeling, Life Cycle Costing, Case Studies and more, few sources offer or share more than Harvard does with their LEED projects. The Integrated Design Approach is so critical to the success of sustainable projects that Harvard offers the Integrated Design Checklist, Integrated Design 101 (10 page summary analysis) and Roadmap for the Integrated Design Process (114 page Summary Guide and Reference Manual). The following, taken from Harvard’s website, is a partial checklist of salient items relative to the Integrated Design Approach and is well worth promoting in this guide. If it is important, ask for it: Include integrated design, sustainability, occupant education & LEED goals in RFP language, interview questions, and Owners Project Requirements. Evaluate program needs: Work with building occupants and project team to assess an actual building program with space needs, and consider opportunities to share resources through adjacencies and providing communal amenities. By better understanding actual program needs, team members are more likely to work towards a common goal and create a successful project. Establish measures for success: Set measurable sustainability targets for energy, water, daylight, etc. and require reporting on progress towards goals as part of all design submissions. For successful designs, consider financial incentives such as passing on tax credits or sharing energy savings or coming in under GMP. Take advantage of available expertise: Include design charettes in Concept and Schematic Design that include representatives from all major stakeholders including members of the owner’s team, design team, construction team, and possibly vendor’s team. See HGCI sample agendas. Ask why: Question decisions made during building design and construction that were done based on “rules of thumb” or “business as usual.” Project teams should be prepared to look to alternatives to common strategies and develop solutions appropriate for their specific project. Each project is unique and technologies are constantly changing, so very few decisions should be taken for granted. Model alternative building systems: Include energy modeling in Concept, Schematic, & Design Development with multiple parametric runs to evaluate major design decisions. Design for operations and maintenance: Identify & include operations representative in charrettes, design meetings, and construction meetings. Provide comprehensive preventive maintenance plan and ensure effective training of operations and maintenance staff. Commission throughout project: Engage a commissioning agent in Schematic Design and include thorough verification of building performance and plans for continuous commissioning throughout building’s life. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Green Building Consider life cycle costs: Identify Life Cycle Costing requirements early in design prior to selecting systems and require LCC results before making major design decisions. Utilize life cycle costs when evaluating systems rather than strictly first costs. Consider alternative funding mechanisms: Make project team aware of local utility rebates, state and federal grant programs, power purchasing agreements and performance contracts and take advantage of these programs as appropriate. If the team is made aware of these opportunities early in the design process, they are more likely to suggest strategies to pursue these monies. Meter and verify performance: Identify measurement and verification requirements for the project and include operations staff and controls vendor in design process. Utilize lessons learned: Provide project team with access to and training for the High Performance Building Resource. Throughout the project, collect and share documentation including energy model files, LCC results, evaluation of consultants and contractors, and success stories.

Green Building Costs The general belief that green buildings add costs to new construction projects is often misunderstood. It is possible to design and construct green buildings with little or no extra cost with studies showing as little as a 2% cost increase for green building projects. That becomes more challenging, however, as the bar is raised for aggressively green, super-efficient buildings. Many options are available to eliminate or minimize extra costs for green buildings. In many regions, state, local and utility company incentives are available to cover costs associated with green design services or reducing the cost of specific energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and products. Importantly, by incorporating a holistic design approach that takes advantage of the interaction of building systems by optimizing systems (e.g. insulation), other systems can shrink or be eliminated (e.g. heating systems), offsetting the optimization costs. Many scenarios can be formulated to determine the net cost of green buildings compared to conventional buildings. Any effort to reduce energy consumption or improve indoor air quality above code compliant baselines is considered an added cost. Alone, this can lead to a conclusion that green buildings cost more than conventional buildings. However, when considering efforts to conserve energy as part of an integrative design approach, these added costs are often offset by new savings. For instance, if the amount of insulation in the building is increased, the size of the HVAC systems is reduced as is the amount of energy consumed. If windows are added in appropriate locations, the amount of daylighting into the building is increased, reducing the amount of artificial lighting required. Daylighting also increases occupant satisfaction and performance. The cost of building green can be compared to the costs of same class conventional buildings when considering an integrative design approach. A 2007 public opinion survey conducted by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development found a consensus believed that green buildings add 17% to the cost of a building, whereas a survey of 146 green buildings found an average cost increase of less than 2%.

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Green Building In all types of construction projects, regardless if they are conventional or sustainable, there are 2 basic types of costs related to the project: the project’s hard costs and soft costs. With LEED, a third cost element, life cycle costs, are used for the purposes of factoring into the analysis the true value of a building over it’s lifetime. Hard Costs: These costs are the expenditures for the actual construction phases of the project such as sitework, concrete, masonry, roofing, interior finishes such as carpet and painting, mechanical systems, etc. In general, these are the costs paid to the general contractor, subcontractors or material suppliers for direct construction related activities and materials. Soft Costs: These are costs for services outside the realm of what is done on the construction site. They include architectural and engineering fees, permit fees, legal and real estate fees, interest paid for the cost of doing the project, insurance, closing costs, etc. Life Cycle Costs: Synonymous with green building, “cradle to grave” costs that go beyond the initial construction costs to include operation and maintenance of the building after occupancy, demolition costs and reuse value at the end of the building’s life.

Green Building Benefits Green buildings save energy, use less water, generate less waste and provide higher levels of indoor quality and comfort. Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that Americans spend, on average, 90% of their time indoors where pollutant levels can be 2 to 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Green buildings also provide higher levels of occupant satisfaction with regards to air quality and lighting, where studies indicate significant gains with regards to occupant productivity. Economic Benefits • Reduce operating costs • Enhance asset value and profits • Improve employee satisfaction and productivity • Optimize life cycle economic performance Health and Community Benefits • Improve air, thermal and acoustic environments • Enhance occupant comfort and health • Minimize strain on local infrastructure • Contribute to overall quality of life Environmental Benefits • Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity • Improve air and water quality • Reduce solid waste • Conserve natural resources

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Green Building ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that focuses on improving energy performance in buildings as a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. ENERGY STAR is a technical assistance and recognition program that offers owners and managers of all buildings access to free tools and resources to help them evaluate their energy performance and reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Organizations are encouraged to begin by benchmarking the performance of their buildings using ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager online energy tracking tool. For certain types of buildings that perform in the top 25% compared to their peers nationwide, the ENERGY STAR label is available as an indicator of superior energy performance. Buildings carrying the ENERGY STAR label consume on average about 35% less energy than their non-ENERGY STAR counterparts. LEED is a building certification process that looks at various aspects of “green building” and awards recognition to buildings that meet certain standards. Users of the LEED process earn credits in several categories associated with green buildings. These differ by the type of LEED certification, but generally include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation. While each category may have required prerequisites that must be met, for the bulk of the credits required for certification users can choose in which categories they wish to focus based on their own priorities. ENERGY STAR also provides labeling for home appliances, electronics, cooling and heating equipment and for homes as an indication that the item has met certain energy efficiencies.

Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • Hard Costs • Integrative Design Team • Life Cycle Assessment • Life Cycle Costs • Soft Costs • Sustainability Thoughts to keep • Conventional buildings account for: • 14% of potable water consumption • 30% of waste output • 38% of carbon dioxide emissions • 39% of energy use • 40% of raw material use • 72% of electrical consumption SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Green Building • Energy usage in commercial buildings( EPA, September 2008): • 1% office equipment • 3% personal computers • 3% cooking • 6% refrigeration • 7% ventilation • 7% cooling • 8% water heating • 9% other • 20% lighting • 38% space heating • Green building performance: • 13% lower maintenance costs • 26% less energy usage • 27% higher levels of occupant satisfaction • 33% lower carbon dioxide emissions • Green Building Benefits: • Economic • Health & Community • Environmental • Green buildings cost approximately 2% more than conventional buildings • Americans spend 90% of their time indoors where pollutant levels are higher than outdoor levels • A holistic approach considers the analysis of the sum of a building’s parts as opposed to the separation of these parts • The integrative design/build approach binds the individual members of the team into one homogenous entity that collaborates as one unit • ENERGY STAR can be used to compare performance of multiple buildings • Life Cycle Assessment = LCA = Environment and People • Life Cycle Cost = LCC = Economics

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Green Building • Design/Construction process: • Predesign • Design: • Schematic Design (SD) • Development Design (DD) • Construction Documents (CD) • Bid • Construct • Occupy • The five categories of LEED (except LEED for Homes and LEED for ND): • Sustainable Sites (SS) • Water Efficiency (WE) • Energy and Atmosphere (EA) • Materials and Resources (MR) • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) • Innovation in Design (ID) • Regional Priority (RP) USGBC Green Building Research website for additional green building facts as well as additional Green Building resource links, refer to: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1718 Download Sustainable Building Technical Manual, Part II, Pre-Design Issues: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3591 Download The Cost of Green Revisited: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3590 Download Green Office Building Guide, Integrating LEED into Your Leasing Process: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3676 Download AIA Integrated Project Delivery, A Guide: http://www.aia.org/contractdocs/AIAS077630 Harvard websites: http://green.harvard.edu/theresource/ http://www.greencampus.harvard.edu/theresource/new-construction/integrated-design/ documents/ID_checklist.pdf


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T

he U.S. Green Building Council promotes sustainability in how the buildings of today are designed, built and operated through an integrative and holistic approach. USGBC developed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Rating Systems and Greenbuild. LEED is a comprehensive system of six interrelated standards covering all aspects of the development and construction process. Greenbuild is a green building conference that promotes the green building industry, including environmentally responsible materials, sustainable architecture, techniques and public policy.

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USGBC and its Programs

»» Introduction »» USGBC, LEED and GBCI »» LEED Green Building Rating Systems »» Harmonization, Weightings & Carbon Overlay »» CIRs & MPRs »» Registration and Certification Process »» Prerequisite and Credit Structure »» Submittal Review »» LEED for Homes »» LEED Accredidation »» USGBC Portfolio Program »» LEED Technical Advisory Group »» USGBC/GBCI Logo Policies »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: the Program Narrative

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Introduction Sustainability is this country, and many other countries throughout the world, is benchmarked by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). LEED defines both the accredited professionals who work in the sustainable field and the degree of sustainability of certified constructed projects. As such, there are two parts to the LEED environment. One is the accreditation of professionals who possess knowledge in the field of sustainability. There are three levels, or tiers, of accreditation based on the degree of green knowledge. Tier I is the LEED Green Associate who demonstrates a basic knowledge and skill in practicing green design, construction and development. Tier II is the LEED Accredited Professional with Specialty for those who have an extraordinary depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a specific field. These professionals are designated as LEED AP +, where the + marker indicates the designation for the area of specialization, such as LEED AP (BD&C), whereas BD&C indicates Building Design and Construction. The top level is Tier III and is reserved for the LEED AP Fellow, is currently under development and will distinguish an elite class of leading professionals. Although there is no requirement for having a LEED Accredited Professional affiliated with a project seeking certification, it cannot be overstated the value of a LEED AP in a responsible position on the project. First, the LEED AP position can collect a credit point in the ID category, but this pales in comparison to the overall impact of ensuring the integrity of a truly integrative and holistic approach to sustainable design and construction. The second part of LEED is the certification of sustainable projects as defined by the various LEED rating systems. Certification is awarded based on the degree of sustainability for the rating system of the project. LEED covers a broad spectrum of building types and has pilot programs for the development of additional rating systems. The LEED New Construction and Major Renovations rating system defines certain types of newly constructed projects and includes major renovations. LEED for Homes is specific for residential projects, LEED Schools covers schools meeting certain criteria, and so on. For each rating system, there are various levels of certification awarded as determined by the amount of ‘green’ credit points achieved. The third component to this process is the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). GBCI performs two basic functions. The first is the development and administration of the accreditation examinations for people seeking to become a LEED Accredited Professional. The second responsibility of GBCI is managing the LEED project certification process in its entirety. ●● USGBC • Develops LEED Green Building Rating Systems • Provides and develops LEED based eduction and research projects ●● GBCI • Provides third party LEED professional credentials • Provides third party LEED project certification SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs USGBC’s Mission

“To transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life”

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a coalition of leaders from every sector of the building industry working to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthful places to live and work. USGBC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization formed in 1993 whose members represent companies and organizations across the industry and include building owners and users, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies, nonprofits. USGBC: Provides tools and expertise; Builds community; Provides forums for industry dialog; Educates the industry and the public; Stewards market transformation.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

LEED is an acronym for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was formed in 1998 by USGBC as a third party certification program to define and measure green buildings. LEED promotes a holistic, whole building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in location and planning, sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, innovative strategies and regional priority issues.

The Triple Bottom Line

LEED measures and enhances the design and sustainability of buildings based on the triple bottom line approach. The triple bottom line, as adopted by USGBC, establishes metrics and rating systems to measure and recognize buildings based on their performance in the three dimensions of sustainability: society, the environment and the economy. Projects certified under LEED Rating Systems demonstrate that they have addressed elements that balance and enhance the three areas of the triple bottom line. Triple Bottom Line (TBL) components: • Economic Prosperity: Economic bottom line that produces a long term, positive environmental impact • Social Responsibility: Improving the lives of those with whom the building interacts • Environmental Stewardship: Sustainable green practices Another way to look at TBL: People, Planet, Profit USGBC Guiding Principles: • Promote the Triple Bottom Line • Establish Leadership • Reconcile Humanity with Nature • Maintain Integrity • Endure Inclusiveness • Exhibit Transparency

Triple Bottom Line

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established in 2008 with the support of the U.S. Green Building Council to independently administer credentialing programs related to green building practices. GBCI manages all aspects of the LEED Professional Accreditation program, including examination development, registration and delivery. GBCI also oversees the development and implementation of a credential maintenance program (CMP) for LEED APs. USGBC handles the development of the LEED Rating Systems while GBCI administers all LEED project certification.

LEED Green Building Rating Systems LEED Rating Systems: Project Types

The LEED Rating System is a tool for design and construction professionals that encourages, evaluates and recognizes green buildings and neighborhoods with the ultimate goal of market transformation. LEED is flexible enough to apply to new and existing institutional, commercial and residential buildings. The LEED Rating Systems address the following types of projects: • LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (NC) • LEED for Core & Shell (CS) • LEED for Commercial Interiors (CI) • LEED for Schools • LEED for Healthcare • LEED for Retail • LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M) • LEED for Homes • LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) Green building strategies are divided into the following categories: • Sustainable Sites (SS) • Water Efficiency (WE) • Energy and Atmosphere (EA) • Materials and Resources (MR) • Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) • Innovation in Design (ID); Innovation in Operation (IO) A seventh category, Regional Priority (RP), addresses regionally important environmental issues Additionally, the following categories are specific to the rating system noted: • Location and Linkages (LL): LEED for Homes • Awareness and Education (AE): LEED for Homes • Smart Location and Linkages: LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) • Neighborhood Pattern and Design: LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) • Green Infrastructure and Buildings: LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) Refer USGBC for current LEED Rating Systems: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs LEED Rating Systems: Overview LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (NC) ●● New Buildings and Major Renovations • New Buildings • Offices, institutional buildings (libraries, museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings of 4 or more habitable stories • Major Renovations • Major HVAC replacement or modifications • Building core (major mechanical systems) & shell (building envelope and structural) renovation Owner or tenant occupies greater than 50% of leasable space LEED for Core & Shell (CS) ●● Developer controls core (major mechanical systems) & shell (building envelope and structural) but not leasable tenant spaces • Commercial office buildings, medical office buildings, retail centers, warehouses, institutional buildings and laboratory facilities Owner or tenant occupies 50% or less of leasable area LEED for Commercial Interiors (CI) ●● Tenant spaces primarily in office, retail, and institutional buildings • Tenant spaces that do not occupy the entire building • Designed to work hand in hand with LEED Core & Shell projects LEED for Schools ●● Must be used for the construction or major renovation of an academic building on K–12 school grounds • Other projects on a school campus may qualify under 2 or more LEED rating system project scopes • Nonacademic buildings on a school campus, such as administrative offices, dormitories or maintenance facilities are eligible for either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools • Projects involving postsecondary academic buildings or prekindergarten buildings may also choose to use either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools LEED for Healthcare ●● Developed to meet the unique needs of the health care market • Inpatient care facilities, licensed outpatient care facilities, and licensed long term care facilities, medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education & research centers. • Addresses issues such as increased sensitivity to chemicals and pollutants, traveling distances from parking facilities, and access to natural spaces LEED for Retail ●● Recognizes the unique nature of the retail environment and addresses the different types of spaces that retailers need for their distinctive product lines SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • LEED for Retail: New Construction allows for the whole building certification of free standing retail buildings • LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors allows tenants to certify their build-out • Existing freestanding retailers can use LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M) ●● For the ongoing operations and maintenance of existing commercial and institutional buildings • Solves building problems, improve building performance and maintain and improve this performance over time • Reduces cost streams associated with building operations, reduces environmental impacts, creates healthier and more productive employee workspaces • Encourages owners and operators of existing buildings to implement sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impacts of their building over their functional life cycles • Certifies the operations and maintenance of the building and creates a plan for ensuring high performance over time • Institutionalizes a process of reporting, inspection and review over the lifespan of the building LEED for Homes ●● Promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes • Uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste and is healthier and more comfortable for occupants LEED for Neighborhood Development (ND) ●● Integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for neighborhood design and addresses the land use planning of an entire neighborhood, including buildings, infrastructure, street design and open space Multiple Certifications Certain building types can achieve multiple rating systems: • Buildings certified under the NC, CS or Schools may also be certified under EB O&M • Buildings certified under CS may also be certified under CI • LEED Neighborhood Development may earn additional points for construction or retrofit of certified buildings which are part of the development Refer to Appendix for detailed description of the LEED Rating Systems LEED Reference Guides LEED 2009 Reference Guides include detailed information on the process for achieving LEED certification, detailed credit and prerequisite information, resources and standards for the LEED 2009 rating systems and all other requirements as outlined in the Prerequisite and Credit Structure section of this chapter. Refer to the Appendix for details of LEED Reference Guides and their respective LEED Rating Systems SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Rating System Structure The LEED Green Building Rating Systems are comprised of categories, each of which contains prerequisite and credit green building strategies. Prerequisites: In addition to the Minimum Program Requirements, each version of LEED contains unique prerequisite requirements that must be satisfied in order to achieve certification; the term “prerequisite” refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system; prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green building performance; each project must satisfy all specified prerequisites outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered; failure to meet any prerequisite will render a project ineligible for certification. Prerequisites earn no points. Credits: In addition to meeting all applicable MPRs and prerequisites, project teams must satisfy a combination of credits to achieve the requisite number of points necessary for the specific level of certification desired; the phrase “Credit” means a non-mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within a LEED rating system; credits represent a particular facet of sustainable design that contribute to overall green building performance; no single credit is mandatory; credits are selected and pursued at the option of a LEED project team; credits are arranged in a series of categories, each pertaining to a certain aspect of sustainable design; each Credit is associated with a specific number of points; projects must be awarded a minimum number of points outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered to achieve a particular level of certification, such as Certified, Silver, Gold or Platinum. All LEED Rating Systems have 100 base points plus 6 Innovation in Design points and 4 Regional Priority points, for a total of 110 points, except LEED for Homes. LEED for Homes is based on a 125 point scale plus 11 Innovation in Design points. Projects, except LEED for Homes, achieve certification if they earn points according to the following levels: • • • •

Certified: 40 - 49 points Silver: 50 - 59 points Gold: 60 - 79 points Platinum: 80+ points

Prerequisite and Credit Structure Each LEED prerequisite and credit will have one or more requirements that must be met in order to be in compliance. The first section of every prerequisite or credit will summarize the “Intent”, or goals, and the “Requirements”, or methods, strategies and/or standards required to achieve compliance for that prerequisite or credit. The content structure of all LEED prerequisites and credits is as follows: ●● Intents • Identifies the main sustainability goal or environmental benefit of the prerequisite or credit ●● Requirements • Specifies the criteria that satisfy the prerequisite or credit and the number of points available. Prerequisites must be achieved and credits are optional. Some credits have 2 or more compliance paths with cumulative points. Other credits have several options available for the project team to choose SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs The remainder of each prerequisite/credit section contains the following 13 components: 1. Benefits and Issues to Consider • The environmental damage that is being mitigated and economic considerations offered by the prerequisite or credit 2. Related Credits • Lists other credits that may be affected through synergies or tradeoffs 3. Summary of Referenced Standards • Standards, such as ASHRAE, ASTM and EPA that may be used as a requirement to achieve prerequisite or credit compliance • For some prerequisites and credits, LEED will allow federal, state and or local laws or codes to over rule if they are more strict. However, it should be noted that federal, state and local laws or codes will always trump LEED required standards, if more stringent 4. Implementation • Offers suggestions for methods and strategies that can be used to achieve prerequisite or credit compliance 5. Timeline and Team • Describes who should be involved with achieving prerequisite or credit compliance and when this task should occur 6. Calculations • Lists and explains formulas and calculations, if required, to achieve prerequisite or credit compliance 7. Documentation Guidance • This important section lists and explains what documents are required to be uploaded to LEED Online demonstrating compliance and the declarant responsible for signing off on the prerequisite or credit 8. Examples • Some prerequisites and credits have examples to demonstrate how compliance can be achieved 9. Exemplary Performance • Many credits can earn additional points for exceeding the minimum credit performance. No prerequisites offer Exemplary Performance points 10. Regional Variations • LEED recognizes the regional differences when trying to achieve credit compliance and offers options for addressing those regional issues 11. Operations and Maintenance Considerations • Guidance for implementing methods and strategies for operational and maintenance procedures 12. Resources • Lists of websites and print media that can offer additional information that may be beneficial to achieving prerequisite or credit compliance 13. Definitions • Lists of definitions for terminology specific to that prerequisite or credit SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs LEED 2009 Credit Harmonization Credits and prerequisites from all LEED commercial and institutional rating systems are consolidated and aligned, drawing on their most effective common denominators, so that credits and prerequisites are consistent across all LEED 2009 rating systems. Credit Harmonization is a structure to consolidate, align and update all existing LEED Rating Systems into their “most effective common denominator” providing a pool of prerequisites/credits for all LEED Rating Systems. A scrub of the existing Credit Interpretation Rulings (CIRs) was conducted and necessary precedent-setting and clarifying language has been incorporated into the prerequisites/credits. Credit Weightings LEED 2009 credits have different weightings depending on their ability to impact different environmental and human health concerns. With revised credit weightings, LEED awards more points for strategies that will have greater positive impacts on what matters most – energy efficiency and CO2 reductions. Each credit is evaluated against a list of 13 environmental impact categories, including climate change, indoor environmental quality, resource depletion and water intake, among many others. The impact categories were prioritized, and credits were assigned a value based on how they contributed to mitigating each impact. The result revealed each credit’s portion of the big picture, giving the most value to credits that have the highest potential for making the biggest change. The credits are all intact; they are just worth different amounts. As a result, LEED 2009 will operate on a 100-point scale. Carbon Overlay USGBC is a signatory to the Wingspread Principles on a U.S. Response to Global Warming, a set of propositions signed by organizations and individuals declaring their commitment to addressing the issue of climate change. The Wingspread Principles call for effective action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 60% - 80% below 1990 levels by mid-century. LEED rated buildings typically have lower greenhouse gas emissions than comparable conventional buildings, with some having greater reductions than others. Accordingly, USGBC identifies and prioritizes LEED credits based on their relative value for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. This Carbon Overlay is a quantitative index of the relative importance of individual credits. The score for each LEED credit is based on the carbon footprint for a typical LEED building. A building’s carbon footprint is the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with its construction and operation: • • • • •

Energy used in building systems Building related transportation Embodied emissions of water (electricity used to extract, convey, treat and deliver water) Embodied emissions of solid waste (life cycle emissions associated with solid waste) Embodied emissions of materials (associated with the manufacture and transport of materials) • Carbon overlay is included in the LEED 2009 workbooks, including NC, EB O&M and ND SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Credit Interpretation Request (CIRs) Occasionally during the process of analyzing prerequisite or credit compliance requirements, the Project Team may encounter instances where they are unclear whether their strategy for achieving the credit is appropriate. The Project Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) and ruling process is designed to allow Project Teams to obtain technical and administrative guidance on how LEED requirements, including Minimum Program Requirements, Prerequisites, and Credits, pertain to their projects. • A CIR may be submitted at any time after the point in which a project is registered • The CIR process must be completed using LEED Online • Each CIR shall pertain to no more than one LEED requirement • Shall not submit CIRs in the format of a letter. CIRs shall contain only the specific inquiry and the essential background information necessary for a ruling. CIRs shall not contain in excess of 600 words or alternatively 4000 characters including spaces. Shall not submit attachments, cut-sheets, plans or drawings with any CIR • The credit language nor the minimum achievement thresholds can be changed at any time during the CIR process • CIR rulings do not guarantee that a LEED Minimum Program Requirement (MPR), prerequisite or credit will be satisfied or achieved • All CIR rulings that are generated in response to a CIR submitted on or before June 26, 2009, and pertain to a pre-LEED 2009 Rating System, are precedent setting and will carry forth and apply to other pre-LEED 2009 projects submitted by the same Project Team and also be available as a ruling for other pre-LEED 2009 projects registered by other project teams • All CIR rulings that are generated in response to a CIR submitted after June 26, 2009, for all rating systems including pre-LEED 2009 and current versions, will be project specific. As a result, the ruling will only apply to the project for which the CIR was submitted. Accordingly, the CIR ruling will not be precedent setting and will not carry forth and apply to other projects submitted by the same Project Team nor be available as a ruling for other projects registered by other project teams • The CIR database that was created for pre-LEED 2009 rating systems may not be referenced or relied upon by project teams pursuing certification in accordance with LEED 2009 rating systems • USGBC Company Members, LEED Registered Project Team Members and USGBC Workshop Attendees (for a period of 12 months from the date of the Workshop) have access to review CIRs • CIR fees are $220 for each application Refer GBCI for current CIR information: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3596%20


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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) In addition to mandatory compliance with all category prerequisites, the project must also adhere to LEED Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs). These requirements define the types of buildings that the LEED Green Building Rating Systems were designed to evaluate, and taken together serve three goals: • Give clear guidance to the customer • Protect the integrity of the LEED program • Reduce complications that occur during the LEED Certification process For a project to be eligible for certification, it must comply with each applicable MPR for the specific rating system it is seeking: 1. Must comply with environmental laws • Must be in compliance with all applicable federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations 2. Be a complete or permanent building or space • Must be a complete or permanent building or space on land that already exists 3. Use a reasonable site boundary • The LEED project boundary must include all contiguous land that is associated with and supports normal building operations for the LEED project building, including all land that was or will be disturbed for the purpose of undertaking. Gerrymandering of the LEED project boundary is prohibited 4. Comply with minimum floor area requirements • New Construction, Core & Shell, Schools, Existing Buildings: O&M • Minimum Gross Floor Area: 1,000 square feet • Commercial Interiors • Minimum Gross Floor Area: 250 square feet 5. Comply with minimum occupancy rates • New Construction, Core & Shell, Commercial Interiors, Schools • Must have at least one Full Time Equivalent occupant • Existing Buildings: O&M • Must have at least one Full Time Equivalent occupant • All building systems must be operating 12 continuous months before certifying 6. Commit to sharing whole building energy and water usage data • Must share energy and water usage data with the USGBC and GBCI for a period of five years 7. Comply with a minimum building area to site area ratio • The gross floor area of the LEED project building must be no less than 2% of the gross land area within the LEED project boundary Above is a general outline of the MPR requirements. Refer GBCI for detailed MPR requirements: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=130 SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Registration and Certification Process GBCI Beginning April 27, 2009, the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) manages the review and verification process for projects seeking certification under the LEED Green Building Rating System. Refer GBCI for current Registration and Certification information: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=211 LEED Online LEED Online is the required primary resource with which project teams with registered projects can manage the LEED Registration and Certification process and is available only to registered projects. Using LEED Online you can: • Manage project details • Complete documentation requirements • Upload supporting files • Submit applications for review • Receive reviewer feedback • Earn LEED certification Credit Scorecard (aka LEED Credit Checklist) The LEED Credit Scorecard is a tool used by the Project Team that lists all of the prerequisites and credits of the rating system being pursued: • Should be initiated by the Project Team early during the charrette process • Allows the Project Team members the ability to assess and track the credits they will attempt with an anticipated level of certification achievement - a preliminary credit review and tracking of potential or probable credits to pursue - sets green criteria goals • Lists all prerequisites and credits for each category with columns for the Project Team to mark as Yes, ? (maybe), or No A sample Scorecard is available for review in the Appendix. Credit Forms and Calculators (aka LEED Credit Templates, Letter Templates or Submittal Templates) Central to the certification process is the LEED Credit Template, an interactive tool that is accessed by the Project Administrator and invited Project Team members via LEED Online for the purpose of uploading documentation required to validate prerequisite and credit compliance. Each Credit Template will list the requirements for achievement as well as the documentation required for submittal and must be signed by the declarant. For credits that require calculations, calculators are built in to indicate if the credit requirements have been met. In part, Credit Templates: • Streamlines the preparation of LEED applications • Allows the Project Administrator to assign Project Team member responsibility • Provides automatic calculation when required data is entered by a Project Team member A sample v2.2 Submittal Template is available for review in the Appendix. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Charrette A LEED Charrette is a forum where those who can influence project decisions meet and begin planning the project. As a gathering of all key stakeholders in the LEED certification process, a charrette facilitates agreement on project goals. By soliciting ideas, issues, and concerns early in the project process, it saves time and money and gives an early sense of collective enthusiasm with realistic goals and directions. Project Administrator The GBCI assigns the role of Project Administrator to the person who initially registers the project via LEED Online. This person is the main contact with the GBCI via LEED Online. Although it is advisable to select the Project Administrator during the charrette, this person can be replaced after registration. • Provides project information when registering via LEED Online • Invites Team Members for access to LEED Online • Assigns credit responsibility to Team Members LEED AP • Provides project coordination between all Project Team disciplines • Knows the responsibilities and status of each Team Member • Manages and reviews Project Team documentation prior to uploading to Credit Forms • Knows which credits each member of the Project Team is responsible for • Understands the entire certification process • Coordinates codes and standards • Must have a principle role in the project to be eligible for an Innovation in Design credit

LEED Certification Individuals are Accredited and become LEED Accredited Professionals by successfully testing at the level of accreditation sought. Buildings are Certified: A registered building is in the process of implementing LEED. ‘LEED certification’ with lowercase ‘c’ describes the certification process. ‘LEED certified’ with lowercase ‘c’ is used to describe a project that has been certified. ‘LEED Certified’ with capital ‘C’ is used to describe a project that has been certified to the base level: Certified. • Certified • Silver • Gold • Platinum Companies or products are neither accredited nor certified Organizations can obtain membership to USGBC national organization Individuals can become members of USGBC regional chapters SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Certification Process: General LEED Certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. Sustainable building strategies should be considered early in the development cycle. An integrated project team will include the major stakeholders of the project such as the developer/owner, architect, engineers, landscape architect, contractor, and asset and property management staff. Implementing an integrative, systems oriented approach to green project design, development and operations can yield synergies and improve the overall performance of a building. Initial LEED assessment will bring the project team together to evaluate and define the project’s goals and the certification level sought. Project teams can utilize resources, such as the project checklist, to identify individual measures within the rating system that are definitely, or potentially, achievable. LEED Certification for any project requires satisfying all Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs), prerequisites and a minimum number of credits. Each rating system corresponds with a LEED reference guide that explains credit criteria, describes the benefits of credit compliance and suggests strategies to achieve credit compliance. Timeline and Project Design Phases ●● Predesign • information gathering, recognizing stakeholder needs and establishing goals (charrette) ●● Schematic Design • explores design options and alternatives with the intent to establish an agreed upon layout and scope of work ●● Design Development • begins the process of refining the schematic design and often involves the first design of the project’s energy systems ●● Construction Documents • schematic design incorporated into detailed drawings so that construction can take place ●● Construction • construction documents completed and permissions received to commence with construction ●● Substantial Completion • when construction is nearly completed and the client could occupy the space ●● Final Completion • when all construction per the construction documents has been completed ●● Certificate of Occupancy • official notice by building authorities having jurisdiction that the project conforms to applicable building and safety codes


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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Certification Process: Overview For all LEED Ratings Systems except LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development: Step 1: Planning Step 2: Registration Step 3: Documentation Step 4: Certification LEED for Homes and LEED for Neighborhood Development follow different Rating Systems and Certification Processes: LEED for Homes: Step 1: Early Planning Step 2: Design Step 3: Build Step 4: Verification and certification Step 5: Reflection on achievements LEED for Neighborhood Development: Stage 1: Review prior to completion of entitlement (permitting) process Stage 2: Certification of an approved development plan Stage 3: Review of a completed neighborhood development

Certification Process: Detailed

except LEED for Homes & LEED for Neighborhood Development

Step 1: Planning (Charrette) The first action toward any LEED project should be establishing a collective forum, or the charrette. The stakeholders comprising the charrette should document the project goals, prepare a draft of the LEED Credit Scorecard and select the Project Administrator. Step 2: Registration The LEED process begins with registration. The Project Administrator submits the registration form and registration fee. Registration information required: • Account login information: name, address, company, title, e-mail address, password • Project type: select rating system type, USGBC member status, amount due • General project information: project title, project address, is project confidential • Primary contact information: name, address, organization, e-mail address • Project Owner information: name, organization, e-mail address

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • Project details: owner type, project scope, site conditions, occupant type, owner occupied, gross square footage, project budget, current project phase, project type • Payment information Registration provides: • Point of contact between GBCI and project • Access to LEED Online tools • Access to LEED Credit Forms (Credit Templates) • Ensures maximum potential for achieving certification, if done early in the design process Registration fees: • USGBC members: $900 • Non-Members: $1,200 GBCI offers free registration for LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance for projects certified under LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Core & Shell prior to January 1, 2011. Step 3: Application Submittal For detailed submittal and review process information per rating system refer to GBCI: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=211 After project registration, the Project Administrator and Project Team should prepare the required information for prerequisite and credit submittal. Only the LEED Project Administrator is eligible to submit an application for review. To initiate the review process, a complete application must be submitted via LEED Online. Requirements for a complete application vary according to the review path, but will always include payment of the appropriate certification review fee. Prior to certification, all project teams are required to submit completed documentation requirements for all prerequisites and at least the minimum number of credits required to achieve certification, as well as completed general project information forms. It is advisable to seek a few additional credits just for safety in the event some credits are denied. There are multiple application review paths. LEED Online automatically determines which review paths are available for a given application based on both the LEED Rating System under which the project is registered and the level of completeness of the application. Application requirements vary for each LEED Rating System and review path: • LEED for New Construction • Split Design & Construction Application • Combined Design & Construction Application • LEED for Schools • Split Design & Construction Application • Combined Design & Construction Application SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • LEED for Core and Shell • Split Design & Construction Application • Combined Design & Construction Application • Precertification Application • LEED for Commercial Interiors • Split Design & Construction Application • Combined Design & Construction Application • LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance • O&M Application • O&M Recertification Application The Split Design & Construction Review timeline is available to projects registered for certification under any LEED Design & Construction Rating System. An application for Split Design & Construction Review is submitted in up to four (4) parts, with requirements as follows: • The Design Review enables project teams to assess the likelihood of achievement for some or all design phase credits and/or prerequisites, prior to substantial project completion • All remaining requirements are then submitted with the Construction Application Split Design & Construction Review: • Prepare design related credit documentation and submit prior to substantial project completion. Each prerequisite and credit states if submittal can be done during the design phase of the project. • Prepare construction related credit documentation and submit after the design phase review. Each prerequisite and credit states if submittal must be a construction phase submittal. Certification fee is split and paid at the time of each phase submittal. Combined Design & Construction Review: • Prepare and submit required documentation for all required prerequisites and credits being pursued upon project completion. Certification fee is paid at the time of submittal. Certification Fees: • In addition to the project registration fees, certification fees are required, based on the rating system the project is certifying under and the size of the building. There is also a fee variance for USGBC membership. Submittal Review Status During the review process, the GBCI responds to each prerequisite or credit submittal with one of the following: • Anticipated: Only during a split Design Phase Review will the GBCI issue an “anticipated” response. This does not guarantee credit acceptance, only that the GBCI believes the credit does meet the requirements at this stage of the project SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • Pending: the GBCI requires additional information • Awarded: Only during the final GBCI review will the GBCI issue this response that the credit has met the requirements and points are earned • Denied: The prerequisite/credit has not met the requirements Step 4: Certification After the application has been completed and all fees received and processed, the GBCI will perform a final review and formally rule on the application. The project is awarded the certification level based on the number of credits achieved. If the Project Team decides to formally file an appeal, the GBCI will issue a LEED review within 25 business days. If a final “denied” ruling is issued, the project is closed and can never be reopened. Award: Only after the Project Team accepts the final ruling is the project awarded certification with a formal letter of certification For complete and current registration and important details regarding the application submittal and application review process per rating system refer to GBCI: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=127 Registration Documentation Certain documents are required when registering or submitting a project for certification: • Project Narrative describing background of the project, details of the building use, location and surrounding area of the building and any additional attributes of the project • Project photographs or rendering • Building elevation • Building floor plans • Gross square footage of the building, building occupant counts (FTE) and boundary descriptions. All these figures must be used consistently across applicable credits Establishing USGBC website User Profile 1. Go to USGBC website www.usgbc.org 2. Click on Sign In along the top bar 3. If you do not have a User Profile, click on hyperlink Create a Site User Account 4. Enter personal information 5. Under Organization, enter your company 6. Enter Corporate ID for your company (if USGBC member) 7. Click Submit Your Registration at the bottom of the form and you will receive a password to accompany your e-mail address when gaining access to member only sections of the site Once your User Profile is set up, team members can access LEED Online projects SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs LEED Online Access 1. Go to www.leedonline.com 2. Enter e-mail address and password in Log in Now box 3. Select project to access and click Enter Must have a registered project to gain access LEED Online Components ●● My Project Page • My Projects • Active Projects • Saved Projects • Register • Rating Project Selector • Download Scorecard ●● Project Dashboard (aka Home Page) • • • • • • • •

Overview Scorecard Timeline Team Administrator Registration Details Clarification Messages CIR

Credit Forms • Everything is done via electronic format • LEED Online form required for every prerequisite and all credits being attempted with access available for registered projects • Includes signature block for person responsible for credit • Includes space for narratives • Can attach numerous types, formats and examples of documentation Six Steps to Certification: Review Summary Step 1: Determine appropriateness of LEED • Form a charrette and gather information to determine if, and at what level, is LEED appropriate Step 2: Registration via LEED OnLine • www.gbci.org

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Step 3: Prepare Application • Assign team members and prepare all documents required for prerequisites and credits being sought (minimum number of credits are required for Certification) Step 4: Submit Application via LEED OnLine • Upload Credit Forms with all required documentation Step 5: Application Review • Upon receipt of a completed submittal application, a formal review will be initiated Step 6: Certification • Certification is the final step in the LEED Review Process. Once the final review is complete, the project team can either accept or appeal the final decision. If accepted, LEED Certified Projects:: • will receive a formal certificate of recognition • will receive information on how to order plaques, certificates, photo submissions and marketing • May be included in an online directory and US Dept. of Energy High Performance Bldgs. Database

LEED for Homes Overview of LEED for Homes The LEED for Homes process is substantially different than the other systems in both the format and makeup of the rating system and its certification process. To begin, the structure of the sustainable categories is different and contains 8 sections: • Innovation & Design (ID): Special design methods, unique regional credits, measures not currently in the LEED rating system and exemplary performance standards • Location and Linkages (LL): The placement of homes in socially and environmentally responsible ways in relation to the larger community • Sustainable Sites (SS): The use of the entire property so as to minimize the project’s impact on the site • Water Efficiency (WE): Water efficient practices, both indoor and outdoor • Energy and Atmosphere (EA): Energy efficiency, particular in the building envelope and heating and cooling design • Materials and Resources (MR): Efficient utilization of materials, selection of environmentally preferably materials and minimization of waste during construction • Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ): Improvement of indoor air quality by reducing the creation of and exposure to pollutants • Awareness and Education (AE): The education of homeowner, tenant and/or building manager about the operation and maintenance of the green features of a LEED home


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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs LEED for Homes has four levels of certification and point structures as follows: • Certified: 45 - 59 points • Silver: 60 - 74 points • Gold: 75 - 89 points • Platinum: 90 - 136 points How to Participate in LEED for Homes The strength of the LEED for Homes program is it’s third party verification through LEED for Homes Providers and Green Raters: LEED for Homes Providers are local and regional organizations chosen by USGBC to provide certification services to LEED for Homes projects in their local or regional markets. A provider is under contract to USGBC to provide the following services: • recruitment and registration of projects for LEED for Homes • coordination and oversight of Green Raters • certification of LEED homes • quality assurance of the certifications • coordination with USGBC and local USGBC chapters A Green Rater is an individual who works as part of the LEED for Homes Provider team to perform field inspections and performance testing. Green Raters may work closely with the individual project teams to assist the design and construction professionals in meeting their sustainability goals. Five Steps to Participate There are five basic steps for participating in LEED for Homes: • contact a LEED for Homes Provider and join the program • Identify a project team • build the home to the stated goals • certify the project as a LEED home • market and sell the LEED home Special Features of the Rating System The LEED for Homes rating system includes the following: • Innovation & Design Process: category was brought up front in the LEED for Homes rating system to highlight the importance of design in LEED for Homes. Integrated Design Process and Durability Planning are vital parts of the design process • Integrated Design Process credit: the Integrated Design Process (ID1) topic area requires the builder to participate in a builder orientation in the home design

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • Durability Planning prerequisite: the Durability Planning (ID2) prerequisite requires that the project team address durability explicitly by assessing durability risk factors and identifying and incorporating specific measures in the home’s design to address each factor • Other Design Related credits: as with the other rating systems, the LEED for Homes rating system has credits that have been marked as design credits. The reason for this is due to the fact that many credits have a strong design component that may be difficult for the Green Rater to verify in the field. As such, the professionals who are responsible for these credits are required to sign an accountability form to confirm the credit has been complete according to the requirements of the rating sytem

LEED Accreditation Individuals are Accredited and become LEED Accredited Professionals by successfully testing at the level of accreditation sought: • LEED Green Associate • LEED Accredited Professionals with Specialities • LEED AP Building Design & Construction (BD&C) • LEED AP Interior Design & Construction (ID&C) • LEED AP Operations & Maintenance (O&M) • LEED AP Homes • LEED AP Neighborhood Development (ND) • LEED Fellow Accreditation is available at three tier levels: • Tier I: LEED Green Associate (demonstrates knowledge and skill in practicing green design, construction and development) • Tier II: LEED Accredited Professional [BD&C] [ID&C] [O&M] [Homes] [ND] (extraordinary depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a specific field) • Tier III: LEED Fellow (TBD) Credential Maintenance The Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) is designed to expand the knowledge and experience base of LEED Professionals and also to facilitate a LEED Professional’s continuing professional development. Refer GBCI for full details and CMP current information: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=202 Importance of LEED Credentials • Individual Benefits • Provides marketable credential to employer or client • Provides a listing on GBCI website of LEED professionals • Awards a LEED AP Professional Certificate • Recognizes the individual for involvement in the LEED certification process • Employer Benefits SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • Establishes eligibility for projects on which owner mandates a LEED AP participation • Strengthens qualifications when responding to proposal requests requiring LEED AP • Growth in knowledge and understanding of the LEED certification process • Industry Benefits: • Encourages and promotes a higher understanding of LEED • Supports and facilitates transformation of the built environment Ethics of the LEED Professional • Mandatory Disciplinary Policy Principles • Must be truthful, forthcoming and cooperative in dealing with GBCI • Be in continuous compliance with GBCI rules • Respect GBCI intellectual property rights • Abide by laws related to the profession and to general public health and safety • Conduct professional work in a competent and objective manner

USGBC Portfolio Program The USGBC Portfolio Program is a pilot program that enables owners to integrate the LEED green building rating system into new and existing buildings in their company’s portfolio, and do so in a cost effective way without sacrificing the technical rigor and integrity of LEED. Refer USGBC for additional Portfolio details: http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3387

LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG) The LEED Technical Advisory Group is a committee consisting of industry experts who assist in interpreting credits and developing technical improvements to the LEED Green Building rating System. Refer Foundations of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Environmental Rating System, A Tool for Market Transformation: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3599

USGBC/GBCI Logo Policies • GBCI will provide logo artwork files. Only artwork files provided by GBCI may be used. Images captured from websites, publications, and other sources may not be used • All uses must include the appropriate trademark symbol. The appropriate symbol will be part of the artwork provided by GBCI • Use of a mark that has been officially registered must be followed by the registration symbol • Use of a mark owned by but which has not yet been registered by GBCI must be followed by either the trademark symbol TM or the service mark symbol SM (in superscript) • These symbols are only necessary for the first and most prominent appearance of the mark; they do not need to appear after every use of the mark within a single publication • The mark (or any word or design that is confusingly similar to the mark) may not be used as SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs • •

• • •

• • • •

•

part of a company’s name, logo, domain name, or brand name for a product or service The mark may not be the most prominent visual element on the materials. The user’s name and logo must be significantly larger than the mark The mark may not be used to indicate any kind of endorsement by GBCI of any product or service, to indicate that any official status for any product or service has been conferred by or is otherwise associated with GBCI, or to show any kind of relationship with GBCI aside from those permitted by these Guidelines The mark may not be used on official documents to include any sales contracts or official disclosure documents provided to potential or actual clients of purchases of an organization’s services or products The mark may not be used in connection with any disparaging statements about GBCI or its services, USGBC (U. S. Green Building Council) or its products or services, or statements that otherwise reflect poorly on GBCI or USGBC The mark may not be altered in any way, including proportion, color (outside of logo specifications), element, type, etc. It may not be animated, morphed or distorted in any other way. The mark, including its associated words, may not have additional text wrapped around it The mark may not be reduced to more than 20% of its original print size and may not be enlarged to more than 380% of its original print size. Original print size is set in the EPS file On Web pages, the mark may not be reduced to less than a 50-pixel height, and may not be enlarged to more than a 200-pixel height. The height and width of the mark must be constrained to its original proportions The mark is intended to stand alone and should not be integrated into other logos For printing purposes, a provided EPS or high-resolution JPEG file should be used. In instances where the mark is printed at a larger size, an EPS file must be used to ensure that the image retains clarity. Lower resolution, Web-optimized JPEG or GIF files should be used when placing the mark on Web sites GBCI reserves the right to approve or disapprove the use of any GBCI proprietary or licensed mark on non-GBCI printed materials or Web sites

Refer USGBC for current logo guidleine information: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1835

The Appendix

The Appendix at the rear of this study guide contains documents and charts that offer additional or more detailed information regarding the topics presented in this chapter.

Final Thoughts


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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • • • • • • •

LEED Green Building Rating System LEED Prerequisite LEED Credit LEED Intent LEED Technical Advisory Group LEED Credit Interpretation Request (CIR) LEED Minimum Program Requirements (MPR)

Thoughts to keep USGBC controls LEED and Education/Research programs GBCI controls project certification and LEED professional credentialing Each LEED rating system (except LEED Homes) is comprised of Minimum Program Requirements; Prerequisites and Credits Each LEED rating system requires a minimum of 40 points for certification LEED Online: • Project Administrator registers project • Only invited Project Team members can access LEED Online • Depository for all submittals and required documents Submittal process (LEED NC, Schools, CS, CI): • Split submittal: • Design • Construction • Combined submittal: • Both Design & Construction credits submitted together Project Certification: • Register project • Prepare application • Submit application • Application review • Certification LEED for Homes Rating System: • Leed for Homes Provider • Green Rater Download Guidelines for CIR Customers: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3596%20 Download LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=130 GBCI Policy Manual: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=129 SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs Studio4 Office Project: the Program Narrative The Project Location This project will be located in a suburb north of Cincinnati, OH on property that was recently purchased for the development of a 24,000 sf “spec” building in a rapidly expanding community. The site contains 3.5 acres and is positioned inside a rezoned HT-1 (high tech light industrial) corridor and runs perpendicular and central to a high density retail corridor with integrated residential communities, just west of I-71. The adjacent property to the immediate south and west is the 1.5 million square foot Proctor and Gamble global health care headquarters.

Aerial Vicinity Locator

Birdseye View (looking south)


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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs The Project Program Narrative: Predesign This property was required to be rezoned from residential to HT-1, where restrictions were placed on the future development of this site. All properties along this corridor will be rezoned HT-1 with the intent to limit use to high tech, professional and light industrial use, with no retail or residential permitted. Since this will be a “spec” development and there will be but one occupant initially, the owner/ developer Studio4, and occupying less than 25% of the total floor area, the project will be best suited to register under the LEED for Core & Shell (CS) rating system. If the owner/developer occupied more than 50% of the total building area, the LEED for New Construction (NC) rating system would be appropriate. Quickly, the project encountered the first instance where local jurisdictions govern in a way that can be contradictory, at times, to sustainable design. The original design program required one 2 story, 24,000 sf building. However, in keeping with the surrounding architecture, a height limitation of 1 story was mandated, with an unusual provision that two 12,000 sf buildings would be allowed. The initial Project Team (stakeholders) has been assembled to include the owner/developer, occupant and LEED AP Studio4, Design Team members (architectural/civil/structural/MEP engineers, landscape architect and certain material suppliers). Additionally, it has been the experience of Studio4 that including local building and code officials, along with utility representatives, is a win-win situation for all parties concerned. If there are issues encountered related to codes, regulations and utilities, these people will generally join the team in finding viable solutions. The Project Administrator has been selected, Studio4, and the Project Checklist is being reviewed to determine, first, if the project can achieve each of the required prerequisites, the Minimum Project Requirements and then a summary analysis of probable and potential credits that should be pursued. As with many sites located in more densely populated areas, land restrictions such as preconfigured and limited area sites, extremely high land costs and zoning allow for little, if any, adjustments to the building orientation. During the pre-design charrette where project goals are established, it is agreed that the circumstances presented by P&G as a neighbor would work to the project’s advantage. As witnessed by the aerial photos, the property immediately to the south and west will remain protected from future development by P&G and will continue to afford opportunities for views to natural habitat and daylight. Imposed restrictions for stormwater management may require negotiations to permit implementation of strategies being considered such as the use of greywater, rain gardens, downspout disconnects and pervious pavements as well as others that currently may not be permitted by utility companies, communities or state and local laws. The Design Team has reviewed current federal, state and local codes and regulations that may impact the design of this project and has prepared the following program: • The project program will focus on developing this project with efficiency of time and cost, while achieving some level of green certification. Given the opportunity to split SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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U.S. Green Building Council and its Programs the buildings will permit a more simple path if the project is scheduled as a two phase development. LEED does allow a property boundary split if done in a reasonable and justifiable method. However, splitting the site into two parcels will require close attention to setbacks and other related zoning requirements as local zoning ordinances will consider these as two distinct properties. A zoning variance was applied for and approved for a revision to the side yard setback distances. • The initial building construction and envelope design will be a single story 12,000 sf building, concrete slab on grade, conventional wood or metal stud framing, masonry veneer, trussed and shingled roof and high performance glazing. • A preliminary budget was provided by the owner and will be the target in determining which credits to pursue in the final analysis. An life cycle analysis will be provided by the Design Team that will illustrate to the owner the payback associated with the certification level being sought. • The Design Team will study the process from design and engineering to material selections and coordinate a schedule that considers the associated length of time involved. Materials, such as regional or FSC, will be investigated as they can present delivery and scheduling issues. Also important are credits like Enhanced Commissioning and Measurement & Verification that can extend the length of time to receive certification. • The core & shell interiors will include only a demising wall to define the initial tenant and common area toilet facilities that will serve all tenants. • Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) • Studio4 is an architectural and graphic design studio; creator/owner of a sustainable website; provider of sustainable educational study materials and classes • A space requirement of 3,000 sf would be sufficient to fulfil present and future needs • Initial 4 FTEs and potential to expand to 8 FTEs; a potential of 15 transient occupants • General office; 2 private offices; 1 design studio; 1 classroom for 15 people; 1 break room; 1 utility room This concludes the pre-design stage where the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) have been collected, codes and regulations reviewed, a cursory credit analysis conducted and basic design goals established. The next stage will entail registering the project via LEED Online and begin the schematic design process to achieve the Basis of Design (BOD) documents. The next project section is located at the conclusion of the Sustainable Sites chapter. Although this project offers more information than that required for the Green Associate exam, use it only as a snapshot for understanding credit achievement and increasing your knowledge about the interaction between credits that is critical to achieving a high performance building. A few calculations are presented to illustrate how the credit can be achieved and for all credits, the submittal phase and relative team members are listed.


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T

he selection and development of a building’s site are fundamental components of sustainable building practices. The goals of the LEED Sustainable Sites credit category are to promote the following measures: select and develop a site wisely, reduce emissions associated with transportation, plant sustainable landscapes, protection of surrounding habitats, manage stormwater runoff, reduce heat island effects and eliminate light pollution.

CHAPTER | 4 Sustainable Sites (SS)

»» Credit Matrix »» Site Related Boundaries »» Introduction »» Transportation »» Site Selection »» Site Design and Management »» Stormwater Management »» Heat Island Effect »» Light Pollution Reduction »» Development Density & Community Connectivity, Mass Transportation Access »» Full Time Equivalents »» Codes & Referenced Standards »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: Sustainable Sites SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites Credit Matrix Credit SSp1 SSp2 SSc1 SSc2 SSc3 SSc4.1 SSc4.2 SSc4.3 SSc4.4 SSc5.1 SSc5.2 SSc6.1 SSc6.2 SSc7.1 SSc7.2 SSc8 SSc9 SSc9 SSc10

NC Title

SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) Construction Activity Pollution Prevention Environmental Site Assessment Site Selection Development Density and Community Connectivity Brownfield Redevelopment Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access Alternative Transportation - Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms Alternative Transportation - Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat Site Development - Maximize Open Space Stormwater Design - Quantity Control Stormwater Design - Quality Control Heat Island Effect - Nonroof Heat Island Effect - Roof Light Pollution Reduction Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines Site Master Plan Joint Use of Facilities

26 Reqd NA 1 5 1 6 1 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 NA NA NA

Schools Points 24 Reqd Reqd 1 4 1 4 1 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 NA 1 1

CS 28 Reqd NA 1 5 1 6 2 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 NA NA

Site Related Boundaries building footprint: area of the building structure that is defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Pavement, landscaping and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint development footprint: the area of the site impacted by the project, which includes parking, landscaping, roads and other facilities in addition to the building property boundary: the total area within the legal boundaries of the site project boundary: the platted property line of the project. For projects developed on properties with multiple buildings, such as a campuses or industrial complexes, a reasonable property boundary, as required for the project construction and local code, is permitted LEED (project) boundary: the portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites Introduction One of the first decisions for the project team to make is that of site selection, as the location of a site and the site itself can determine how the project impacts the environment. The location of a project can affect local and regional ecosystems and water sources in many ways, both positively and negatively. The most sustainable sites promote an integrated design approach that considers and evaluates: • Protecting undeveloped land • Reuse of previously developed sites • Reduced automobile use or support of alternative transportation • Stormwater management • Reduced heat island effect • Reduced light pollution • Conservation of existing areas for the protection of habitat

Transportation Sustainable sites can reduce the social, economic and environmental impacts caused by the increased demands on building related transportation. It is easy to understand the importance of sustainable sites when you consider how the location of the site can increase the length and frequency of vehicle trips. Transportation accounts for 32% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle technology, transportation fuels and land use all contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases. In 2006, 76% of the commuters in America ages 16 and older drove to work alone, 5% used public transportation and 11% carpooled. Sustainable site selection should consider locating near residential areas, installing bicycle racks and changing rooms, preferred Greenhouse Gas Emissions parking, encourage the use of alternative fuel vehicles and provide access to mass transit. Promoting mass transit reduces the energy required for transportation and the space needed for parking lots, gas stations and related support facilities. Transportation impacts include: ●● Location • Determines the frequency and length of vehicle trips ●● Vehicle technology • Determines the quantity and types of fuel and support systems needed ●● Fuel • Determines the environmental impact of vehicle operation ●● Human behavior • Combines location, vehicle technology and fuel in mobility choices

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Sustainable Sites Strategy considerations to address transportation: ●● Locate site in an area that has mass transit networks • Commuter rail, light rail or subway system; public, campus or private bus lines usable by building occupants • Shuttle service from project location to transit lines ●● Limit parking • Limit parking spaces and encourage employees to consider alternative transportation options to reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use

Mass Transit

• Size parking to provide equal, or not to exceed, existing minimum local code requirements • Shared parking facilities with other buildings • Alternatives to single occupant vehicles Limit Parking

●● Encourage car pooling and van pooling • Designated car pooling and van pooling parking spaces • Reserved parking spaces conveniently located near building entrances for building occupants who carpool to work ●● Promote Low-Emission & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles (FEV) • On-site fueling stations • Provide FEV vehicles or provide incentives for employee FEV ownership

Car/Van Pooling

• For Schools, investigate tradeoffs for alternative fuel vehicles ●● Offer incentives • Develop an alternative commuting incentive programs • Rideshare programs offer fee based options

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

●● Support alternative transportation • Promote alternatives or incentives to singleoccupancy vehicle commuting • Provide secured spaces and changing rooms for bicycle use • Reduced parking rates for carpooling or alternative fuel vehicles • Assist employees with parking fees for public parking

Alternative Transportation & Incentive Programs


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Sustainable Sites Site Selection The selection of the project’s site is one of the most important decisions that can contribute to the success of the project’s sustainability. The sustainable site will allow for proper building orientation, as well as reducing associated environmental impacts. Redevelopment of brownfield sites can improve the quality of the environment and reduce the burden of developing on greenfield sites, farmland, previously undeveloped sites or encroaching on wetlands and water bodies that can compromise existing habitat. Developing a master plan for the project and site can protect the environment beyond the initial construction phase in consideration of future expansions. Projects applying for LEED Commercial Interiors should investigate occupying existing LEED Certified buildings such as LEED for New Construction or LEED for Core and Shell. Strategy considerations to address site selection: ●● Increase development density • Create a smaller footprint • Maximize the floor area ratio or square footage per acre by stacking floors, instead of spreading out the building footprint, in order to maximize open spaces and protect the habitat • Locate the project in densely populated communities • Average density of project and surrounding community should be 60,000 sf/acre ●● Redevelopment • Build on a previously developed site • Protects undeveloped land and is often served by existing infrastructure such as roads, utilities and community services • Restore a brownfield site • Improves and protects the environment • Saves undeveloped land • Incentives often offered by owner or government agencies • Consider tradeoffs such as costs for environmental assessments and remediation, time required to investigate and remediate and potential liabilities to owner ●● Protect the habitat • Select sites that do not include sensitive site elements and land types such as: • Prime farmland as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Less than 5 feet above areas defined by FEMA as being in the 100 year flood plain • Land that is habitat for threatened or endangered species SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites • Within 100 feet of Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) defined wetlands • Within 50 feet of a body of water as regulated by the Clean Water Act (CWA) • Public parklands ●● Urban development • Urban areas often have infrastructures in place, such as mass transit and community services, that provide for more sustainable sites through community connectivity and also by reducing demands on our natural resources. • Mass transit: unobstructed walking distance within 1/2 mile of commuter rail, light rail or subway system OR unobstructed walking distance within 1/4 mile of one or more bus stops for two or more public, campus or private bus lines usable by building occupants • Community connectivity: must be on a previously developed site AND within 1/2 mile of a residential neighborhood with an average density of 10 units/ acre AND within 1/2 mile of ten basic community services such as: bank, convenience store, place of worship, fire station, post office, restaurants (2 permitted), etc. and has pedestrian access between the building and services

Site Design and Management

Sustainable site design and management includes the design, installation and maintenance of areas such as landscaping and hardscapes. Green practices minimize the use of irrigation, fertilizers and pesticides and employs strategies to reduce soil erosion and sedimentation. The use of native plants reduces the burden on water resources due to reduced irrigation requirements and reduces the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Reducing the amount of hardscapes can increase the area of open space and the use of reflective materials for pavement, walks and roofs can reduce heat island effects. Strategy considerations for developing a sustainable site design and management plan: • Create and implement an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan (ESC) to reduce construction pollution. The plan must comply with the requirements of the 2003 EPA General Construction Permit or local codes, whichever is more strict. The EPA General Construction Permit outlines the provisions necessary to comply with Phase I and Phase II of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program. • Prevents loss of soil during construction by stormwater runoff and wind • Prevents sedimentation of storm sewer and receiving streams • Prevents pollution of the air with dust and particulate matter SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites Strategies that can be used to control erosion due to construction activities are: • Mulching • Erosion control blankets • Straw bales • Berms • Silt fence

Mulch

Control Blankets

Straw Bales

Silt Fencing

• Reduce site disturbance caused by building • Reduce the footprint of the building to increase the amount of open space • Protect and restore existing habitat ●● Efficient hardscapes • Minimize the amount of hard surfaces such as parking lots, walkways, patios, etc • Design new or replace existing hard surfaces with permeable (pervious) surfaces • Reduced area of hardscapes also reduces the amount of exterior lighting required ●● Minimize water usage • Use native or adaptive landscaping that reduces, or eliminates, the need for irrigation • Use water efficient irrigation systems • Use non-potable water for flushing toilets and urinals ●● Use of reflective materials • Design hard surfaces, including roofs, with high SRI materials to minimize heat island impacts ●● Sustainable management plan • Consideration of the type of chemicals and other products used for cleaning exterior surfaces • Consideration of the type of chemicals and other products used for snow and ice removal • Develop an integrated pest management program

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Sustainable Sites Low Impact Development (LID) Rainfall onto impervious surfaces such as parking lots, sidewalks and streets does not filtrate back into the earth and aquifer, but rather washes the surfaces and sends the contaminants eventually to our waterways. This is known as nonpoint source pollution. Low Impact Development addresses how stormwater enters a site, is temporarily stored and how the stormwater eventually exits the site. At its core, LID minimizes impervious surfaces, protects soils from compaction and erosion, promotes native vegetation and manages stormwater at its source. As with any sustainable strategy, all aspects of synergies and tradeoffs must be considered, particularly with LEED for Neighborhood Development projects. Managing stormwater may be less practical, for instance, when considering street grids that promote walking. Streets can cause interruption to the overall stormwater management plan by disrupting the preferred release of stormwater.

Stormwater Management Developments can reduce the natural permeability of a site, which increases the quantity and reduces the quality of stormwater runoff downstream to waterways such as streams, rivers and lakes. The replacement of permeable areas with impervious surfaces reduces the quality due to the contaminates carried by the runoff water, which becomes harmful to aquatic life and recreational opportunities in receiving waters. This also causes downstream erosion in our waterways due to increased runoff rates. Stormwater management involves strategies that reduce or control the amount of Permeable (pervious) pavement increased stormwater created by the project. Pollution caused by soil erosion during site development, increased amounts of impervious surfaces, landscaping fertilizers and the cleansing of impervious pavements by rainwater contribute to the sedimentation and degradation of our waterways. A stormwater management plan may include the collection and reuse of stormwater to reduce the amount of potable water required for irrigation and flushing of toilets. Stormwater management is often regulated by state or local codes to address regional preferences. In certain parts of the U.S., management is generally encouraged in efforts to reduce the impact on waterways and in communities with combined sanitary and storm sewer systems. However, in other parts of the U.S., stormwater is committed to downstream use for livestock, crops and municipal water supplies. Strategy considerations for controlling and reducing the quantity and improving the quality of stormwater runoff: ●● Quantity control • Design project site to maintain natural stormwater flows, promoting infiltration


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Sustainable Sites • Minimize impervious areas by using alternative surfaces such as pervious pavements, open grid pavers and vegetated roofs • Pervious pavements: For hardscapes such as parking, drives, walks and other similar surfaces, use pervious materials that will allow stormwater to penetrate thru the surface to the soils below to reduce the quantity of the stormwater runoff. Also, the quality of stormwater that goes back into the soils and possibly to the aquifers is filtrated and improved • Grid pavers: consider the use of open grid pavers that allow the stormwater to filtrate the open spaces created by the grid pattern to reduce the quantity of stormwater runnoff • Vegetated roofs (aka green roofs): There are many synergies associated with vegetated roofs in addition to reducing the amount of stormwater runoff. The quality of retained stormwater is improved, the roof is better insulated which improves heat gain/loss, reducing the amount of HVAC required and the subsequent energy consumption and vegetated roofs increase the amount of open green space, providing an environment for insects, birds and other habitat • Control Stormwater: Redirect the flow and rate • Design retention and detention ponds, rain gardens, bioswales, vegetated strips or similar structures to retain or hold and slow the rate of stormwater runoff • Harvest Rainwater: Collect and reuse • Capture rainwater for reuse in such areas as irrigation, flushing toilets and urinals, and custodial ●● Quality control • Most all of the strategies used for controlling the quantity of stormwater runoff can also be implemented for improving the quality of stormwater runoff by utilizing Best Management Practices (BMPs). BMPs are methods that have been proven to be effective and are therefore accepted measures for meeting the requirement. • Pervious pavement and open grid pavers allow a certain amount of water to penetrate the material and infiltrate to the soils below, filtering contaminants from the stormwater • Structural techniques such as vegetated roofs and non-structural techniques such as rain gardens, bioswales and vegetated strips offer a natural filtration of the stormwater

Green Roofs

Retention and Detention Ponds

Rain Gardens

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Sustainable Sites Heat Island Effect A heat island is an urban area which is significantly warmer than its surrounding rural areas. The main cause of the urban heat island is simply the modification of the land surface by urban development. Heat islands can be caused by buildings blocking surface heat from radiating into the relatively cold night sky, the lack of sufficient wind, changes in the thermal properties of surface materials and a lack of evapotranspiration in urban areas. Materials commonly used in urban areas, such as concrete and asphalt, have significantly different thermal bulk properties and surface radiative properties (albedo and emissivity) than the surrounding rural areas. These temperature differentials are generally greater at night than during the day. Heat island effects are also major contributors to smog in urban areas. LEED defines heat islands as temperatures 10 degrees greater than those of surrounding urban areas and addresses heat island elements as nonroof components and roofs. Pavement and roofing materials can be huge contributors to heat islands due to their thermal properties, acting as heat sinks that collect and store heat. Conventional paving and roofing materials that are darker in color exacerbate this problem by absorbing more of the sun’s energy. Emissivity is the ability of a material to emit heat by radiation, solar reflectance (albedo) is the measure of a material’s ability to reflect sunlight and Solar Reflectance Ratio (SRI) is the measure of a material’s ability to reject solar heat. The ideal relationship is lower emissivity and higher albedo and SRI. Pavement and roofing materials that exhibit these qualities are often referred to as cool pavements and cool roofs. • Solar Reflectance is the fraction of the solar energy that is reflected by a surface, such as a roof or pavement, expressed as a number between zero and one. The higher the value, the better the roof reflects solar energy. For example, a white reflective coating or membrane has a reflectance value of 0.85 (reflects 85% of solar energy hitting it and absorbs the remaining 15%), while asphalt has a value of 0.09 (reflects 9%). • Emittance is the amount of absorbed heat that is radiated from a surface, expressed as a number between zero and one. The higher the value, the better the surface radiates heat. • Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) indicates the ability of a surface to reject solar heat, and is the combined value of reflectivity and emittance. It is defined so that a standard black is zero (reflectance 0.05, emittance 0.90) and a standard white is 100 (reflectance 0.80, emittance 0.90). Because of the way SRI is defined, very hot materials can have slightly negative SRI values, and very cool materials can have SRI values exceeding 100. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites Green roofs are becoming popular in the U.S. in larger metropolitan areas, such as Chicago. In addition to assisting stormwater management by reducing quantity of flow and increasing quality of release, green roofs reduce the building’s energy consumption, provides vegetated open space and refuge for habitat. Green roofs also reduce the heat island effect of absorbing the sun’s energy by providing natural vegetation and soils which also contributes to the cooling effects of evapotranspiration, the release of water from plants into the atmosphere. Green roofs are a great sustainable strategy for a project. Strategy considerations for reducing heat island effects on the microclimate and human and wildlife habitat: ●● Nonroofs • Reduce area of hardscapes including roads, parking lots/parking structures, walks or courtyards • Shading: combination of any of the following strategies for 50% of the total hardscape area • Shade from existing tree canopy or, for new trees, within 5 years of installation • Shade from structures covered by solar panels that produce renewable energy • Shade from architectural features that have a SRI of at least 29 • Cool pavements: Use hardscape materials with a SRI of at least 29 • Open grid pavement systems which are at least 50% pervious • Place a minimum of 50% of parking spaces under cover • Roofs used to shade or cover parking must have a SRI of at least 29 ●● Roofs • Cool Roofs: Use roofing materials for 75% of the roof surface with controlled SRI values • 78 SRI for low sloped roofs less than or equal to 2:12 slope • 29 SRI for steep sloped roofs greater than 2:12 slope • Green Roofs: Install a vegetated roof that covers at least 50% of the roof area • Install high albedo (SRI) cool roof and vegetated roof surfaces that, in combination, meet the following: • (area of roof meeting minimum SRI / 0.75) + (area of vegetated roof/0.5) = Total Roof Area

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Sustainable Sites Light Pollution Reduction Outdoor lighting is important for human safety and illuminating connections between buildings and support facilities such as sidewalks, parking lots, roadways and community gathering places and is necessary for twilight and nighttime use. However, poorly designed exterior lighting can add to nighttime light pollution which can interfere with nocturnal ecology, reduce observation of night skies (aka Sky Glow), cause roadway glare and jeopardize relationships with neighbors by causing light trespass. Properly designed lighting systems can promote an appreciation for a place at night. Careful selection of fixture types and wattage and controlling the lighting during off hours or curfew times can avoid light pollution, maintain safety and enhance the public image of a company. The intent of light pollution reduction is to: • Minimize light trespass from the building and site • Reduce sky glow to increase night sky access • Improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction • Reduce development impact on nocturnal environments

Satellite image of earth at night

Reduce exterior lighting for nonessential use

●● Interior • Utilize indirect interior lighting or automated non-emergency lighting shutoff controls • Shut off non-emergency lighting: Reduce power to all non-emergency lighting with a direct line of sight to building envelope openings, such as windows and doors, with shutoff controls during off hours or curfew times • Automatic shielding: Provide automatic shielding or permanent obstructions, for all nonemergency lighting with a direct line of sight to building envelope openings, such as windows and doors


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Sustainable Sites ●● Exterior • Design site lighting with computer model • Use computer modeling for proper selection and location of fixture types • Accurate control of illumination levels, particularly important for maintaining required lighting densities per ASHRAE 90.1 and light trespass at the project property lines • Only light areas required for safety and comfort • Shut off or reduce lighting levels for non-essential lighting such as building facade and landscaping lighting • Use full cutoff light fixtures, low angle spot lights and low reflectance surfaces • Full cutoff light fixtures prevent wasteful uplighting above a horizontal plane, reduces glare and helps prevent light trespass • Low angle spot lights help reduce glare, lighting unnecessary surfaces and wasting energy lighting the sky • Low reflectance surfaces reduces light reflectance and trespass • Classify project lighting zone and comply accordingly with the requirements of IESNA RP-33 • LZ1 - Dark (park and rural settings) • LZ2 - Low (residential areas and neighborhood business districts) • LZ3 - Medium (commercial/industrial and high density residential) • LZ4 - High (major city centers and entertainment districts) • School sports fields are excluded from requirements, but must have automatic shutoffs

Development Density and Community Connectivity In order to achieve credit for urban redevelopment, 2 options are available to the project: Development Density and Community Connectivity. ●● Development Density • The requirements to meet this credit option are to construct or renovate a building on a previously developed site and in a community with a minimum density of 60,000 sf. The density calculation is based on a 2 story building and considers the building and the surrounding community. The first calculation required is to determine the development density for the project by dividing the total square footage of the building by the total site area in acres. This must be a minimum of 60,000 sf / acre. • Development Density (sf/acre) = Gross Building Area (sf) / Site Area (acres)

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Sustainable Sites • The second calculation is used to determine the density radius. Convert the site area from acres to sf (multiply the # of acres x 43,560 sf/ac) and then multiply this number by the square root of 3. • Density Radius (sf) = 3 x sq rt [Site Area (acres) x 43,560 (sf/acre)] • The third calculation adds the sum of all buildings within the density radius. Add the square footage and property acres of all buildings within the density radius and dividing the total square footage by the total acres. The average density of all properties inside this radius must be 60,000 sf or greater. Exclude undeveloped public areas such as parks and water bodies and public roads and right-of-way areas. • Average Property Density within Density Boundary = sum Square Footage / sum Site Area OR ●● Community Connectivity • Community Connectivity also requires the construction or renovation of a building on a previously develop site. The intent of this option is to connect the project to an existing infrastructure by requiring the site to be within 1/2 mile of a residential zone with an average density of 10 units per acres, within 1/2 mile of at least 10 basic services and must have unobstructed pedestrian access between the building and the services.. No service type can be counted more that once in the calculations other than restaurants, where 2 are permitted.

Project location relative to 10 community services within 1/2 mile walking distance from the building

Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access

Another area important to a successful urban redevelopment project is the proximity of the project to mass transportation infrastructures usually found in densely populated urban areas. The requirements for achieving this credit relate to the availability and proximity of rail stations and bus stops. As with Development Density and Community Connectivity, there are 2 options available to the project. ●● Rail Station • The project must be located within 1/2 mile walking distance of an existing, planned and funded commuter rail, light rail or subway station OR SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites ●● Bus Stops • The project must be within 1/4 mile walking distance of 1 or more stops for 2 or more public, campus or private bus lines usable by building occupants

Bus stops within a 1/4 mile radius with walking path from the building

Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) full time equivalent (FTE): a regular building occupant who spends 40 hours per week in the project building. Part time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per week divided by 40. Multiple shifts are included for credits that require annual calculations, as with annual potable water consumption and wastewater generation. full time equivalent building occupants: a measure equal to the total number of hours all building occupants spend in the building during the peak 8 hour occupancy period divided by 8 hours There are two pieces of information required when registering a project with LEED Online that are used across several credits. Therefore, LEED boundary information and Full Time Equivalent data must be consistent when applied to each applicable credit. The project boundary is used for storm water calculations, open space requirements and light trespass as well as providing data for other credits. The first instance when FTEs are required is in the Sustainable Sites category to determine the required quantities for SS credit 4.2: Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms. Full Time Equivalents identify the total number of building occupants of the following occupancy types: • • • •

Full time staff Part time staff Peak Transients (students, volunteers, visitors, customers, etc.) Residents SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites For full time and part time staff, the FTE occupants are based on an 8 hour occupancy period. An 8 hour full time occupant has an FTE value of 1.0 and a part time occupant’s FTE is the hours they work per day divided by 8. In buildings with multiple shifts, only the shift with the highest volume is used. FTE calculations for each shift must be used consistently for all LEED credits. Transient occupants and total shifts worked are particularly important in the Water Efficiency category when determining annual wastewater and potable water calculations. Annual calculations are determined by the total consumption or load during a 24 hour period for the total number of days worked annually. For instance, if there are three shifts and the FTE quantities of the shifts are 150, 100 and 50 FTEs, for most credits the highest shift with 150 FTE would be used. However, when total annual calculations are required, the consumption or load during a 24 hour period would be that created by the combined shifts of 150, 100 and 50 - or 300 FTEs.

Codes & Referenced Standards Refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of Referenced Standards by Credit with a description of the intent of the standard • The Sustainable Sites category contains many standards for implementing credit strategies regulating site disturbance, stormwater management, open space, light pollution. Important standards to become familiar with: • 2003 EPA Construction General Permit: NPDES stormwater regulations for site construction activity • ASTM E1527-05 Phase I Environmental Assessment & ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment • U.S. Department of Agriculture, United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 7, Volume 6, Parts 400 to 699, Section 657.5: Standard that defines prime farmland • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Definition of 100 Year Flood: The flood elevation that has a 1% chance of being reached or exceeded each year • Endangered Species List (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, List of Threatened and Endangered Species): Addresses threatened and endangered wildlife and plants • National Marine Fisheries Services, List of Endangered Marine Species: In addition to this federal list, state agencies provide state specific lists • United States Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR, Parts 230 -233, and Part 22, Definition of Wetlands: Addresses wetlands and discharges of dredge or filled material into water regulated by states • U.S. EPA, Definition of Brownfields • ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Lighting, Section 9 (without amendments): Establishes exterior lighting power densities (LPD) for buildings • Various ASTM standards regarding Heat Island Effect


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Sustainable Sites Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • Acid Rain • Alternative Fuel Vehicles • Biodiversity • Biomass • Bioswale • Brownfield • Building Density • Building Footprint • Community Connectivity • Development Density • Diversity of Uses or Housing Types • Dry Ponds • Floodplain • Floor-to-Area Ratio • Footcandle • Full Time Equivalent (FTE) • Heat Island Effect • Imperviousness • Native and Adapted Plants • Perviousness • Prime Farmland • Rain Garden • Site Disturbance • Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) • Stormwater Runoff • Street Grid Density • Transient Occupants • Transportation Demand Management • Wetland Vegetation • Xeriscaping SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites Thoughts to keep The location of the site is of paramount importance to immediate and long term environmental impacts. LEED sustainable sites promotes responsible and practical site design strategies relative to local and regional communities and ecosystems in four areas: • Transportation • Site Selection • Site Design and Management • Stormwater Management ●● Transportation • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: Reducing vehicle travel saves operation and maintenance costs for the vehicle owner and reduces the burden of construction and maintenance of highways • Social Responsibility: Reducing vehicle emissions also increases the quality of the air; strategies such as mass transportation and bicycles promotes exercise • Environmental Stewardship: The obvious here is the reduction of vehicle emissions • Strategies: • locate site in an area that has mass transit • Limit parking • Encourage carpooling • Promote alternative fuel vehicles • Offer incentives • Support alternative transportation ●● Site Selection • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: Site location can have a direct affect on vehicle miles traveled (vmt) saving both fossil fuels and infrastructure; can contribute to the economy of local communities; proper site selection allows for placement and orientation of the building to reduce energy costs providing daylighting and natural ventilation • Social Responsibility: Sites should allow for sensitivity to strategies that promote the restoration or protection of the natural habitat • Environmental Stewardship: Strategies such as daylighting and natural ventilation reduces energy use; redevelopment saves greenfield sites


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Sustainable Sites • Strategies: • Increase development density • Reduce development footprint to increase vegetated and pervious open space • Locate project in densely populated communities to reduce sprawl • Redevelopment • Build on previously developed sites • Restore a brownfield site • Protect the habitat • Select sites that do not include sensitive site elements • Urban development ●● Site Design and Management • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: Strategies that incorporate native landscaping will conserve both water and energy and require less maintenance • Social Responsibility: Reducing light pollution shows a concern for community and safety; creating and increasing the natural habitat serves the project as well as adjoining properties • Environmental Stewardship: Incorporating proper hardscape/roofing materials with proper landscape design will reduce the heat island effect • Strategies: • Create an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan to reduce construction pollution • Reduce site disturbance caused by building footprint • Efficient hardscapes • Minimize water usage • Use of reflective materials • Sustainable management plan ●● Stormwater Management • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: A proper stormwater management plan implemented at the beginning of the project reduces damage to the site which later must be corrected; retention ponds, rain gardens, wetlands and other aesthetic strategies can increase the property value • Social Responsibility: Stormwater management strategies such as retention ponds, rain gardens and wetlands promote biodiversity of native habitat; effective in reducing damages to adjoining properties SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites • Environmental Stewardship: Managing stormwater reduces flooding and sedimentation of downstream land and waterways; stormwater can be used for irrigation and inside for flushing toilets thereby saving potable water • Strategies: • Quantity control • Reduce building footprint • Reduce impervious pavement materials • Use pervious pavement materials, vegetated roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, retention and detention ponds to hold and/or slow the rate of stormwater runoff • Quality control • Reduce building footprint • Reduce impervious pavement materials • Use pervious pavement materials, vegetated roofs, rain gardens, bioswales, retention and detention ponds to hold and/or slow the rate of stormwater runoff • Nonpoint source pollution is one of the greatest threats to stormwater quality and can be caused by oil leaks from vehicles, fertilizers and other contaminants washed across impervious surfaces during a rain. ●● Miscellaneous • Alternative Fuel Vehicles: • Electric; hydrogen; natural gas; ethanol, biofuel • Eligible vehicles: • Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) as defined by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) • Green Score 40 or greater listed by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) • Brownfields: • EPA defines brownfields as “real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant or contaminate.” • If found to be contaminated, but remediated, the land can be reused • Schools are not permitted to be built on land that was previously used as a landfill • Heat island properties: • Understand the key elements: albedo, solar reflectance, solar reflectance index, emittance


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Sustainable Sites Studio4 Office Project: Sustainable Sites LEED Online Registration Aside from the standard issue of questions about the Project Administrator, Project Owner and general project details, there are two pieces of information LEED Online requires from the Project Administrator that will serve as a standard of accounting across several credits that uses the same information and, therefore must be used consistently throughout the certification process. One is project boundary information and the other is the FTE count. The project boundary for this project, as well as most sites with a single building, will simply be the legal property description that is generally shown on a survey drawing that defines the metes and bounds. Also, the civil engineer’s drawings will indicate the property lines as well as defining the scope of the project relative to work outside the building proper.

Project Boundaries Another area that needs to be checked by the Project Team is an analysis of the Minimum Program Requirements (MPR). This project meets the mandatory requirements, however, one calculation does need to be made to ensure that the minimum building area to site area ratio is in compliance. This requires that the gross floor area of the LEED project building must be no less than 2% of the gross land area within the LEED project boundary. The site area is 3.5 acres and the gross floor area is 12,000 sf. Therefore: • (3.5 acres x 43,560 sf/acre) x 0.02 = 152,460 x 0.02 = 3,049.2 sf minimum required Although the project was zoned for two buildings with the agreement that there would be an eventual lot split, for the sake of expediency, the split will occur after the completion of the project and certification approved. Also needed to consider is the fact that this is a speculative project and Phase II may never be developed. FTE requirements refer to occupant loads, and occupant loads have different meanings depending on the requirements being met. In the case of zoning, occupant loads deal with life safety issues and addresses areas such as the minimum width of egress corridors and number of SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites required emergency exit doors based on the building use group. LEED, on the other hand, views occupants from a different perspective, allowing two options for determining occupant counts, or FTEs. If the actual FTE is not known, LEED provides a matrix based on the type of occupancy use. For general office use such as this project, this would be 1 FTE per 250 sf of the gross square footage. Therefore: • 12,000 sf / 250 = 48 FTEs

Schematic Design The Civil Engineer has taken the data collected during the initial charrette and prepared a preliminary schematic site development plan where the owner, architect, engineers, landscape architect, contractor and other stakeholders can review and discuss in more detail the strategies to achieve the credits being sought. They will also determine what synergies are apparent and perhaps uncover hidden issues in the form of adverse tradeoffs that may affect their credit selections.

Conceptual Site Development Plan

Sustainable Sites Category Sustainable Sites deal with issues outside of the building, including portions of the building exterior, the land that is being developed, and the surrounding community. Choosing a building’s site and managing that site during construction are important considerations for the sustainability of any project. The Sustainable Sites category discourages development on previously undeveloped land; minimizes a building’s impact on ecosystems and waterways; encourages regionally appropriate landscaping; rewards smart transportation choices; controls stormwater runoff; and reduces erosion, light pollution, heat island effect and construction related pollution. ●● SSp1 Construction Activity Pollution Prevention: This prerequisite requires the creation and implementation of an erosion sediment control (ESC) plan, in accordance with the 2003 EPA Construction General Permit or local standards if more strict, to prevent loss of soil, sedimentation and air pollution during the course of construction. Soil erosion on building sites is a major source of sediment pollution in waterways and the runoff of sediment SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites carries pollutants and excessive nutrients that enter the water systems at concentrated levels. Many communities require strict adherence to EPA regulations or local ordinances concerning both the protection of the site and the effects of site disturbance downstream. Additionally, a mandated requirement for this site is that of monitoring the effectiveness of control measures after storms that have delivered a set amount of rainfall within a given period. Construction submittal: civil engineer, landscape architect, contractor ●● SSc1 Site Selection: This is an easy credit to achieve given the fact that this site fits perfectly with the goals of sustainable sites. This site: does not infringe on any of the sensitive or protected site elements such as wetlands, flood plains, endangered species, farmland, etc.; is a previously developed site, thereby preserving greenfields; and is situated in a location with a substantial amount of community connectivity. Design submittal: owner, civil engineer, environmental engineer, ecologist ●● SSc2 Development Density and Community Connectivity: The intent of the Development Density option is to drive development towards high density neighborhoods that have a 60,000 sf/acre density ratio. However, in the past this has been a difficult task to achieve. Recently, LEED added the Community Connectivity option to this credit in a successful effort to make it a much easier path to compliance. With regards to Development Density, a precedent had been established thru a legacy CIR for a project of comparable size to this project, but located in an area where the average density was over 125,000 sf per acre. This avenue could possibly have been pursued, but is unnecessary at this point. There is the intent of the Project Team not to apply for CIRs in an effort to expedite the project. Community Connectivity is virtually at the project’s doorstep. There is available the required 10 community services and high density residential units (10 units/acre) within a 1/2 mile radius with sidewalks that provide a direct and unobstructed link. This will meet the requirements of the Community Connectivity option of the credit. Each of the 10 basic services have to be identified and the information uploaded via LEED Online. Design submittal: owner, developer, design team

Community Connectivity (10 basic services and high density residential within 1/2 mile) SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites ●● SSc3 Brownfield Redevelopment: Brownfields have the potential to be renewed with proper remediation that removes possible hazardous materials from the site’s soil and groundwater that may be present. Redevelopment on brownfields prevents development on undeveloped greenfields that may serve as a habitat for wildlife and brownfields are usually located in areas having existing infrastructure necessary for the new development. Reclaiming a potentially contaminated site can provide economic support to the surrounding area and initialize further development. Unfortunately, with regards to this credit, a condition of sale required the previous owners to demolish and remove the existing buildings and accessory structures. The age of those buildings revealed asbestos siding on the main structure. Asbestos siding has previously been permitted by the EPA as an environmentally hazardous material sufficient to classify a site as a Brownfield. This project would most likely have qualified as a brownfield. Design submittal: owner, civil engineer, environmental engineer, ecologist, EPA ●● SSc4 Alternative Transportation: There are 4 sub-credits within SSc4, and the project will pursue SSc4.3 Alternative Transportation - Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles and SSc4.4 Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity. • SSc4.1 Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access: The use of public transportation decreases air pollution in urban areas and reduces the building footprint by requiring only a minimum of parking space. Choosing a site close to public transportation gives building occupants the option to use public transportation to and from work. There is no public transportation available to this project. Design submittal: owner, architect, design team • SSc4.2 Alternative Transportation - Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms: Select a site that provides convenient biking paths, safe bike storage, and close shower facilities to building occupants where the showering facilities must be within 200 yards of the entrance to the building. Design submittal: architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, plumbing engineer • SSc4.3 Alternative Transportation - Low Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles: This credit allows achievement by reserving 5% of the total parking capacity for the use of low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles. 5% x 60 spaces = 3 spaces to be reserved close to the building entrance for these types of vehicles. Design submittal: owner, architect, design team • SSc4.4 Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity: Option 1 permits no more parking capacity than that required by code. Local zoning regulations for this type of use requires 1 parking space per 200 sf of gross building area. Therefore, 12,000 sf/200 = 60 parking spaces. Phase I of this project has the 60 spaces as required. Design submittal: owner, architect, design team SSc5 Site Development and SSc6 Stormwater Design Sustainable Sites credits SSc5 and SSc6, with their 2 sub-credits each, afford the project many synergetic opportunities throughout the sustainable categories and allows many of the same strategies for credit compliance. Most projects governed by local, state and federal regulations SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites require some degree of stormwater control and landscaping/open space requirements. Implementing strategies for a path to compliance for one credit can be used successfully for strategies related to other credits. Constructed wetlands, for instance, don’t have to be large in size, yet can serve to control the quantity and quality of stormwater, stormwater reuse for irrigation and toilet flushing, graywater reuse and reducing heat island effects while providing a natural and much needed refuse for local habitat. Rain gardens, vegetated swales and strips, bioswales, detention/retention areas, wetlands and similar strategies can singularly, or collectively, be used to achieve most, if not all, of the credit opportunities offered. SSc5 - Site Development credits are important for the enhancement of the natural elements of the project site such as native plants and trees, soils, and watersheds. On greenfield sites, a key strategy to credit achievement is to minimize the building footprint as much as possible. Utilize strategies such as sharing facilities, and stacking the parking with the building and during construction, create construction boundaries that minimize land disturbance. Open space is beneficial in urban environments to wildlife whose habitats are rapidly disappearing. Smaller development footprints and more greenspace helps with the urban heat island effect and provides for better stormwater retention. The goal of SSSc6 - Stormwater Design is to decrease the amount of stormwater runoff that leaves the site. The options depend on the pre-development conditions on the site. If it is a greenfield, prevent an increase in stormwater runoff on site after development. If the site has existing impervious surfaces, decrease the amount of stormwater that exits the site by 25% after development. Where SS Credit 6.1 is about the quantity of stormwater that leaves the site, SS Credit 6.2 is about the quality of the water that leaves the site. To meet the requirements of the credit, create and implement a stormwater management plan (SWMP) that is designed to capture and treat runoff from 90% of the average annual rainfall. Also, the best management practices (BMPs) used to treat runoff must remove 80% of the average annual post development total suspended solids (TSS) load. With the design of any project, a well qualified Project Team will understand how to best maximize the strategies and synergies available in the Sustainable Sites category.

Constructed wetland, habitat, rain garden, vegetated strip and pervious pavements SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Sustainable Sites ●● SSc5.1 Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat: This credit addresses two site conditions, Case 1 as applied to greenfield sites and Case 2 for previously developed areas or graded sites. This is an important credit to pursue because of the synergies involved and, in the site’s current configuration, an easy credit to achieve. Option 2 requires protecting or restoring the greater of 50% of the site (excluding building footprint) or 20% of the site (including building footprint) with native or adaptive vegetation. Considering the fact that a lot split is not planned during Phase I, combined with the extensive landscape requirements of the local zoning ordinance, there is sufficient land available to meet the requirements of this credit. The landscape architect will coordinate with the civil engineer on this credit to design and engineer rain gardens, vegetated swales, constructed wetlands and other strategies that can contribute to many Sustainable Site and Water Efficiency credits. Construction submittal: civil engineer, landscape architect, environmental engineer, ecologist, local professional ●● SSc5.2 Site Development - Maximize Open Space: This credit has three cases that address existing local zoning ordinance provisions regarding open space requirements. Open space is the property area minus the development footprint and must be vegetated and pervious. This project falls under the case where there is local zoning but without any requirement for open space. Although the local ordinance has no provision for a percentage of open space, it does include an extensive and aggressive landscaping policy requiring all unpaved and undeveloped portions of the site be vegetated. This is an instance where local codes are more stringent than those requirements necessary to comply with the credit. On this site, all property lines, right of ways, interior pavement islands, mandated spaces between sidewalks and buildings will be landscaped with plants, shrubs and trees and landscaped berms constructed to protect visibility from adjacent residential properties. Since c5.1 & c5.2 go hand-in-hand with each other, the civil engineer and landscape architect will coordinate the design and construction documents. Design submittal: civil engineer, landscape architect, environmental engineer, ecologist, local professional ●● SSc6.1 Stormwater Design - Quantity Control: The intent of this credit is to limit disruption of natural water hydrology by reducing impervious cover, increasing on-site infiltration, reducing or eliminating pollution from stormwater runoff, and eliminating contaminants. On building sites where the existing imperviousness is greater than 50%, this credit requires reducing the quantity of stormwater runoff by 25%. On building sites where the existing imperviousness is less than 50%, the requirement specifies that the post-development discharge rate and quantity from the site shall not exceed the pre-development rate and quantity. This site had no improvements, as there are no existing impervious surfaces and SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Sustainable Sites requires either 1) a stormwater management plan that prevents the post-development peak discharge rate and quantity from exceeding the predevelopment peak discharge rate and quantity for the 1 and 2 year 24 hour design storms OR 2) implementation of a stormwater management plan that protects receiving stream channels from excessive erosion and the stormwater management plan must include stream channel protection and quantity control strategies. This credit is actually mandated by local zoning regulations that require stormwater to be held and released for the purpose of downstream protection. Design submittal: civil engineer, landscape architect ●● SSc6.2 Stormwater Design - Quality Control: The intent of this credit is to limit the disruption of natural stormwater and clean the stormwater that becomes contaminated as it passes through the site. To do this, the project must implement a stormwater management plan that reduces the amount of impervious cover, promotes infiltration and then captures and treats the remaining stormwater runoff for 90% of the average annual rainfall. For this credit, LEED promotes Best Practice Methods (BMPs) as long as they remove 80% of the post-development Total Suspended Solids (TSS). This credit is achievable thru the implementation of strategies and techniques provided by credits SSc5.1, SSc5.2 and SSc6.1. The wetland area, rain gardens and vegetated swales will hold and retain stormwater, allowing some passage thru the structures into the subgrade for filtration. The remaining stormwater that does eventually pass thru to the public storm sewer, or waterways, will have been cleansed by the vegetation while being held. In calculating the amount of stormwater to treat, climatic data is used for the specific region where the project is located. There are 3 distinct climates in the U.S. that influence the amount of annual rainfall. Humid watersheds that receive at least 40” of annual rainfall, semiarid watersheds which receive between 20”-40” per year and arid watersheds that will receive less than 20” of annual rainfall. Treating 90% of the annual rainfall is equal to the following: 1” for humid watersheds, 0.75” for semiarid watersheds and 0.50” for arid watersheds. Design submittal: owner, architect, civil engineer, landscape architect ●● SSc7.1 Heat Island Effect - Nonroof: This credit requires shade (within 5 years of occupancy), materials with a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of at least 29, and/ or open-grid pavement for at least 50% of the site’s non-roof impervious surfaces such as roads, sidewalks, courtyards, and parking lots. A second option requires placing a minimum of 50% of parking spaces underground or under a deck, a roof, or a building. Any roof used to shade or cover parking must also have a SRI of at least 29. This credit will be achieved by using concrete for the parking lot, which accounts for more than 50% of the hardscaped areas. Ordinary concrete has an SRI value range between 38 and 52. Construction submittal: architect, civil engineer, landscape architect

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Sustainable Sites ●● SSc7.2 Heat Island Effect - Roof: In general, there are 2 configurations used for conventional roof designs - flat roofs and sloped roofs. This shingled roof will have a slope of 6:12. LEED considers a steep sloped roof as one having a slope greater than 2:12 and requiring an SRI index of 29 or higher. Low sloped roofs have a slope of 2:12 or less and require an SRI index of 78 or higher. LEED allows vegetated roofs, high SRI roofs and roofs that use a combination of the two and provides formulas for the amount of area of each material to use in order to comply with the credit. For the roof on this project, 75% of the roof surface must be covered with a shingle that has a minimum SRI value of 29. Fortunately, there are many colors available to select from the manufacturers of cool shingles. Design submittal: architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, mechanical engineer ●● SSc8 Light Pollution Reduction: Reducing light pollution relative to the site requires regulating the light sources inside and outside of the building. On the interior, all non-emergency light must be regulated when trespassing beyond translucent surfaces (windows) between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. This can be accomplished by installing automatic devices with manual overrides that will turn off the interior lights during this time period. Addressing the exterior light pollution requires a determination of the proper lighting zone and using shielded light fixtures where there exists the potential for these fixtures to produce glare, trespass, etc. There are two possible candidates to consider for the lighting zone - LZ2 Low and LZ3 Medium. If using the more strict LZ2, the footcandle (fc) level at the property (boundary) line can be no greater than 0.10 fc horizontal and vertical. However, this is another instance where local codes and ordinances are more stringent than the requirements to achieve the credit. The local zoning ordinance mandates 0.00 fc at the property line. Although argued for some time as being impractical and nearly impossible to achieve, the 0.00 fc ordinance is still in effect. Design submittal: architect, civil engineer, electrical engineer, landscape architect, lighting designer ●● SSc9 Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines: This credit is specifically targeted to C&S projects and requires the publication of an illustrated document written to educate tenants about implementing sustainable design and construction features in their tenant improvement build-out and how to use LEED for Commercial Interiors. Design submittal: owner, architect, design team


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Sustainable Sites Schematic Site Development Plan

Design Site Development Plan The civil engineer has taken the preliminary site development sketch and coordinated with the landscape architect to prepare a refined Site Development Plan for distribution to the team to review. This design and subsequent review comments will be used to begin the final site related construction documents. The sustainable elements incorporated into this plan include: • • • • •

Pervious sidewalk pavement SRI 29 concrete parking and drive pavement SRI 29 roofing materials Vegetated swales to collect, hold, filter and release stormwater runoff Rain gardens between vegetated swale and parking lot, between building and sidewalk and in 2 parking islands • Landscaped berm along east property line • Native and/or adaptive landscaping • Wetland for stormwater, habitat and potential reservoir for stormwater reuse In summary, the credits being pursued in the Sustainable Sites category have come at little additional cost to the project budget. Often referred to as the “low hanging fruit”, many of these credits are either mandated by local codes and ordinances or were available due to the location and existing condition of the site. Also, the sanitary and storm sewer authority that services several cities and surrounding counties has initiated an aggressive campaign to expedite the study and implementation of sustainable and green practices. As such, they will make available funding on this project the cost for the rain gardens and constructed wetlands for inclusion into their pilot program. An agreement to allow the Metropolitan Sewer District to monitor performance is required.

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Sustainable Sites Project Checklist Analysis 

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

            

                              





      

      



 

 



   

   



  

   

   

         

 

         

      

  

    

  



     

 

   



           

 

     

 

     

 

             

 

      

 



   

 



Not bad! 19 probable points out of 28 available with only 40 required for LEED certification. What does this mean? We are halfway to certification and the cost so far for being green has been minimal. The next session will begin at the end of the Water Efficiency chapter. Please note, the Project Checklist is a tool that allows the Project Team to check off the credits during the charrette they believe to be achievable and also check those credits the project will not pursue. For the purposes of this exercise, the checklist is being used as an analysis of the project credit standing as it progresses thru the categories.


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W

ater is the Earth’s most precious resource and buildings use 14% of our potable water supply. The goals of the LEED Water Efficiency credit category are to promote the following measures: monitor water consumption performance, reduce indoor potable water consumption, reduce our water consumption to save energy and improve environmental well being, practice water efficient landscaping and, in Schools, use water efficient processes as a teaching tool.

CHAPTER | 5 Water Efficiency (WE) »» Credit Matrix »» Introduction »» Water Type Definitions »» Monitor Water Consumption Performance »» Reducing Indoor Potable Water Consumption »» Reduce Water Consumption to Save Energy and Improve Environmental Well Being »» Practicing Water Efficient Landscaping »» Water Efficient Processes as a Teaching Tool »» Water Efficient Strategies »» Codes & Referenced Standards »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: Water Efficiency SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

78

Water Efficiency Credit Matrix Credit WEp1 WEc1 WEc2 WEc3 WEc4

NC

Title WATER EFFICIENCY (WE) Water Use Reduction Water Efficient Landscaping Innovative Wastewater Technologies Water Use Reduction Process Water Use Reduction

10 Reqd *2-4 2 *2-4 NA

Schools Points 11 Reqd *2-4 2 *2-4 1

CS 10 Reqd *2-4 2 *2-4 NA

Introduction As the demand for development increases, the burden on our limited water resources also increases. Survey estimates between 1990 and 2000 suggest our fresh water consumption increased 12% and the U.S. uses 400 billion gallons of water per day, with buildings accounting for 47 billion gallons per day. If these types of demands and increases continue, 36 states in the U.S. expect to experience fresh water shortages by 2013. This increase in the use of public potable water also creates an increase in the amount of wastewater being generated, thereby straining the capacity of our wastewater treatment facilities. About 86% of the fresh water drawn is used, treated and discharged into our waterways. In turn, a treatment facility that cannot handle the capacity it receives often releases untreated wastewater that can contaminate our waterways and other sources of potable water. EPA estimates that 1/3 of the nation’s streams, rivers and lakes are unsafe for swimming and fishing. It is estimated that efficiency measures can easily reduce water consumption by 30% while many water conservation measures can be done at no cost or at a rapid payback. The use of large volumes of water can be directly related to maintenance and life cycle costs for building operations in addition to the costs for additional municipal supply and treatment facilities.

Water Type Definitions potable water: water that meets or exceeds EPA’s drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction graywater: domestic wastewater composed of wash water from kitchen, bathroom and laundry sinks, tubs and washers; the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) defines graywater as untreated household wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet waste; the International Plumbing Code (IPC) defines graywater as wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry sinks; some states will allow kitchen sinks to be included with graywater blackwater: wastewater from toilets and urinals; definitions vary where wastewater from kitchen sinks, showers and bathtubs are considered as blackwater under some jurisdictions wastewater: the spent or used water from a home, farm, community or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter stormwater: runoff water resulting from precipitation that flows over surfaces and usually to storm sewers or waterways SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Water Efficiency Reducing Indoor Potable Water Consumption Reducing indoor potable water consumption is generally addressed by using alternative water sources for nonpotable applications and installing water efficient fixtures and components. Water treatment and reuse of stormwater and graywater for toilet flushing and custodial purposes provides an alternative water source. Reducing potable water use for toilets, urinals, showerheads, faucets and other fixtures can reduce the amount of water drawn from natural water bodies through the use of water efficient fixtures, flow restrictors, electronic controls, composting toilets and waterless urinals.

Reducing Water to Save Energy and Improve Environmental Well Being Often the most significant savings associated with water efficiency result from reduced energy costs. Water that must be treated, heated, cooled and distributed requires energy. Nearly 15% of a commercial building’s energy use comes from heating water. With the projected shortage of fresh water in this country, concerns for human health and environmental welfare become more real as reservoirs and groundwater aquifers become depleted. As this occurs, lower water levels can concentrate natural contaminants and human pollutants.

Practicing Water Efficient Landscaping Landscape irrigation, the primary user of outdoor water consumption, accounts for 30% of the 26 billion gallons of water consumed daily. The use of native plants supports a self sustaining landscape that will require minimal supplemental water while providing additional environmental benefits such as attracting native wildlife, requiring less fertilizers and pesticides which in turn reduces water quality degradation.

In Schools, Use Water efficient Processed as a Teaching Tool Water efficiency strategies can provide educational opportunities such as the study of biological systems, nutrient cycles, habitat and the impact of human systems on local watersheds and natural resources. Students can enhance their math skills and environmental stewardship by calculating the effects of water conservation strategies on their own use.

Water Efficient Strategies Strategies implementing water efficiency can be categorized into three primary areas of usage: • Indoor Water: water closets, urinals, lavatories, showers, sinks • Outdoor Water: landscape irrigation • Process Water: industrial processes and building systems such as cooling towers, boilers, chillers, certain business operations such as dishwashers and washing machines. Process water is not addressed by all LEED ratings systems. Plumbing fixtures are categorized as either flush or flow fixtures. Flush fixtures are toilets and urinals and are rated in gallons per flush (GPF). Flow fixtures are primarily faucets such as lavatories, sinks and showerheads and are rated in gallons per minute (GPM). Standard plumbing fixtures used today are regulated by the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPAct)

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Water Efficiency gallons per flush (gpf): measurement of water used by flush fixtures (water closets and urinals). Per EPAct 1992, baseline rates for water closets is 1.6 gpf and urinals is 1.0 gpf gallons per minute (gpm): measurement of water used by flow fixtures (faucets, showerheads, aerators, sprinkler heads) ●● Blackwater generating fixtures and fittings for both conventional and High Efficiency Toilets (HET): • • • • • • • • •

Conventional toilets: 1.6 gpf HET single flush: 1.28 GPF HET single flush pressure assist: 1.0 HET dual flush (full flush): 1.6 gpf HET dual flush (low flush): 1.1 gpf HET foam flush: 0.05 gpf Nonwater toilets: 0.0 gpf Conventional urinals: 1.0 gpf Nonwater urinals: 0.0 gpf

●● Residential fixtures, faucets and appliances • • • •

Conventional toilets: 1.6 gpf Conventional lavatory (bathroom) faucets: 2.2 gpm Conventional kitchen faucets: 2.2 gpm Conventional showerheads: 2.5 gpm

Low Flow Toilet

Composting (nonwater) Toilet

Dual Flush Toilet

When considering toilets account for 25% of our daily water consumption and a waterless urinal in a shopping mall saves 40,000 gallons of water annually, the need to install efficient plumbing fixtures becomes readily apparent. Conserving water for irrigation can be less costly when coordinating strategies with stormwater management such as capturing, filtering and holding rainwater.


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Water Efficiency Process water is used for industrial processes and building systems such as cooling towers, boilers and chillers installed for heating and cooling air for building operations. Process water also includes washing machines and dishwashers used in businesses. Since the amount of process water used can be significant, it is important to know how the water is being used and this can be done by installing submeters to determine where the major users are and what conservation measures would be appropriate. Strategy considerations for indoor water use reduction: ●● Install water efficient plumbing fixtures • Use low flow fixtures: lavatories, sinks, showerheads • Use low flow flush type fixtures: dual flush toilets, waterless toilets and urinals, composting toilets • Dual flush water closets use a full flush for solid waste and a half flush for liquid waste • Waterless urinals all use basically the same science of passing urine through a liquid seal and there are two varieties of waterless urinal: cartridge based and non cartridge based units • WaterSense fixtures: • WaterSense is an EPA sponsored partnership program that promotes water efficiency for water-efficient products, programs, and practices. WaterSense helps consumers identify water-efficient products and programs that meet WaterSense water efficiency and performance criteria. HET waterclosets are available with the WaterSense label ●● Use nonpotable water • Captured rainwater, graywater or municipally claimed wastewater for flush type fixtures ●● Install submeters • Meter indoor water systems to monitor consumption and locate leaks Strategy considerations for outdoor water use reduction: ●● Install locally adaptive landscaping • Native or adaptive landscaping reduces or eliminates irrigation demands by using indigenous plants that have acclimated to the climate characteristics of the region ●● Xeriscaping • Xeriscaping is a landscape concept that considers the whole of the landscaping design in an effort to produce landscaping that requires little or no Irrigation • The concept includes an analysis of existing soil conditions and the use, if needed, of water efficient irrigation systems, native or adaptive planting, mulch and maintenance considerations ●● Zoned landscaping • Zone planting regions according to the irrigation requirements of each type of plant SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Water Efficiency ●● Mulching • Mulch retains moisture which provides water to the plant’s root system and helps prevent evaporation of the plant’s water ●● Turf grass • Reduce or eliminate turf grasses that require large amounts of water ●● Use non potable water for irrigation • Captured rainwater, graywater or municipally claimed wastewater for irrigation ●● Efficient irrigation systems • Drip and bubbler irrigation systems are the most efficient by providing more water to the root systems and less surface water to the leaves for evaporation or runoff • Weather based controllers use weather and soil conditions to determine irrigation requirements • Properly schedule irrigation times for appropriate times and quantities ●● Install submeters • Meter irrigation systems to monitor consumption and locate leaks ●● Maintenance • Develop a maintenance program that establishes procedures for cutting, caring for and routine maintenance of lawn and landscaping Strategy considerations for indoor process water use reduction: ●● Use non potable water • Captured rainwater, graywater of municipally claimed wastewater for building processes such as water chillers ●● Install submeters • Meter process water systems to monitor consumption and locate leaks

Codes & Referenced Standards Refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of Referenced Standards by Credit with a description of the intent of the standard • The Water Efficiency category references three standards: • The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 and 2005 (2005 is date statute became law) • Uniform Plumbing Code 206, Section 402.0, Water Conserving Fixtures and Fittings: UPC defines water conserving fixtures and fittings for water closets, urinals and metered faucets • International Plumbing Code 2006, Section 604, Design of Building Water Distribution System: Defines maximum flow rates and consumption for plumbing fixtures and fittings, including public and private lavatories, showerheads, sink faucets, urinals and water closets SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Water Efficiency Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • Adaptive and Native Plants • Baseline versus Design • Blackwater • Composting Toilet • Drip Irrigation • Full Time Equivalent (FTE) • Gallons per Flush (GPF) • Gallons per Minute (GPM) • Graywater • Harvested Rainwater • Invasive Plants • Irrigation Efficiency • Nonpotable Water • Potable Water • Rainwater Harvesting • Stormwater • Wastewater • Wetland Vegetation Thoughts to keep Our demand for fresh water is reducing our supplies at an alarming rate and the drop in fresh water levels will cause many areas of the country to run short within a few years. Many water conservation strategies are no cost or provide a rapid payback while other strategies, such as biological wastewater treatment systems and graywater plumbing systems often require more substantial investments. LEED addresses water conservation in three areas: • Indoor Water Use • Outdoor Water Use • Process Water Use • The Triple Bottom Line:

Water efficiency addresses one environmental issue and that is water conservation. The Triple Bottom Line applies consistently with all use types.

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Water Efficiency • Economic Prosperity: Reducing large amounts of water reduces maintenance and life cycle costs for building operations; reduction in consumer’s costs for additional supply and treatment facilities; reduced water usage also conserves energy. • Social Responsibility: Conserving water is our obligation to future generations. • Environmental Stewardship: Using less water has a profound affect on our infrastructure as it relates to water supply and sanitary sewer treatment facilities. ●● Indoor Water Use • Strategies: • Install water efficient plumbing fixtures • Use nonpotable water • Install submeters ●● Outdoor water use • Strategies: • Install locally native and adaptive landscaping • Xeriscaping • Mulching • No turf grass • Use nonpotable water • Efficient irrigation systems • Install submeters ●● Process water use • Strategies: • Use non potable water • Install submeters ●● Miscellaneous • Strategy Pros and Cons: • Although some water saving strategies may save water, consideration should be given to the strategies implemented that may consume more energy. Wastewater treatment, for example, may increase energy consumption through the use of pumping systems. Remember also that any device using electricity must go through the commissioning process. • Water savings are calculated by calculating the percentage reduction from the baseline case to the design case • Process Water: • Process water is not addressed by all LEED ratings systems SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Water Efficiency Studio4 Office Project: Water Efficiency Water Efficiency Category Water Efficiency addresses the use of potable water at the site and the discharge of wastewater from the site. Reducing these will help limit the amounts of freshwater drawn from our water bodies and aquifers, and then treated for distribution and use, which strain our freshwater supplies and our water infrastructure. It also serves to reduce the wastewater volumes discharged to these receiving bodies. WEp1 Water Use Reduction: This prerequisite requires a potable water use reduction of 20% from regulated flush and flow fixtures - fixtures as regulated by a standard such as EPAct - and excludes water used for irrigation and process equipment. A baseline needs to be established and compared to the design case in order to determine the amount of reduction. A quick outline of how this is done: ●● Determine the FTE load for all occupants, including transient occupants (students, visitors and retail customers) • We determined earlier that the default FTE load was 48 for the use type, and for this use type, the default transient load = 0 FTE • Unless known otherwise, LEED establishes an equal split between men and women, 24 men and 24 women ●● Determine the fixture usage • These calculations deal with occupant usage and not number of fixtures, as the number of fixtures is irrelevant. If you have 10 FTEs, the total daily usage will remain the same whether there are 2 fixtures or 200 fixtures. • Women, by default, are calculated at 3 uses per day for toilets and 3 uses per day for lavatories • Men, by default, are calculated at 3 uses per day also, but 1 use for toilets, 2 uses for urinals and 3 uses for lavatories ●● Determine the baseline case for the total annual potable water consumption • Since we are looking for annual consumption, this calculation includes the total FTE count for all shifts during a 24 hour period x the number of days worked per year, using the default EPAct figures for flush and flow fixtures. These include only toilets, urinals, lavatory faucets, showers, kitchen sink faucets and pre-rinse spray valves. Per EPAct, a toilet uses 1.6 gpf, a urinal 1.0 gpf and a lavatory faucet 2.2 gpm at a duration of 15 seconds (15 sec = 0.25 min). We will assume 5 days per week x 50 weeks per year = 250 days worked per year. • 24 women x 3 = 72 toilet uses per day; 24 women x 3 = 72 lavatory uses per day • 24 men x 1 = 24 toilet uses per day; 24 men x 2 = 48 urinal uses per day; 24 men x 3 = 72 lavatory uses per day

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Water Efficiency • 72 + 24 = 96 toilet uses per day total men & women • 48 urinal uses per day total men • 72 + 72 = 144 lavatory uses per day total men & women • Toilets = 96 uses x 1.6 gal = 153.6 gals per day • Urinals = 48 uses x 1.0 gal = 48.0 gals per day • Lavatories = 144 x (2.2 gpm x 0.25 min) = 144 x 0.55 = 79.2 gals per day • 153.6 + 48.0 + 79.2 = 280.8 gals per day total potable water use • 280.8 gal/day x 250 days/year worked = 70,200 gals baseline total annual potable water ●● Determine the design case for the total annual potable water consumption • Same exercise, only substitute the EPAct flush and flow rates with the flush and flow rates for water efficient fixtures. We’ll use the following: 1.0 gpf HET toilets; 0.0 gpf waterless urinals and 1.5 gpm for lavatory faucets • Toilets = 96 uses x 1.0 gal =96.0 gals per day • Urinals = 48 uses x 0.0 gals = 0 gals per day • Lavatories = 144 uses x (1.5 gpm x 0.25) = 144 x 0.375 = 54.0 gals per day • 96.0 + 0 + 54.0 = 150.0 gals per day total potable water use • 150.0 gal/day x 250 days/year worked = 37,500 gals design total annual potable water ●● Determine the percentage annual potable water volume savings • 1 - (37,500 design case/70,200 baseline case) = 1 - 0.5342 = 0.4658 or 47% annual potable water volume savings per year • This is a huge savings in the respect it not only meets the prerequisite by changing out standard fixtures with water efficient fixtures, it eliminates the need to reuse stormwater to achieve the task. Furthermore, this is such a large annual savings, it sets the stage nicely for the remaining Water Efficiency credits. 47% qualifies for Exemplary Performance. Design submittal: owner, architect, engineers WEc1 Water Efficient Landscaping: Approximately 30% of the 26 billion gallons of water consumed daily goes into outdoor use, primarily landscaping. The goals of WEc1 is to reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% or use no potable water for irrigation. Since we have developed our landscaping in and around rain gardens, vegetated swales and the wetland area, we will pursue Option 2 and install no irrigation simply by planting indigenous plants that require little or no irrigation and take advantage of the stormwater we are directing toward the rain gardens, vegetated swales and wetland areas. Using this option, LEED will allow temporary irrigation for a period of 12 months. Although SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Water Efficiency located in a moderate climate, we’ll install a temporary irrigation system using the potable water supply. If we were to reuse stormwater, we would likely need to install pumps and other equipment. If this were done, this equipment would have to be included in EAp1 Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems. Design submittal: owner, landscape architect, civil engineer, plumbing engineer WEc2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies: This credit requires a 50% reduction of potable water used for building sewage (blackwater) conveyance produced by flush fixtures. This can be accomplished by using water conserving fixtures, stormwater reuse, recycled greywater or by treating 50% of the wastewater on-site to tertiary standards. Treating wastewater is not universally permitted throughout the U.S. and if it is, can be an expensive strategy to implement. Therefore we will consider the first option and see how water conserving fixture compliance for WEp1 helps to achieve this credit.

NO

Yes

Yes

Most of the work has been done considering the calculations are identical to WEp1, except the flow fixtures are removed from the equation because we are only considering wastewater. Therefore: ●● Determine the baseline case • 153.6 gals per day for toilets + 48.0 gals per day for urinals = 201.6 gals wastewater generated per day x 250 days/year worked = 50,400 gals wastewater generated per year ●● Determine the design case • 96.0 gals per day for HET toilets + 0.0 gals per day for waterless urinals = 96.0 gals wastewater generated per day x 250 days/year worked = 24,000 gals wastewater generated per year ●● Determine the percentage of annual wastewater volume savings • 1 - (24,000 design case/50,400 baseline case) = 1 - 0.4762 = 0.5238 or 52% annual wastewater volume savings The project has just collected 2 more points. Design submittal: owner, architect, engineers WEc3 Water Use Reduction: An extension of WEp1, this credit awards points for achieving savings above the prerequisite 20%. We don’t need to incorporate additional strategies so the work has already been done. All we need to do now is see how many points we’re entitled to pick up. ●● Points based on % annual potable water volume savings • 30% savings = 2 points • 35% savings = 3 points • 40% savings = 4 points At 47% savings, we’ve picked up 4 points. Design submittal: owner, architect, engineers WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction - N/A SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Water Efficiency Project Checklist Analysis 







 



  

         



 



   

  



            

                              





      

      





 

 

   

   

   



  

   

   

         

 

         

      

  

    

  



     

 

   



           

 

     

 

     

 

             

 

      

 



   

 



In the Water Efficiency category, a total of 10 points are available for credits applicable to this project and we have collected all 10 through the use of water conserving fixtures and smart landscaping strategies. Before we go any further, a review of our credit status shows we have done exceedingly well and at a minimal cost. If we take the 29 points and add the IDc2 credit point for having a LEED AP on the project we have 30 points - 75% of that needed for certification. This gives us the opportunity to continue thru the remainder of the project with the intent to cherry pick the most easily obtainable and least expensive credits. At the end of the process, we can see how much, or how little, it costs to obtain LEED certification. However, we will run thru the credits to show how compliance could have been achieved if we had decided to do so. The project needs 10 more points plus a few additional added as a safety factor. It’s never known for certain how the credits will be interpreted during the submittal review process. The next session will begin at the end of the Energy and Atmosphere chapter.


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A

ccording to the U.S. Department of Energy, buildings account for 39% of the energy and 72% of the electricity consumed each year in the United States. To address these issues, the goals of the LEED Energy & Atmosphere credit category are to promote three kinds of activities: tracking a building’s energy performance through design, commissioning and monitoring, managing refrigerants to eliminate CFCs and using renewable energy.

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Energy and Atmosphere (EA) »» Credit Matrix »» Introduction »» Energy Demand »» Energy Efficiency »» Managing Refrigerants to Eliminate CFCs »» Renewable Energy »» Ongoing Energy Performance »» Codes & Referenced Standards »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: Energy and Atmosphere

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Energy and Atmosphere Credit Matrix Credit EAp1 EAp2 EAp3 EAc1 EAc2 EAc3 EAc4 EAc5 EAc5.1 EAc5.2 EAc6

NC

Title ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA) Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems Minimum Energy Performance Fundamental Refrigerant Management Optimize Energy Performance On-Site Renewable Energy Enhanced Commissioning Enhanced Refrigerant Management Measurement and Verification Measurement and Verification - Base Building Measurement and Verification - Tenant Submetering Green Power

35 Reqd Reqd Reqd *1-19 *1-7 2 2 3 NA NA 2

Schools Points 33 Reqd Reqd Reqd *1-19 *1-7 2 1 2 NA NA 2

CS 37 Reqd Reqd Reqd *3-21 4 2 2 NA 3 3 2

Introduction The importance of energy conservation is easy to understand given the fact buildings consume such a large percentage of the annual energy and electricity generated in this country. Generating electricity from fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas negatively affects the environment, beginning with extraction and transportation, followed by refining and distribution and ending with consumption. Electricity is most often generated by burning fossil fuels whose combustion releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Coal fired plants account for more than half of the electricity generated in the U.S. Natural gas is a major source of nitrogen oxide and greenhouses gases as well. Green buildings address these issues in two ways. They reduce the amount of energy required for building operations and they use more benign forms of energy. Implementing an integrative design approach, buildings, neighborhoods and communities can increase energy efficiency and by using renewable energy sources, further reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The energy performance of a building depends on its design. The orientation of the building, the massing of the building’s elements, material selections, construction methods, building envelope, water efficiency, HVAC and lighting systems all determine how efficiently the building uses energy. Energy is addressed by focusing on four key elements: • Energy demand • Energy efficiency • Ongoing energy performance • Renewable energy


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Energy and Atmosphere Energy Demand Green building energy savings primarily come from reduced electricity purchases and secondarily from reduced peak energy demand. Therefore, the most logical place to begin assessing energy is to reduce the energy demands for green buildings and neighborhoods. Several steps that require little more than a fundamental knowledge and understanding of sustainable site and building design practices can be implemented to reduce energy consumption. Fundamental to those with sustainable experience and this is where an experienced team can be of enormous benefit to the successful start of a project. Collect data: Every project team should develop a program that outlines the parameters that will be used for guidance throughout the course of the project. Typically this begins with the collection of data from the owner during a charrette to describe their needs and in LEED this is referred to as the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). With this information in hand, the project team can then create their Basis of Design (BOD) documents which will formulate a project program that translates the owner’s requirements into design and construction language. Design process: To begin the design process, the project team should analyze the owner’s requirements to ensure the building area is no larger than necessary. Next the project team should prepare an assessment of the project’s infrastructure to see that site related components such as sustainable hardscapes and landscaping concepts are coordinated within the scope of the project itself and with adjoining properties also to provide an efficient, compact design that is sensitive to site related synergies and tradeoffs. In the case of these first two design processes - less is more - the less constructed product, the more energy demand is reduced. Along with a schematic site program, the building envelope itself must be planned in accordance with regionally appropriate techniques, including exterior material selections, insulation, roofing, weatherproofing, fenestration, etc. The next preliminary design step is to develop the conceptual interior spaces and required mechanical systems, including HVAC, plumbing, power and lighting. Analyze design and data: With the project’s program determined and a schematic design completed, the project team can evaluate the building and building systems such as HVAC, power and lighting, process water heating, water use, etc. This can best be done by utilizing a building simulation model that analyzes and compares the energy consumption of the design case against a baseline case for a similar building which is designed to conventional building and engineering standards. This simulation model will be used to determine the effects of building orientation and building envelope components, solar heat gains and losses, mechanical system controls, water efficiency power demand reductions and all other sources that affect the demands on energy consumption. Strategy considerations for reducing energy demand: ●● Design and energy goals • Establish targets and energy performance indicators early in the process using the OPR and BOD

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Energy and Atmosphere ●● Building size • Do not design the building larger than necessary to meet the owner’s requirements ●● Site • Design the physical relationship of development elements such as buildings and hardscapes to be compact and not sprawled across the site • Configure roads, infrastructures and parcels such that buildings minimize summer solar heat gain and maximize winter solar heat gain. Consider trees for shading, high SRI values for hardscapes • Design adjacent buildings to help protect each other from the sun and wind ●● Building • Design the building envelope, including insulation and glazing systems, appropriate to the region to reduce heating and cooling loss • Design buildings to incorporate passive strategies to reduce the demand for artificial lighting, heating and cooling ●● Free energy • Design and orient the building to take advantage of natural ventilation, solar energy and daylighting. Sunlight entering windows can greatly reduce the need for artificial lighting • Thermal masses, such as concrete floors, can absorb the sun’s energy during the day and release this energy at night ●● Monitor consumption • Design buildings that use monitoring and feedback technologies and strategies that encourage occupants to reduce their individual demand for energy

Energy Efficiency Energy is a substantial and widely recognized cost of building operations that can be reduced through energy efficiency and related measures which are part of green building design. Along with reducing the demand for energy, it is important to see that the energy used is efficient and works productively. Energy use per square foot and use per capita are metrics for measuring energy intensity. Strategy considerations for achieving energy efficiency: ●● Passive design opportunities • Use natural resources like the sun and wind to heat, cool, ventilate and illuminate a building by properly orienting the building, selection of materials and location of windows that allow the building to be heated in the winter, cooled in the summer and naturally lit by daylighting


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Energy and Atmosphere ●● Building envelope • Design the insulation systems to be regionally appropriate and install high performance glazing to minimize heat gains and losses • Make certain the building is weatherized properly ●● High performance mechanical systems ●● Conduct life cycle analysis to the tradeoffs between capital and operating costs • Evaluate investments in energy efficiency technologies ●● High efficiency appliances • Reduce electrical loads associated with appliances (plug loads) by specifying computers, monitors, printers and microwaves that meet or exceed Energy Star requirements ●● High efficiency infrastructure • Efficient street lighting and LED based traffic signals reduce energy demands from neighborhood infrastructure ●● Efficiencies of scale • Design district heating and cooling systems to supply multiple buildings in a single loop ●● Thermal energy storage • Perform certain energy demanding tasks during off peak hours when energy costs are lower and when some utility companies run their older generators • Example: generating ice at night to be used for cooling during the day ●● Energy simulation • Use computer energy modelling to identify and prioritize energy efficient opportunities ●● Monitor and verify performance • Monitor the performance of the building systems to verify they are functioning as designed • Use control systems, building automation systems, commissioning and retrocommissioning Energy Simulation LEED for NC requires new buildings to exceed baseline energy performance standards that: • baseline complies with Appendix G of ASHRAE Standard 90.1 • building energy determined by conducting a whole building energy simulation • must distinguish between regulated energy and process energy. Regulated energy powers lighting, HVAC and service water heating. Process energy runs office equipment, computers, elevators, escalators, kitchen cooking and refrigeration, SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere laundry washing and drying, lighting that is exempt from the lighting power allowance and miscellaneous items • Providing an energy simulation analysis early in the design phase allows the design team to see the effects of changes made to the building and the building systems and determine the most efficient building design based on related synergies, tradeoffs and interactions

Managing Refrigerants to Eliminate CFCs Scientific evidence has long suggested that the release of chlorofluorcarbons (CFCs) destroys the ozone molecules in the stratosphere that in turn harms Earth’s natural shield from incoming ultraviolet radiation. In 1995, the U.S. joined the Montreal Protocol in banning the production of CFCs and establishing a phase out date for the use of hydochlorofluorcarbons (HCFCs). CFCs and HCFCs are categorized as ozone depleting substances (ODSs) and used as refrigerants in cooling systems. A refrigerant is a working fluid that flows through a machine that is designed to pump heat from a lower temperature to a higher temperature. In order to meet certain criteria for performance, most refrigerants are in the halogen family, and typically hydrogenated hydrocarbons. This family of chemicals fall into the following categories: ●● CFC (ChloroFluorCarbons) • Stability and long life with greatest Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) caused the production to be banned in this country in 1995 ●● HCFC (HydoChloroFluorCarbons) • Stable and short life, not as great ODP as CFCs, allowing a phase out plan ●● HFC (HydoFluorCarbons) • Negligible impact on the ozone layer but significant Global Warming Potential (GWP) ●● Halocarbons • Used in the cells of foamed insulation and fire fighting systems ●● Natural Refrigerants • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Water (H2O) • Ammonia (NH3) • Hydrocarbons (HC) • Air (78% N2; 21% O2; 1% H2O2; + trace gases) The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer (a protocol to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer) is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. The treaty was entered into force on January 1, 1989. It is believed that if the international agreement is adhered to, the ozone layer is expected to recover by 2050. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Energy and Atmosphere The Montreal Protocol bans production of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) and phases out hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) refrigerants. Over 50% of the water chillers in existing buildings still use CFC-11 and many are old, inefficient, leaky and retrofitting is not cost effective. For newer systems using CFC-11, replacement with HCFC-123 is encouraged. Replacement refrigerants are less efficient, making the cooling systems consume more energy per unit of cooling output. The choice of replacement refrigerants considers the tradeoffs between performance, depletion of stratospheric ozone (ODP) and contribution to global climate change (DWP). An alternative to these refrigerants is the use of natural refrigerants such as ammonia, carbon dioxide, water or propane. To achieve certification, new buildings may not use CFC based refrigerants and existing buildings must complete a total CFC phase out prior to project completion. For new construction, LEED offers several options to address these issues: • Install HVAC&R systems using no refrigerants • Install HVAC&R systems using non CFC refrigerants • Install HVAC&R systems using refrigerants that minimize their effects on ozone depletion and global climate change • Install fire suppression systems and equipment that use no CFCs, HCFCs or halons For existing buildings, LEED requires a phase out plan: • Existing CFC based HVAC&R and fire suppression systems must be replaced or retrofitted to phase out the use of CFC refrigerants prior to project completion • For existing chiller systems, a plan to phase out CFC based refrigerants within 5 years of project completion • An alternative compliance path for chillers is permitted if replacement or conversion is not economically feasible. If replacement or conversion is determined by a third party audit that a payback would be greater than 10 years, a reduction of annual leakage of 5% or less is required

Renewable Energy The use of renewable energy sources reduces the demand for conventional energy such as coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear power and their associated environmental impacts. LEED distinguishes between onsite energy production and the purchase of offsite sources. Renewable energy sources include: • photovoltaic • wind energy • solar thermal: active and passive • biofuels: from organic materials such as wood by-products and agricultural waste • geothermal heating • low impact hydroelectric • wave and tidal SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere Strategy considerations for meeting energy demand with renewable energy: ●● Generate onsite renewable energy • Based on energy costs, not energy consumption • Energy cost savings; possible utility rebates and net metering (selling excess energy to the utility) • investigate appropriateness: climate; geographical; regional factors ●● Purchase offsite renewable energy • Based on quantity of energy consumption, not energy cost • Must be at least a 2 year contract for 35% of the building’s electricity consumption • There are 3 approaches to achieve this credit: • Open electricity market: governing utility company may be able to select a Green-e certified provider • Closed electricity market: governing utility company may be a Green-e certified provider • If local utility company cannot provide Green-e certified power, Owner may purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) • Green-e is a certification program for renewable energy that has been certified by the Center for Resource Solutions • Green-e equivalency is renewable energy that is not Green-e certified but is equivalent for the 2 major criteria for Green-e certification • The energy source meets the requirements for renewable resources detailed by the Green-e standard • The renewable energy provider has undergone an independent third party verification that the standard has been met

Wind

Wave & Tidal

Biomass

Photovoltaic

Geothermal

Off-Site


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Energy and Atmosphere Ongoing Energy Performance A critical component to a successful sustainable project is to ensure that the project continues to perform over time to the established specifications. The standards for ensuring the continued performance of a building are handled by the prerequisite for building commissioning and the credit for monitoring and verification of the commissioned systems. • Building commissioning ensures that a new building functions as designed • Continual commissioning ensures that a building always meets it fundamental designed operational requirements • Retrocommissioning is the same as continual commissioning but applies to existing buildings • Monitoring and verification is the basis for tracking energy performance and resolving issues that may develop over time Strategy considerations for maintaining energy efficiency: ●● Owner’s Project requirements (OPR) • prepare OPR at the beginning of the design process • conduct commissioning throughout the life cycle of the building ●● Staff training • train facilities managers to improve building performance over time ●● Preventative maintenance • develop a preventative maintenance program to keep building in optimal condition ●● Incentives for occupants and tenants • involve occupants in energy efficient strategies • promote usage of energy efficient electronic equipment and appliances • bill tenants from submeter readings to encourage energy conservation • educate occupants to shut down equipment and turn out lights • provide occupants feedback on energy performance Building Commissioning The commissioning process is a systematic quality control process that involves the owner, users, occupants, operations and maintenance staff, design professionals and contractors and is most effective if initiated at the beginning of the project. The benefits of commissioning include reduced energy use, lower operating costs, fewer contractor callbacks, better building documentation, improved occupant productivity and verification that the commissioned systems perform in accordance with the owner’s project requirements. At a minimum, the systems to be commissioned are: SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere • HVAC&R systems and related controls • Lighting and daylighting controls • Domestic hot water systems • Renewable energy systems In the prerequisite EAp1 and credit EAc3, the commissioning steps include: ●● Predesign, Design Phase • Designate the commissioning authority (CxA) • Document owners project requirements (OPR) and develop the basis of design (BOD) • Review OPR and BOD • Develop and implement a commissioning plan • Incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents • Conduct commissioning design review prior to midconstruction documents ●● Construction Phase • Review contractor submittals applicable to systems being commissioned • Verify installation and performance of commissioned systems • Develop systems manual for commissioned systems • Verify that requirements for training are completed • Complete a summary commissioning report ●● Occupancy • Review building operation within 10 months after substantial completion Monitoring and Verification Monitoring and verification provide the basis for tracking energy performance and can be done by comparing actual building performance measurements against predictions from energy simulations or industry standard benchmarks. Programs such as EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager uses project data on electricity and natural gas consumption to compare against a building with similar characteristics to arrive at a building’s energy performance. Other methods for measurement and verification are Option D: Calibrated Simulation or Option B: Energy Conservation Method as specified by the the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III. The Measurement & Verification plans must cover a period of at least 1 year of post construction occupancy and provide a process for corrective action if the results indicate that energy savings are not being achieved.


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Energy and Atmosphere Codes & Referenced Standards Refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of Referenced Standards by Credit with a description of the intent of the standard • The Energy & Atmosphere category references some of the most important standards that are vital to LEED. ASHRAE standards establish minimum and optimized energy performance and the EPA Clean Air Act regulates the use of refrigerants. Also included are standards for measurement & verification and Green-e power. Important standards to become familiar with: • ASHRAE Standard 90.1-2007 establishes minimum requirements for the energy efficient design of buildings. ASHRAE 90.1-2007 and ASHRAE 62.1-2007 are two of the most important standards to LEED • U.S. EPA Clean Air Act, Title VI, Section 608, regulates the use and recycling of ozone depleting compounds • International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol, IPMVP Volume III describes best practice techniques for verifying the energy performance of new construction projects

Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • British Thermal Unit (BTU) • Building Envelope • Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) • Climate Change • Commissioning (Cx); • Commissioning Agent (CxA) • Commissioning Plan • Commissioning Report • Compact Fluorescent Lamp • Energy Efficient Products and Systems • Energy Management System • ENERGY STAR® Rating • Energy Use Intensity • Emissions per Capita • Fossil Fuel • Geothermal energy Systems SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere • Global Warming Potential (GWP) • Greenhouse Gas • Green Power • Halons • Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) • Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) • HVAC Systems • Lighting Power Density • Measures of Energy Use • Nonrenewable Resource • Onsite Renewable Energy • Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) • Photovoltaic (PV) Energy • Refrigerants • Renewable Energy • Renewable Energy Certificate • Wind Energy • Wave and Tidal Energy Systems Thoughts to keep Buildings use 39% of the energy and 72% of the electricity produced each year in the United States while refrigerants deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. To address these issues, LEED promotes four types of activities: tracking a building’s energy performance through design, commissioning and monitoring, using renewable energy and managing refrigerants to eliminate CFCs. These activities are categorized as such: • Energy Demand • Energy Efficiency • Ongoing Energy Performance • Renewable Energy • Managing Refrigerants • The Triple Bottom Line:

Energy demand, energy efficiency, ongoing energy performance and renewable energy address strategies that reduce our dependence on nonrenewable energy sources. • Economic Prosperity: Reducing energy demand will reduce energy and operating costs which are major cost components of operating a business or home budgets. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Energy and Atmosphere • Social Responsibility: Efficient use of energy reduces demand on the local energy infrastructure; using renewable energy resources shows the community a commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. • Environmental Stewardship: Reducing energy consumption reduces the many profound environmental affects of fossil fuel extraction and transporting of nonrenewable energy sources; reduces greenhouse gas emissions. ●● Energy Demand • Strategies: • Collect data • Design process • Analyze design and data ●● Energy Efficiency • Strategies: • Building energy simulation ●● Ongoing Energy Performance • Strategies: • Building commissioning • Measurement & Verification ●● Renewable Energy • Strategies: • onsite: generates renewable energy based on costs, not consumption • offsite: purchases renewable energy based on consumption, not costs • Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) • RECs, also known as Green tags, Renewable Electricity Certificates, or Tradable Renewable Certificates (TRCs), are tradable, non-tangible energy commodities in the United States that represent proof that 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity was generated from an eligible renewable energy resource (renewable electricity). • Renewable electricity has two components: 1) electricity generated and 2) the environmental attributes associated with renewable electricity. The electricity is distributed via regional grid systems. • It is important to understand that the electricity associated with a REC is sold separately and is used by another party. The consumer of a REC receives only a certificate representing the purchase of the environmental attributes of renewable energy. In essence, it is supporting the promotion of renewable energy. ●● Managing Refrigerants

The ozone depletion potential (ODP) of HCFCs is much smaller than the ODP of CFCs. However, the ODP of HFCs is nearly zero, but their global warming potential (GWP) is much higher. Therefore, the dilemma created is that ODP friendly refrigerants are enemies of GWP and GWP friendly refrigerants are enemies of ODP. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: Passive cooling strategies can reduce the costs associated with active cooling systems; upgrading existing CFC refrigerant based equipment to more efficient equipment can reduce energy demand and maintenance costs • Social Responsibility: Reducing the impact of ozone depletion contributes, globally, to overall health and well being • Environmental Stewardship: The elimination of certain refrigerants can reduce the depletion of the ozone layer and associated impacts to global warming • Strategies: • No CFCs - no ideal alternatives have been developed for CFCs • Phase Out CFCs ●● Miscellaneous • Regulated & Process Energy • Regulated energy powers lighting (interior, parking garage, surface parking, facades and building grounds), HVAC (space heating, cooling, fans, pumps, toilet exhaust and parking garage ventilation) and service water heating (domestic or space heating) and is subject to LEED’s minimum performance requirements • Process energy runs office equipment, computers, elevators, escalators, kitchen cooking and refrigeration, laundry washing and drying, lighting that is exempt from the lighting power allowance and miscellaneous items • Building Commissioning • The Commissioning Agent (CxA) represents the interests of the Owner to verify that the design, installation and performance of the building systems are in accordance with the Construction Documents based on the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) and the & Basis of Design (BOD) • Energy Audits • LEED for Homes: Home Energy Saver is a government program used for performing energy audits on residential projects. • LEED for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance: Energy audits should begin with determining the major energy resource users and determining strategies to improve energy efficiencies. • LEED for Homes • The LEED for Homes rating system manages energy demand on resource consumption by adjusting the point thresholds for Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum ratings based on the size of the home. Depending on location, size and number of occupants, a 100% increase in home size yields an increase in annual energy use of 15% to 50% and increase in material usage of 40% to 90% Download The Treatment by LEED of the Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3592 Download Guide to Purchasing Green Power: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3595 U.S. Doe Energy Building Codes: http://www.energycodes.gov/ SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Energy and Atmosphere Studio4 Office Project: Energy and Atmosphere Energy and Atmosphere Category Energy and Atmosphere deals with practices and policies that reduce the use of energy at the site, reduce the use of nonrenewable energy both at the site and at the energy source, and reduce the impact on the global climate, atmosphere, and environment from both activities at the site and energy sources off-site. Energy & Atmosphere credits aim to optimize energy performance in order to reduce the energy consumption of our buildings, thereby decreasing negative environmental impacts. This involves building commissioning, energy modeling, use of non-ozone depleting substances and encouragement to use renewable energy technologies. Energy and Atmosphere are combined because a significant portion of the air pollution and global climate impacts come from energy sources. Therefore reducing or changing these energy sources has a large impact on the atmosphere, particularly on a more regional or global scale. EAp1 Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems: Projects that achieve any level of LEED certification must perform better than a standard building. The building must first be designed to perform at a higher level, then it must be verified that the required systems were installed and function in accordance with the documented design. Commissioning (Cx) is the process of verifying and documenting that a building and related systems and assemblies were planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirements (OPR). The Commissioning Authority (CxA) is the person who organizes, leads and reviews completion of the commissioning process activities. Depending on the building size, there are different members of the Project Team, Design Team, Construction team, owner or owner’s employees and, of course, the CxA who are permitted to perform certain activities. Two charts are provided in the Appendix that list the activities required for commissioning and the persons permitted to perform CxA activities per building size. Regardless of building size, there are two tasks that only the Cx can perform. The first is verifying the installation and performance of commissioned systems and the second is completing a summary commissioning report. The Cx is a consultant to the project in the respect that their purpose is to protect the owner and acts, essentially, as an oversight entity. This is the reason the all important verification and summary report tasks can only be done by the CxA. The energy related systems that must be commissioned: • • • •

HVAC&R Lighting and daylighting controls Domestic hot water systems Renewable energy systems

Commissioning is essential to the successful delivery of any high performing green building. A LEED AP needs to be very familiar with both the tasks required and who is permitted to perform those tasks. Construction submittal: owner, design team, CxA SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Energy and Atmosphere EAp2 Minimum Energy Performance: As stated in EAp1, projects that achieve any level of LEED certification must perform better than a standard building and this prerequisite establishes that level for energy performance. According to a DOE report in January 2008, all but nine states use some iteration of ASHRAE 90.1 as their state energy code. All buildings must meet both the mandatory provisions and the prescriptive requirements as required by ASHRAE/IENSA Standard 90.1-2007 (without amendments). Determining compliance for the envelope components is relatively straightforward using the tables in the ASHRAE standard. LEED for Schools must establish energy performance goals using EPA’s Target Finder rating tool. There are three options provided for establishing minimum energy performance: Option 1 Whole Building Energy Simulation: Requires energy simulation software to establish a baseline building and then compares that to the designed building. The baseline building uses a set of preestablished conventional building materials and components while the design building uses materials and components selected by the Design Team. This determines how the designed building compares to a standard building. This option is more complex, but yields advanced and more accurate results and also provides the potential for increased points based on the model’s predicted savings. Option 2 Prescriptive Compliance Path - ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide: This option has four compliance paths, all directed towards certain building types: • Path 1 Small Office Buildings 2004: must be less than 20,000 sf and office occupancy • Path 2 Small Retail Buildings 2006: Must be less than 20,000 sf and retail occupancy • Path 3 Small Warehouses and Self Storage Buildings 2008: Must be less than 50,000 sf and warehouse or self storage occupancy • Option 2 K-12 School Buildings: Must be for K-12 schools The Advanced Energy Design Guide series provides a sensible and easy approach to achieving advanced levels of energy performance without the need for calculations or simulation analysis. Prescriptive compliance simply means designing to a set of preestablished building components and systems that have been shown to produce energy savings. Each path is regulated by the climate zone where the project is located. Option 3 Prescriptive Compliance Path - Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide: This option complies with all the measures of the Advanced Energy Design Guide series but permits same type buildings larger than those under Paths 1, 2 and 3, but less than 100,000 sf. Being an office building less than 20,000 sf, this project will use Option 2 Path 1. Compliance requires little more than using basic, proven building components and systems. Design submittal: design team EAp3 Fundamental Refrigerant Management: The intent of this prerequisite is to reduce ozone depletion by zero use of ChloroFluoroCarbon (CFC) based refrigerants used in HVAC&R and fire suppression systems in new buildings, or phasing out CFCs in existing buildings prior to project completion. Though CFCs are no longer available in new equipment, due to the Montreal Protocol banning the production of CFCs in this country in 1995, CFC based systems are still found in existing buildings. If the new building is connected to an existing building, that system must also be CFC free. Design submittal: owner, mechanical engineer SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Energy and Atmosphere EAc1 Optimize Energy Performance: This credit is awarded if energy cost savings can be shown compared to a base building that meets the requirements of ASHRAE/IENSA 90.1-2007. The method of determining energy cost savings must meet the requirements of Appendix G of the standard. Option 1 Whole Building Energy Simulation: 1-19 points for NC and Schools; 3-21 points for CS Option 2 Prescriptive Compliance Path - ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide: 1 point for each path and option 2 Schools • Path 1 Small Office Buildings 2004: must be less than 20,000 sf and office occupancy • Path 2 Small Retail Buildings 2006: Must be less than 20,000 sf and retail occupancy • Path 3 Small Warehouses and Self Storage Buildings 2008: Must be less than 50,000 sf and warehouse or self storage occupancy • Option 2 K-12 School Buildings: Must be for K-12 schools Option 3 Prescriptive Compliance Path - Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide: 1-3 points Design submittal: design team EAc2 On-Site Renewable Energy: Achievement of this credit is determined by the percentage of the building’s energy use that is provided by on-site renewable energy generation systems. For this credit, the project can use the annual energy cost calculated in EAc1 or the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database for the building type to determine the amount of energy cost offset. LEED provides points base on the percentage of renewable energy contributed. • Since no energy performance calculation has been performed for the project, we’ll use the CBECS median electrical intensity budget for an office building at 11.7 kWh/Sf-yr for electrical and 58.5 kBtu/sf-yr for non-electrical fuel and the Default Energy Costs by State from EIA 2003 Commercial Sector Average Energy Costs by State at $0.0723 $/kWh for electricity and $0.00789 $/kBtu for natural gas (State of Ohio): • Default Annual Electrical Costs • 12,000 sf x 11.7 kWh/sf-yr x $0.0723/kWh = $10,150.92/yr • Default Annual Fuel Costs • 12,000 sf x 58.5 (kBtu/sf-yr) x $0.00789$/kBtu = $5,538.78/yr • Default Total Annual Energy Costs • $10,150.92 Electricity + $5,538.78 Fuel = $15,689.70 The project would need to meet 1% of its annual energy costs - $1,568.97 - with renewable energy systems in order to earn 4 points under EAc2. 1% and 4 points is the only option available for Core & Shell projects. Design submittal: owner, architect, electrical engineer

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Energy and Atmosphere EAc3 Enhanced Commissioning: Enhanced commissioning requires the CxA to be on the project earlier and stay on the project later than what is necessary with Fundamental Commissioning by requiring 3 additional task be added to the scope. Again, these tasks are explained on the charts included in the Appendix and in the order they are to be performed. The 3 tasks, in order, are: • Perform a design review prior to midconstruction documents • Review contractor submittals applicable to the systems being commissioned • Review building operation within 10 months after substantial completion Construction submittal: owner, design team, CxA EAc4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management: The intent of this credit is not to use refrigerants. Buildings that comply with this credit eliminate the use of HVAC&R systems that damage the atmosphere with CFCs, HCFCs and Halons. Select refrigerants with low ozone depletion (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP) and prevent leakage of these compounds into the atmosphere. Select equipment with efficient refrigerant charge and long service life potential. Projects that have naturally ventilated buildings with no active cooling systems or natural refrigerants including water, carbon dioxide, and ammonia are eligible for this credit. Design submittal: mechanical engineer EAc5 Measurement and Verification: NC & Schools EAc5.1 Measurement and Verification - Base Building: Core & Shell EAc5.2 Measurement and Verification - Tenant Submetering: Core & Shell The M&V series of credits are designed to provide ongoing accountability of building energy consumption. Both EAc5 and EAc5.1 require the development and implementation of a measurement and verification (M&V) plan consistent with either Option D: Calibrated Simulation as specified by the International Performance Measurement & Ventilation Protocol (IPMVP), Volume III or Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation as specified by the International Performance Measurement & Ventilation Protocol (IPMVP), Volume III. Construction submittal: design team, operations & maintenance EAc5.2 requires a centrally located electronic monitoring network to accommodate future tenants. Also required is a M&V plan that documents and advises future tenants of this opportunity and the means of achievement. The intent of submetering is to give tenants an incentive to save energy. However, many utilities and municipalities do not allow a second party to charge for electricity based on submetering. This project will provide separate meters for each tenant. Construction submittal: design team, operations & maintenance


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Energy and Atmosphere EAc6 Green Power: Green power is derived from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass or low-impact hydro sources and helps increase renewable sources of energy on the grid, rather than coal powered electricity. This credit offers 2 points for supporting the development and use of grid source, renewable energy technologies on a net zero pollution basis - off site renewable energy. The credit requires a 2 year contract to provide 35% of the building’s electricity from renewable off site sources based on the quantity of energy consumed, not the energy cost. Renewable energy sources are defined by the Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e certification requirements. The power purchased to comply with this credit’s requirements do not have to be Green-e certified. Other sources of green power are eligible if they satisfy the Green-e program’s technical requirements such as renewable energy certificates (RECs), tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), and green tags. Green tags equate to paying a subsidy to encourage renewable power generation somewhere on the grid, even if the electricity does not supply your building. Two options are available for establishing a baseline energy use. Option 1 determines the baseline by using the results obtained from EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance. Option 2 estimates a baseline using the DOE’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database. Quantities per square foot are based on the building type. There are guidelines for establishing area calculations for Core & Shell projects based on the % of occupancy. However, to illustrate the cost of green power, we’ll assume the building is fully occupied and use the total 12,000 sf. • Since we haven’t determined the quantity based on an energy simulation model, we’ll be using Option 2, where the CBECS median electrical intensity budget for an office building is 11.7 kWh/sf-yr. • 12,000 sf x 11.7 kWh/Sf-yr = 140,400 kWh total electricity usage • 140,400 (kWh/yr) x 35% x 2 yrs = 98,280 kwh required Green-e certified green power or RECs to purchase • If the project obtained a quote from a REC provider of $0.02/kwh, the cost would be: • 98,280 kWh x $0.02/kWh = $1,965.60 Construction submittal: owner

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Energy and Atmosphere Project Checklist Analysis 







 



  

  

         



 

 

  



            

                              





      

      





 

 

   

   







  



  



  

   

 

  

  

   

   

 

         

      

  

    

  



     

 

   



           

 

     

 

     

 

             

 

      

 



   

 



In the Energy and Atmosphere category, a total of 37 points are available for credits applicable to this project and we have collected 2 by signing on to EAc3 Enhanced Commissioning. Not the intent here, but many projects skirt around the important Energy and Atmosphere credits due to the initial cost for credit achievement. EAc2 On-Site renewable energy seemed reasonable at $1,568.79, but that does not include the cost of the renewable energy systems which must be designed, purchased, installed and commissioned. EAc6: Green Power requires a renewable contract with no direct benefit to the project or surrounding neighbors. The next session will begin at the end of the Materials and Resources chapter.


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D

uring both the construction and operations phases, buildings generate 30% of the country’s waste and uses 40% of our raw materials. The goals of the LEED Materials and Resources credit category are to promote the following measures: select sustainable materials, practice waste reduction, reduce waste at its source and the reuse and recycling of materials.

CHAPTER | 7

Materials and Resources (MR) »» Credit Matrix »» Introduction »» Sustainable Materials Selection »» Waste Reduction Practices »» Waste Reduction at its Source »» Reuse and Recycling »» Waste Management »» Sustainable Material Selection Strategies »» Life Cycle Impacts »» Codes & Referenced Standards »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: Materials and Resources SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

110

Materials and Resources Credit Matrix

NC

Credit

Title

MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR) MRp1 Storage and Collection of Recyclables MRc1.1 Building Reuse - Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof MRc1 Building Reuse - Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof MRc1.2 Building Reuse - Maintain Interior - Nonstructural Elements MRc2 Construction Waste Management MRc3 Materials Reuse MRc4 Recycled Content MRc5 Regional Materials MRc6 Rapidly Renewable Materials MRc7 Certified Wood MRc6 Certified Wood

14 Reqd *1-3 NA 1 *1-2 *1-2 *1-2 *1-2 1 1 NA

Schools Points 13 Reqd *1-2 NA 1 *1-2 *1-2 *1-2 *1-2 1 1 NA

Introduction Throughout their life cycles, buildings generate a great deal of waste that goes directly into the waste stream. Materials procurement, recycling programs and waste management can divert these materials and toxins from our landfills while improving the building environment. On the front end, however, sustainable design gives consideration to material selections as they relate to natural resources, occupant health and productivity and life cycle impacts. Materials and Resources focuses on 2 major issues: • Waste management: minimization of landfill and incinerator disposal for materials that leave the project building • Life cycle impacts: environmental impact of materials brought into the project building The Materials and Resources category addresses environmental concerns relating to: • Materials selection • Waste disposal • Waste reduction

Sustainable Materials Selection During the life cycle of a material, its extraction, processing, transportation, use and disposal can have negative environmental and health consequences, polluting water and air, destroying native habitats and depleting natural resources. The intent of developing an environmentally responsible procurement policy is to reduce these impacts. For instance, by reusing materials or selecting materials with recycled content, materials entering the waste stream are reduced while the consumption of raw materials is also reduced.


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CS 13 Reqd NA *1-5 NA *1-2 1 *1-2 *1-2 NA NA 1

Materials and Resources Waste Reduction Practices Construction and demolition waste account for 30% of the total solid waste in the U.S. The strategy rankings of the EPA for solid waste management are, in order of importance: • Source reduction: reduces environmental impacts throughout the material’s life cycle • Reuse of materials: diverts materials from the waste stream • Recycling: diverts waste from landfills and incinerators and reduces the demand for virgin materials

Waste Reduction at its Source Source reduction is the most economical way to reduce waste. in 2006, residents, businesses and institutions produced more than 251 million tons of solid waste, a 65% increase since 1980. Additionally, 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste are generated each year. A construction waste management plan is the first step in managing waste because it requires contractors to establish a system for tracking waste generation and disposal during construction.

Reuse and Recycling One of the most effective strategies for minimizing environmental impacts is the reuse of existing buildings. Reusing buildings reduces and diverts waste from the waste stream, provides less disturbance to habitats and requires less infrastructure. The reuse of exterior and interior materials should be incorporated into the construction documents to ensure their inclusion into the project and reduce the volume of construction debris. Recycling construction, demolition and land clearing debris reduces demand for virgin materials which benefits from the associated affects of harvesting new materials. Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 17 trees and saves 3 cubic yards of landfill space. 32% of the solid waste in the U.S. is recycled. The less the dependence on landfills and incinerators, the less chance of groundwater contamination and the need for expanding or providing new facilities which may require additional land.

Waste Management A good waste management program focuses on waste diversion strategies that reduces the amount of waste during demolition, construction and occupancy. Strategy considerations for reducing waste: ●● Building size • design the building size appropriately to meet the owners requirements ●● Construction waste management • develop a policy that specifies a target diversion rate for the general contractor • develop a waste management plan that may include disposal of asbestos and PCBs • waste can be collected in one container - comingled - and sent to an offsite facility to be separated. This practice allows for easier compliance and requires less space for containers. The second option is to provide marked and protected containers onsite to separate waste materials to be recycled. This requires more space and monitoring to ensure compliance. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Materials and Resources ●● Recycling • develop a policy to reduce waste during operations and maintenance • provide a convenient and accessible location to occupants for collection of recyclables. • monitor the effectiveness of the recycling programs ●● Compost • Create an on-site composting program

Calculating Material Costs Material costs for the Materials and Resources credits are determined by the actual costs of the project’s materials with the exception of LEED NC, Schools and CS rating system. For these, the project team is permitted to use 45% of the total construction costs (labor and equipment) instead of the actual costs. The costs are selected from Construction Specification Institute (CSI) MasterFormat Divisions 3 through 10 and Division 12. In all instances, plumbing, HVAC, electrical components and specialty items such as elevators are excluded from the cost calculations. Additionally, the costs for Furniture and Furnishings, Division 12, can be used as long as they are used consistently across all Materials and Resources credits.

Materials and Resources Credit Metrics ●● The Materials and Resources credit characteristics used to determine compliance are measured by area, weight or cost, depending on the credit.

Sustainable Material Selection Strategies ●● The Materials and Resources category offers several credit options for sustainable methods of selecting materials such as rapidly renewable materials, regional materials and certified wood products in addition to materials reuse and recycled content materials. Sustainable materials consider the life cycle of the material Storage and Collection of Recyclables ●● Provide an easily accessible dedicated area for the collection and storage of materials for recycling for the entire building. Materials must include, at a minimum, paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastics and metals. This is a prerequisite required of the Materials and Resources category. Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof ●● Maintain threshold percentages of the building structural elements. Window assemblies and remediated hazardous materials are excluded from consideration. • For NC: 55%, 75% and 95% • For schools: 75% and 95% • For CS: 25%, 33%, 42%, 50% and 75% Building Reuse: Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements ●● Reuse at least 50% of the interior nonstructural elements (interior walls, doors, floor coverings and ceilings) SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Materials and Resources Materials Reuse ●● Use certain percentages of salvaged, refurbished or reused materials. These can be materials found on or off the project site. For on site reuse, these items must no longer serve their original function and must be installed for a different purpose. Off site materials qualify if they had been previously used. • For NC and Schools: 5% and 10% • For CS: 5% Recycled Content ●● Use certain percentages of preconsumer and postconsumer recycled content materials. Preconsumer waste is generally process waste from industry while postconsumer waste is generally consumer waste left at curbside for recycling programs. ISO 14021 defines preconsumer and postconsumer materials. • For NC, Schools and CS: 10% and 20% Regional Materials ●● Use certain percentages of building materials that have been extracted, harvested or recovered and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. Using indigenous local resources supports the community and reduces the negative environmental impacts associated with transportation. • For NC, Schools and CS: 10% & 20% Rapidly Renewable Materials ●● Use rapidly renewable materials (materials that are typically harvested within a 10 year cycle) for a minimum 2.5% of the building materials and products used in the project. This credit applies only to permanently installed in the project. Certified Wood ●● Use FSC certified wood for a minimum 50% of the wood based materials and products for all permanently installed wood building components. Requires chain of custody (CoC) proof Consider purchasing third party certification sustainable products • Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International • Food Alliance Products • Marine Stewardship Council • UADA Organic • Rainforest Alliance Certification

Life Cycle Impacts Life cycle impacts are crucial to the proper selection of sustainable materials. The performance of materials from extraction until the end of their life, also known as cradle to grave, is a measure of their sustainability. Preferred, however, are cradle to cradle materials that are recycled at end of their original use. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Materials and Resources Strategy considerations to promote sustainable purchasing during construction: ●● Construction purchasing policy • establish goals, thresholds and procedures for purchasing construction materials • monitor compliance and track effectiveness of policy ●● Green materials • specify rapidly renewable materials, regional materials, salvaged materials, and materials with recycled content ●● Green interiors • specify finishes, carpeting, fabrics and other materials with low levels of VOC’s, formaldehyde, or other toxic chemicals to protect the indoor environmental quality and reduce the life cycle impacts Strategy considerations to promote sustainable purchasing during operations: ●● Sustainable purchasing policy • establish goals, thresholds and procedures for purchasing ongoing consumables and durable goods • monitor compliance and track effectiveness of policy ●● Green materials • specify rapidly renewable materials, regional materials, salvaged materials, and materials with recycled content ●● Green electronic equipment • purchase computers and appliances that meet Energy Star, EPEAT or other standards for efficient energy consumption

Codes & Referenced Standards Refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of Referenced Standards by Credit with a description of the intent of the standard • The Materials & Resources category’s standards regulates only two prime areas for credit compliance. One for certified wood products (FSC) and the other which defines recycled content • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) gives the seal of approval awarded to forest managers who adopt environmentally and socially responsible forest management practices and to companies that manufacture and sell products made from certified wood • ISO 14000 product oriented standards include Environmental Labels and Declaration, Life Cycle Assessment and Design for Environment. These standards are intended to be applicable to assess environmental performance of products and services, and to provide guidance on improving their environmental performance. • ISO 14020 series standards (includes ISO 14021), Environmental Labels and Declaration, are communication tools that convey information on environmental aspects of a product or service to the market. Three different types of environmental labels and declarations are currently in use. They include: Type I environmental labeling, Type II self-declared environmental claims, and Type III environmental declaration. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Materials and Resources Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • Byproduct • Certified Wood • Chain of Custody (COC) • Construction and Demolition Debris • Construction Waste Management Plan • Landfills • Postconsumer Content • Preconsumer Content • Rapidly Renewable Materials • Regional Materials • Recycled Content • Recycling • Reuse • Salvaged Material • Sustainable Forestry • Sustained Yield Forestry • Waste Diversion Thoughts to keep Sustainable buildings require policies for effective waste management as well as responsible construction and materials selection. The intent of the Materials and Resources category is to establish a foundation for developing, implementing and documenting these policies through waste management and the use of sustainable materials selection. • The Triple Bottom Line:

The successful selection of sustainable materials is directly affected by life cycle analysis • Economic Prosperity: Sustainable materials policies promote strategies such as regional harvesting and manufacturing which contributes to local economies and reduces the impact of transportation • Social Responsibility: Selecting sustainable materials that have long life cycle impacts reduces the burden on our natural resources • Environmental Stewardship: Enormous amounts of our natural resources go into the construction of buildings. Careful selection of sustainable materials such as recycled content and reuse can reduce the vast environmental impacts and depletion associated with buildings SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Materials and Resources ●● Sustainable Materials Selection • Strategies: • Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof • Building Reuse: Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements • Materials Reuse • Recycled Content • Regional Materials • Rapidly Renewable Materials • Certified Wood • Consider purchasing sustainable products that have third party certification ●● Life Cycle Impacts • Strategies: • Sustainable Construction purchasing policy • Green materials • Green interiors • Sustainable Operations purchasing policy • Green materials • Green electronic equipment ●● Waste Management • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: Waste management reduces dependency on landfills that pass thru the high and rising cost of landfill ownership through the costs for dumping waste, referred to as tipping fees; encouraging recycling and materials reuse instead of placing in the waste stream can be a source of profit • Social Responsibility: Landfills are sources of groundwater contamination and methane gas emissions which can create health issues within the surrounding communities. • Environmental Stewardship: Waste management reduces the burden on landfills which in turn saves land due to expanded needs. • Strategies: • Building size • Construction waste management addressing which materials should be diverted • Recycling • Compost


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Materials and Resources ●● Miscellaneous • So what is Materials and Resources really about? • The credits in Materials and Resources can be categorized into two areas. The first applies to dedicated efforts for reducing waste generated by buildings. This can be done by implementing a waste management and diversion plan that sends only the minimum materials into the waste stream. Many materials we would normally see as waste can be sent to recycle centers. For existing buildings, we can reuse sections or individual components or purchase from recycle or salvage centers where materials are available for sale from other projects. Also, we can use materials made from recycled content. All of these are effective strategies that encourage waste diversion. Secondly, new materials need to be selected on the merits of a life cycle assessment to ensure the highest degree of sustainability feasible. New materials, products and components that had not previously existed draw upon our natural resources and should be selected on the basis of regional materials, rapidly renewable materials and certified wood products. • Recycled Content are materials classified as preconsumer and postconsumer content. Preconsumer content would include materials that can no longer be used for their original purpose. Process waste that an industry has sold or traded to another through the marketplace. A composite board manufacturer may obtain sawdust from a lumber mill or a landscaper buying wood chips from a lumber mill. These materials never made it to the marketplace as originally intended. Flyash and magazine overruns are considered as preconsumer content materials also. Postconsumer content are materials that have been manufactured and sold, but no longer of value to the consumer. Remodeling a kitchen and setting the old cabinets along side the curb. Aluminum, paper, plastic and glass are also postconsumer content. Recycled content products generally contain a percentage of both preconsumer and postconsumer content materials. • Waste prevention, also know as “source reduction,” is the practice of designing, manufacturing, purchasing, or using materials (such as products and packaging) in ways that reduce the amount or toxicity of trash created. Reusing items is another way to stop waste at the source because it delays or avoids that item’s entry in the waste collection and disposal system. Source reduction, including reuse, can help reduce waste disposal and handling costs, because it avoids the costs of recycling, municipal composting, landfilling, and combustion. Source reduction also conserves resources and reduces pollution, including greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. • Waste Management = the 3 Rs = Reduce, then Reuse, then Recycle • THE 5 minimum materials to recycle: paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, plastic, metal • Rapidly renewable materials: cork, bamboo, natural rubber, wheat, cotton, straw, linseed (linoleum)

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Materials and Resources Studio4 Office Project: Materials and Resources Materials and Resources Category Materials and Resources deals with issues that reduce the use of new materials and resources, encourages the use of materials and resources that have a smaller impact on the environment, and promotes the reuse or recycling of materials so that more virgin materials and resources are not used on LEED certified projects. The life cycles of many products and materials are taken into account to reduce the impact on the environment of their use. This may include transportation impacts, harvesting impacts, manufacturing impacts, and the benefit of using recycled materials in the production of the product. Materials and Resources Credit Characteristics: Most MR credits require the percentage of material to be calculated based on area, weight, volume or cost and what materials can and cannot be included into the calculated percentages. LEED permits 2 options to use for the total material cost of the project. The first is to calculate and use the actual project costs (excluding labor and equipment) and the second is to apply a 45% factor (including labor and equipment) to total construction costs. This project has been budgeted at $65/sf. If we calculate 12,000 sf x $65/sf we get a total construction cost of $780,000 and we would then need to back out the cost for labor and equipment. Or we can take the $780,000 x 0.45 and arrive at a $351,000 cost for our default total materials cost for the project. MRp1 Storage and Collection of Recyclables: Any responsibly sustainable building design is important. However, a building and it’s occupants also impact the environment after construction. This prerequisite saves land and reduces the environmental impacts to water and air pollution. As the average waste is 3 pounds per day per employee, it is important that the building occupants have the option to maintain good recycling programs throughout the lifespan of the building. LEED requires an area dedicated to recycling that is easily accessible, so occupants can recycle, at the minimum, paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metals. By recycling these basic items, there is a reduction in the need for virgin resources as well as a significant reduction in the amount of waste going to landfills. Design submittal: owner, architect MRc1 & MRc1.1 Maintain Existing Walls, Floor and Roof: The purpose of this credit is to leave the main portion of the building structure and shell in place when renovating. The building shell includes the exterior walls, roof, and framing but excludes window assemblies, interior walls, floor coverings, non-structural roofing material, and ceiling systems. Points are awarded based on the percentage (by area) of the structural elements retained. Construction submittal: owner, architect MRc1.2 Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements: The intent of this credit is to reuse the nonstructural elements such as interior walls, doors, floor coverings and ceiling systems of an existing building. Points are awarded based on the percentage (by area) of the interior nonstructural elements retained. Construction submittal: owner, architect. The MRc1 credits are not applicable to this project. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS


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Materials and Resources MRc2 Construction Waste Management: The goal of this credit is to divert as much construction waste from the landfill as possible. Develop a construction waste management plan that identifies the materials that can be reclaimed and determines if the project’s waste materials will be sorted separately on-site or commingled and separated by a third party at an off-site facility. The construction waste management plan identifies a location on the construction site where the materials to be diverted can be stored, as well as a hauler who will accommodate the designated materials. Materials that should be considered for recycling include concrete, glass, wood, plastic, gypsum, tile, drywall, insulation, and carpet. Excavated soil and land clearing debris are excluded and any PCBs or asbestos materials found on site need to be properly addressed in the waste management plan. Donations of materials to charities contribute to the credit. Monitor these materials for 50%, 1 point or 75%, 2 points, by weight or volume. Construction submittal: contractor MRc3 Materials Reuse: The intent of this credit is to reuse materials from existing buildings or find new uses for products that would otherwise go into the landfill. Building materials such as masonry, flooring, roofing and ceiling materials collected from deconstructed buildings are being warehoused and sold for use on new projects. For credit compliance, reused or salvaged materials (by cost) must be equal to a percentage of the total value of the project. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and specialty items such as elevators are excluded. LEED awards 1 point for 5% and 2 points for 10% purchase of Reused Materials. With our default materials cost of $351,000 we would need to purchase $351,000 x 0.05 = $17,550 to receive 1 point or $351,000 x 0.10 = $35,100 to receive 2 points. Construction submittal: architect, contractor MRc4 Recycled Content: By including more recycled content into building, there is less solid waste and less impact of materials on the environment. Recycled content products are made from materials that would otherwise have been discarded. There are two types of recycled materials: pre-consumer and postconsumer. Pre-consumer content is material that might have come from excess or damaged items generated during manufacturing processes that are not reused for the same purpose. Post-consumer content is a material that has served its intended use and instead of being set alongside the curb to be picked up and disposed of, it is being recycled and reused in a different product. For credit compliance, use materials with recycled content such that the sum (by cost) of post-consumer content plus 1/2 of the pre-consumer content is equal to a percentage of the total value of the project. Mechanical, electrical, plumbing and specialty items such as elevators are excluded. LEED awards 1 point for 10% and 2 points for 20% purchase of Recycled Content materials. With our default materials cost of $351,000 we would need to purchase $351,000 x 0.10 = $35,100 to receive 1 point or $351,000 x 0.20 = $70,200 to receive 2 points. Construction submittal: architect, contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Materials and Resources MRc5 Regional Materials: This credit supports the use of local materials and reduced transportation distances. The requirements are the use of building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site. The percentage of materials is calculated on a cost basis. LEED awards 1 point for 10% and 2 points for 20% purchase of Regional Materials. With our default materials cost of $351,000 we would need to purchase $351,000 x 0.10 = $35,100 to receive 1 point or $351,000 x 0.20 = $70,200 to receive 2 points. Construction submittal: architect, contractor 500 Mile Radius MRc6 Rapidly Renewable Materials: The intent of this credit is to reduce the use and depletion of finite raw materials and long cycle renewable resources by replacing them with materials (by cost) that have a harvest rate of ten years, or less. Because rapidly renewable resources have a shorter harvesting cycle than traditional materials, there are many environmental benefits. Often the use of rapidly renewable resources can save land as well as other resources that usually go into conventional materials. Also by virtue of their shorter harvesting cycles, rapidly renewable materials can sustain a community for a longer period than more finite sources. LEED awards 1 point for 2.5% use of Rapidly Renewable materials and products. With our default materials cost of $351,000 we would need to purchase $351,000 x 0.025 = $8,775 to receive 1 point. This credit is not available for Core & Shell projects. Construction submittal: architect, contractor

Wheat

Bamboo (U.S.)

Wheat

Cork

MRc6 & MRc7 Certified Wood: Use wood based materials and products that have been certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and encourage environmentally responsible forest management. At a minimum, these components include structural framing and general dimensional lumber, flooring, sub-flooring, wood doors and finishes. MRc6 is directed to Core & Shell projects while MRc7 applies to NC and Schools. LEED awards 1 point for MRc6 & MRc7 for 50% (by cost) of the purchase of Certified Wood materials and products on the project. With our default materials cost of $351,000 we would need to purchase $351,000 x 0.50 = $175,500 to receive 1 point. Construction submittal: architect, contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Materials and Resources Credit Checklist Analysis 







 



  

             

                              



 



         

 

 

  









 

 

  

  





 

    

 

 

   

   







  



  



  

   

 

  

  

   

   

 

         

      

 







 



 

             

  

      

   

  





           

 

     

 

     

     

 

   

   

 



In the Materials and Resources category, a total of 13 points are available and we have collected 6 points. A sufficient quantity of points were not available simply because there was no existing structure for the project to have access to those credits. We now have gathered 37 points, 38 with the LEED AP not yet entered, so we are 2 points shy of reaching the certification level. With the IEQ category remaining, we should have no problem collecting 40 before we look at the ID and RP categories for the safety net points. The next session will begin at the end of the Indoor Environmental Quality chapter.

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T

he U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that Americans spend about 90% of their day indoors, where the air quality can be significantly worse than outside by as much as 2 to 100 times. The goals of the LEED Indoor Environmental Quality credit category are to promote the following measures: improving ventilation, managing air contaminants, specifying less harmful materials, allowing occupants to control desired settings and to provide daylight and views.

CHAPTER | 8 Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) »» Credit Matrix »» Introduction »» Indoor Air Quality »» Ventilation Improvements »» Air Contaminant Management »» Material Selection Decisions »» Thermal Comfort, Lighting & Acoustics »» Occupant Control of Systems »» Daylight & Views »» Core & Shell and Schools »» Codes & Referenced Standards »» Final Thoughts »» Studio4 Project: Indoor Environmental Quality SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Indoor Environmental Quality Credit Matrix Credit IEQp1 IEQp2 IEQp3 IEQc1 IEQc2 IEQc3.1 IEQc3 IEQc3.2 IEQc4.1 IEQc4.2 IEQc4.3 IEQc4.4 IEQc4.5 IEQc4.6 IEQc5 IEQc6.1 IEQc6.2 IEQc6 IEQc7.1 IEQc7 IEQc7.2 IEQc8.1 IEQc8.2 IEQc9 IEQc10

NC

Title INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control Minimum Acoustical Performance Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring Increased Ventilation Construction IEQ Management Plan - During Construction Construction IEQ Management Plan - During Construction Construction IEQ Management Plan - Before Occupancy Low-Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants Low-Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings Low-Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems Low-Emitting Materials - Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products Low-Emitting Materials - Furniture and Furnishings Low-Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control Controllability of Systems - Lighting Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort Thermal Comfort - Design Thermal Comfort - Design Thermal Comfort - Verification Daylight and Views - Daylight Daylight and Views - Views Enhanced Acoustical Performance Mold Prevention

15 Reqd Reqd NA 1 1 1 NA 1 1 1 1 1 NA NA 1 1 1 NA 1 NA 1 1 1 NA NA

Schools Points 19 Reqd Reqd Reqd 1 1 1 NA 1 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1* 1 1 1 NA 1 NA 1 *1-3 1 1 1

CS 12 Reqd Reqd NA 1 1 NA 1 NA 1 1 1 1 NA NA 1 NA NA 1 NA 1 NA 1 1 NA NA

Introduction The EPA has designated indoor air pollution as a top environmental risk to public health and recent increases in building related illnesses and related legal cases have heightened awareness of indoor air quality (IAQ) among building owners and occupants. For schoolchildren, indoor air quality issues are even more urgent as they are more sensitive during their development and growth. Strategies to improve indoor environmental quality can reduce liability for building owners, increase the resale value of the building and improve the health of building occupants. Personnel costs are usually larger than a buildings’ operating costs and more studies are showing increased occupant satisfaction and productivity gains due to improved indoor environmental quality, making these improvements a sound financial investment. The potential annual savings and productivity gains from improvements in indoor environmental quality in the U.S. are estimated at $6 - $14 billion from reduced respiratory disease, $1 - $4 billion from reduced allergies and asthma, $10 - $30 billion from reduced sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms and $20 - $160 billion from direct improvements in worker performance. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality The Indoor Environmental Quality category addresses environmental concerns relating to: • Indoor environmental quality • Occupant health, safety and comfort • Energy consumption • Air change effectiveness • Air contaminant management The quality of the indoor environment can be improved by focusing on: • Indoor air quality • Thermal comfort • Lighting • Acoustics Four attributes associated with green building design can be directly connected to increased occupant productivity: • Increased ventilation control • Increased temperature control • Increased lighting control • Increased daylighting

Ventilation Improvement Improving the quality of indoor air can be accomplished by increasing ventilation to remove pollutants from the indoor environment. Although increased ventilation can require additional energy, this effective strategy can yield excellent results with a relatively quick payback. The project team can take advantage of regional characteristics by providing natural ventilation or in areas of high heating and cooling loads use exhaust air to heat or cool the incoming air to reduce energy use and operating costs.

Air Contaminant Management Managing indoor pollutants is critical to the success of providing proper indoor air quality. There are three basic contaminants that should be reduced or eliminated: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Referred to as secondhand smoke, it is the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke given off by ignited tobacco products. Containing thousands of chemicals, ETS is linked to lung cancer and heart disease. Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Although carbon dioxide is not known to cause serious health issues, high concentrated levels is an indication of inadequate ventilation. Monitoring CO2 is an effective way of providing proper ventilation. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Indoor Environmental Quality Particulate Matter Airborne particles in indoor environments include lint, dirt, carpet fibers, dust, dust mites, mold, bacteria, pollen and animal dander. Using high efficiency air filters with a higher MERV rating provides increased filtration of the air and reduces the exposure to these pollutants which can exacerbate respiratory problems such as allergies, asthma, emphysema and chronic lung disease.

Material Selection Decisions Another strategy for improving the indoor environmental quality is to prevent problems before the occur. This can be done by specifying materials and products that release fewer and less harmful chemical compounds. Careful scheduling of deliveries of these materials will help prevent exposure to moisture and absorption of off gassed contaminants.

Occupant Control of Systems Providing individual occupant controls for lighting and thermostats improves occupant comfort and productivity while saving energy. Individual controls allow occupants to set light levels that are appropriate to the task, time of day, personal preferences and sight requirements. Individual thermostats permit control to meet their individual heating or cooling needs during different seasons, clothing and activity.

Daylight and Views Daylighting reduces the need for artificial lighting, therefore reducing energy consumption and HVAC requirements. It is well documented that natural daylighting improves occupant productivity and reduces health issues, resulting in lower absenteeism. Building occupants with access to views to the outside are more productive and show an increased satisfaction with their jobs. Daylighting and views are dependant on the building design and proper orientation to the sun.

Core & Shell (CS) For Core & Shell projects, the design and construction can influence indoor environmental quality in 2 ways: • The design team can influence the quality of interior spaces such as lobbies, circulation areas and the building cores • Design and construction decisions can affect in indoor environmental quality of tenant spaces

Schools The importance of human communication in learning spaces should be considered by reducing background noise and optimizing acoustics.


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Indoor Environmental Quality Codes & Referenced Standards Refer to the Appendix for a complete listing of Referenced Standards by Credit with a description of the intent of the standard • The Indoor Environmental Quality category contains the most extensive collection of standards regulating the very complex issues addressed by IEQ. As with the Energy & Atmosphere category, important ASHRAE standards are imposed. Ventilation, thermal comfort, Environmental Tobacco Smoke, VOC’s and other issues are also included. Important standards to become familiar with: • ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Specifies minimum standard ventilation rates and IAQ levels • ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation Rate for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Standard providing minimum requirements for operable openings at 4% of the net habitable floor area • ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999: Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size: Standard for methods for testing air cleaners for 2 performance characteristics: the device’s capacity for removing particles from the air stream and the device’s resistance to airflow • ASHRAE Standard 55-2004: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy: Identifies the factors of thermal comfort and the process for developing comfort criteria for a building space and its occupants. Indoor space environmental and personal factors that will produce thermal environmental conditions acceptable to 80% of the occupants within a space. The environmental factors addressed are: temperature, thermal radiation, humidity and air speed. The personal factors are: activity and clothing • Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus identifies low VOC carpets • Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label identifies low VOC carpet cushions • FloorScore™ program identifies low VOC vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring and wall base • South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, VOC limits for paints and coatings • South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1168, VOC limits for adhesives, sealants and sealant primers • Green Seal Standard GC-03, VOC limits for anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints • Green Seal Standard GS-11, VOC limits for commercial flat and nonflat paints • Green Seal Standard GC-36, VOC limits for aerosol adhesives • Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) minimize indoor air quality issues during demolitions, renovations and construction; do not confuse with SCAQMD

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Indoor Environmental Quality Final Thoughts Terminology to know Refer to Acronyms and Glossary of Terms chapter • Air Quality Standards • Ambient Temperature • ASHRAE • Bake-Out • Carbon Dioxide Concentration • Construction IAQ Management Plan • Contaminant • Controllability of Systems • Daylighting • Flush-Out • Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) • Mechanical Ventilation • Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) • Mixed Mode Ventilation • Natural Ventilation • Off-Gassing • Particulates • Pollutant • Regularly Occupied spaces • Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) • Thermal Comfort • Ventilation Rate • Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Thoughts to keep When considering the fact that Americans spend 90% of their time indoors where air quality is far worse than it is outdoors and occupant comfort and satisfaction is critical, it is easy to understand the importance of improving the indoor environment. As such, Indoor Environmental Quality deals with improving the quality of air, thermal comfort (temperature and humidity), lighting and acoustics. The strategies used to address any one issue can have a positive impact to each area of the Triple Bottom Line. To address these issues, IEQ separates the more complex area of Indoor Air Quality from Thermal Comfort, Lighting and Acoustics. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality • The Triple Bottom Line: • Economic Prosperity: improving the quality of the environment indoors improves occupant comfort and satisfaction, which in turn increases productivity and reduces absenteeism • Social Responsibility: improving the indoor air quality to a degree that occupant health is improved increases productivity, reduces illness which lessens the burden on the health industry and improves the overall quality of health throughout the community • Environmental Stewardship: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control, natural ventilation, daylighting, green cleaning products and integrated pest control are all environmental issues being successfully addressed; natural ventilation and daylighting can also reduce the HVAC and lighting loads which reduces the demand on power which in turn reduces the environmental issues associated with energy production ●● Indoor Air Quality • Strategies: • Source control • Develop a plan to reduce the contaminants entering the building; cover return and supply air ducts to prevent contaminants from recirculating through the HVAC systems; practice good housekeeping; clean spills immediately • Smoking • No smoking in the building or within 25 feet of entrances, operable windows and air intakes • Smoking permitted inside must be confined to spaces built per ASTM E779-03 • No smoking in and around schools • Ventilation • Properly size ventilation systems to provide adequate outside air to building occupants. Follow industry standards such as ASHRAE Standard 62, Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality; the more outside air introduced into the space, the more diluted contaminants become. • Carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring • install carbon dioxide monitors integrated into the ventilation systems that supply proper amounts of ventilation to occupants based on occupant loads • High efficiency air filters • install filters with high MERV ratings to reduce smaller particulates • Low emitting materials • Specify green materials with low Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs); prevents or reduces off gassing SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Indoor Environmental Quality • Protect air quality during construction • prevent mold by protecting all materials from moisture • Prevent dust and particulate infiltration and buildup • Flush-out • prior to occupancy, flush out the existing air by exhausting it out of the building and replacing with fresh outdoor air • Air quality testing • test air to ensure acceptable contaminant levels • Green Cleaning Program • employ green cleaning materials and technologies to reduce contaminant exposure • Integrated pest management • employ a coordinated program using non-chemical strategies such as monitoring and baiting ●● Thermal Comfort, Lighting and Acoustics • Strategies: • Individual temperature control • provide occupant temperature controls in mechanically ventilated spaces that allow individual temperature control • Individual ventilation control • provide adjustable air diffusers in mechanically ventilated spaces that allow individual air flow adjustment • Operable windows • provide operable windows that open to the outside wherever possible • Daylight • design the building to allow for occupant access to daylight and views by placing workstations around the perimeter walls of the building, keeping service areas toward the interior core spaces • skylights, roof monitors, light tubes, light shelves to reflect light into the building • windows with glazing minimum 7’-6” above the floor • Views • Provide a direct line of sight to exterior; window vision glazing heights to be 2’-6” above the floor to 7’-6” above the floor. Glazing above 7’-6” is referred to as daylight glazing


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Indoor Environmental Quality • Individual lighting control • provide occupant lighting control so occupants can match the lighting level to the task • Occupant surveys • conduct surveys to assess occupant indoor environment satisfaction and make operational changes based on the feedback • Acoustics: LEED for Schools only • provide classrooms with better teacher-to-student and student-to-teacher communications through effective acoustical and sound transmission design • Reduce background noise level to 40 DBA or less from HVAC systems in classrooms and other core learning spaces ●● Miscellaneous • It is important to understand the major ASHRAE standards and the intent of these standards: • ASHRAE 90.1-2007: energy efficiency (not required in IEQ category) • ASHRAE 52.2-1999: ventilation air filters - MERV • ASHRAE 55-2004: thermal comfort - Air and radiant temperatures, air speed, humidity • ASHRAE 62.1-2007: ventilation rates

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Indoor Environmental Quality Studio4 Office Project: Indoor Environmental Quality Indoor Environmental Quality Category The IEQ category is unique with regards to the environmental issues addressed, as this category is all about the occupants. It is about creating and maintaining an environment that promotes the well being of people. Simply stated, a healthy employee is a happy employee - and a happy employee is a productive employee. Three prerequisites in the Indoor Environmental Quality category represent the very minimum IEQ efforts that must be addressed in order to proceed with obtaining credits. IEQp1 Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance: This prerequisite establishes a minimum indoor air quality (IAQ) performance to enhance the comfort and well being of the building occupants. As ASHRAE 90.1-2007 is synonymous with establishing minimum energy performance, ASHRAE 62.1-2007 establishes minimum IAQ performance by addressing the building’s ventilation. The three basic methods for ventilating buildings and how each are addressed by ASHRAE 62.1-2007: • Mechanical ventilation (active): determines the minimum required ventilation rates for various applications using either the ventilation rate procedure of the indoor air quality procedure • Natural ventilation (passive): provides requirements on the size and location of ventilation openings • Mixed mode ventilation (active + passive): can use any acceptable engineering calculation methodology that meets the minimum ventilation rates required by 62.1-2007 Design submittal: architect and mechanical engineer IEQp2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control: For NC and CS projects, the intent of the prerequisite is to prevent or minimize exposure of building occupants, indoor surfaces and ventilation distribution systems to ETS. For Schools, the intent is to eliminate exposure to ETS. For NC & CS, there are 2 cases. Case 1 is for all buildings and Option 1 prohibits smoking in the building. Option 2 prohibits smoking in the building except in designated spaces. Case 2 for NC & CS addresses residential and hospitality projects and prohibits smoking in all common areas of the building. Case 2 for Schools prohibits smoking in the building. If smoking is permitted in the building on the property grounds, designated smoking areas should be established and in all cases not permitted within 25 feet of entries, outdoor air intakes or operable windows. Design submittal: facilities manager IEQp3 Minimum Acoustical Performance: This prerequisite applies to LEED for Schools only and provides for classroom environments that are quiet and allow teachers and students the ability to communicate effectively. Design submittal: architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc1 Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring: For this credit, the installation of permanent monitoring systems of building ventilation is required. By monitoring the ventilation systems’ performance, the building operator will be able to stay informed of the deficiencies in the system. The monitoring system should be designed to generate an alarm when the conditions vary by at least 10% from the setpoint. One way to achieve this is by installing carbon dioxide (CO2) and airflow measurement equipment. The equipment should feed the information to the HVAC system, Building Automation System (BAS) or building operator to signal for adjustment when varying beyond the setpoint. Design submittal: mechanical engineer IEQc2 Increased Ventilation: In order to achieve this credit for mechanically vented spaces, the outdoor ventilation rates to all occupied spaces must be increased by 30% above the minimum rates required by ASHRAE Standard 62.12007. One approach is to use heat recovery in order to minimize the additional energy consumption associated with higher ventilation rates. For naturally ventilated spaces, first determine if natural ventilation is an effective strategy for the project, then follow the design recommendations set forth in the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Applications Manual 10. Use flow diagrams and calculations to show that the design of the natural ventilation systems meets the recommendations outlined in the CIBSE Applications Manual 10. Another option is to use a macroscopic, multi-zone analytic model to predict room-by-room airflows that will effectively naturally ventilate, providing the minimum ventilation rates required by ASHRAE 62.1-2007 for at least 90% of the occupied spaces. Design submittal: mechanical engineer IEQc3 & IEQc3.1 Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan - During Construction: This management plan is directed towards eliminating as many indoor air problems during construction as possible and requires the development and implementation of a plan for the construction and preoccupancy phases that addresses the following: • During construction, comply with the control measures of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction • Protect and store on-site and installed absorptive materials from moisture damage • If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration media with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8 must be installed at each return air grille per ASHRAE 52.2-1999 • For School projects, no smoking is permitted inside the building and within 25 feet of building entrances once the building has been enclosed Construction submittal: contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc3.2 Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan - Before Occupancy: Compliance with this credit will reduce the IAQ problems resulting from construction or renovation activities. There are 2 options for achieving this credit. The first is to conduct a building flush-out prior to building occupancy by supplying a total volume of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area, while maintaining an internal temperature of 60 degrees and up to 60% relative humidity. The flush-out is often used where occupancy is not required immediately upon substantial completion of construction. The second option is to conduct baseline IAQ testing after construction ends, but prior to occupancy to demonstrate that the contaminant maximum concentrations are not exceeded. Construction submittal: contractor EQc4 Low-Emitting Materials: The selection of IEQc4 credits are constructed as a practical way to prevent IEQ problems by specifying materials that release fewer and less harmful chemical compounds, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), for adhesives, paints, carpets, composite wood products and furniture. The delivery and installation of these materials and products should be coordinated so that they are not exposed to moisture and absorption of off-gassed contaminants. These rules apply to materials and products inside the building (inside the weatherproofing system and applied on-site). Construction submittal: architect, contractor IEQc4.1 Low-Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants: Adhesives, sealants and sealant primers must comply with South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168. Aerosol adhesives must comply with Green Seal Standard for Commercial Adhesives GS-36. LEED for School projects must comply with the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers. Construction submittal: architect, contractor IEQc4.2 Low-Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings: Paints and coatings applied inside the building must comply to the following: • Architectural paints and coatings applied to interior walls and ceilings must not exceed the volatile organic compound (VOC) limit established by Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints • Anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints applied to interior ferrous metal must not exceed the VOC limit of 250g/L established by Green Seal GS-03, Anti-Corrosive Paints • Clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains, primers and shellacs must not exceed the VOC limits established by South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1113, Architectural Coatings • LEED for School projects must comply with the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers Construction submittal: architect, contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc4.3 Low-Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems: All flooring must comply to the following: • Option 1 • Carpet to meet the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus program • Carpet cushion to meet the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label program • Carpet adhesives must meet the requirements of IEQc4.1 including the VOC limit of 50 g/L • All hard surface flooring must be certified as compliant with the FloorScore standard by an independent third party. Hard surface flooring includes: vinyl; linoleum, laminate, wood, ceramic and rubber flooring and wall base • An alternative compliance path using FloorScore is acceptable for credit compliance if 100% of the non-carpet finished flooring is equal to 25% of the finished floor area. Unfinished flooring areas are mechanical rooms, electrical rooms and elevator service rooms • Concrete, wood, bamboo and cork floor finishes such as sealer and stain must meet the requirements of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1113, Architectural Coatings • Tile setting adhesives and grout must meet South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168 • Option 2 • All flooring elements in the building must comply with the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers Construction submittal: architect, contractor IEQc4.4 Low-Emitting Materials - Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products: Composite wood and agrifiber products are defined as particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, wheatboard, panel substrates and door cores. These materials and products must contain no added ureaformaldehyde resins. LEED for School projects must comply with the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers. Construction submittal: architect, contractor

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc4.5 Low-Emitting Materials - Furniture and Furnishings: This credit applies to LEED for Schools projects only. Classroom furniture that was manufactured, refurbished or refinished within 1 year prior to occupancy must comply with one of the following options: • Option 1 • Furniture and seating must be Greenguard Children and Schools certified • Option 2 • Indoor air concentrations must be less than or equal to those listed for furniture and seating determined by a procedure based on the EPA Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Large Chamber Test Protocol for Measuring Emissions of VOCs and Aldehydes • Option 3 • Indoor air concentrations must be less than or equal to those listed for furniture and seating determined by a procedure based on ANSI/BIFMA M7.1-2007 and ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2007 Construction submittal: architect, contractor IEQc4.6 Low-Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems: This credit applies to LEED for Schools projects only and must comply with the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Compounds from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers. Construction submittal: architect, contractor IEQc5 Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control: This credit is designed to minimize and control pollutant entry to the building and addresses three areas necessary for compliance: • Install a permanent entryway system at each outdoor to indoor entry to prevent occupant-borne contaminants from entering the building. The system must be at least ten feet long in the primary direction of travel in order to capture dirt and particulates before they can enter the building. Acceptable systems include: grates, grilles or slotted systems that allow for regular cleaning underneath. Roll-out mats are only acceptable if scheduled to have cleaning on a weekly basis by a contracted service • Design facility cleaning and maintenance areas where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present with isolated exhaust systems for contaminants, and exhaust each space sufficiently to create a negative pressure with respect to the adjacent spaces. This includes garages, housekeeping and laundry areas, as well as copying and printing room areas. Physical isolation must be maintained from regularly occupied areas in the building • In mechanically ventilated buildings, install MERV 13, or higher, filters in air handling units on both return air and outside supply air. • Provide containment for appropriate disposal of hazardous liquid wastes in places where water and chemical concentrate mixing occurs Design submittal: architect, mechanical engineer, contractor SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc6.1 Controllability of Systems - Lighting: The intent of this credit is to design the building interior with a high level of lighting system control for the individual occupants, as well as lighting system controllability for multi-occupant spaces. Include integration of lighting systems controllability into the overall lighting design in order to provide both ambient and task lighting that will promote occupant comfort and productivity. For Case 1, provide individual lighting controls for 90% of the building occupants and provide lighting system controls for all learning spaces. Case 2, in classrooms, provide a lighting system that operates in 2 modes: general illumination and audio/visual (A/V). Design submittal: owner, architect, electrical engineer, lighting engineer IEQc6.2 Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort: This credit requires that thermal comfort be controllable by 50% of the building occupants. Building design should include individual comfort controls, as well as comfort controls for groups in multi-occupant spaces. Individual adjustments may involve individual thermostat controls, local diffusers at floor, desk or overhead levels, or control of individual radiant panels. There may also be other means of control integrated into overall thermal comfort and energy systems in the building design. Thermal comfort systems may by strictly mechanical, or may integrate both mechanical and operable windows in order to provide the comfort criteria needed for this credit. ASHRAE 55-2004 identifies the factors of thermal comfort (air temperature, radiant temperature, air speed and humidity) and a process for developing building spaces that suit the needs of the occupants involved in their daily activities. ASHRAE 62.12007, paragraph 5.1 for Natural Ventilation details how operable windows can be used in lieu of comfort controls refer to the requirements of that must be met. Design submittal: owner, architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, contractor IEQc7 & IEQc7.1 Thermal Comfort - Design: There are three variables that can affect thermal comfort of building occupants: activity, clothing, and environmental factors. Environmental factors include air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity and air speed. To qualify for this credit, the design of the building’s HVAC system and building envelope must comply with ASHRAE 55-2004, Thermal Comfort Conditions for Human Occupancy. During the design and planning phase, the owner and designer should evaluate the buildings’ needs based on the building size, type, location, and nature of the operations, as well as climate conditions. Once determined, use load calculations to determine size and selection of HVAC equipment to accomplish the thermal comfort goals and refer to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Application Manual 10 for strategies involving natural ventilation. Design submittal: owner, architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer IEQc7.2 Thermal Comfort - Verification: The first step of this programs is to have the occupants fill out a survey to ensure that their comfort level is being met. ASHRAE 55-2004 provides guidance for establishing thermal comfort criteria and the documentation and validation of building performance to the criteria. Second, after the survey, develop a plan for corrective action if greater than 20% of those surveyed are dissatisfied with the comfort level of the building. Design submittal: owner, architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, Cx SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Indoor Environmental Quality IEQc8.1 Daylight and Views - Daylight: The goal of this credit is to increase this connection that people have between indoor and outdoor spaces in order to provide increased comfort and productivity. There are several strategies that can be used to increase the amount of daylight entering a building. Many are designed to bring daylight into interior areas that would otherwise be inaccessible to window light. Others are designed to maximize the sunlight coming in, while preventing discomfort due to glare that can be caused by direct sunlight. Daylight provided by south facing windows should incorporate a light shelf designed to block the summer sun from directly entering the building and reflect it onto the ceiling of the interior. In the winter, the sun’s path is at a lower position in the Southern sky and is allowed to enter the building in order to provide light and an additional heat source for the cooler season. Other strategies include light tubes and skylights that allow light to enter from overhead. 1 point is awarded for providing 75% daylight and an additional 2 points for 90% daylight in School projects. Design submittal: owner, architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer IEQc8.2 Daylight and Views - Views: This credit requires a direct line of sight for 90% of the occupants to view the outdoor environment through windows placed between 30” and 90” above the finished floor. Measures should be taken for both IEQc8.1 and IEQc8.2 to insure proper design and energy modeling to avoid increased heat gain due to the lower insulating nature of glass compared to standard walls, while maximizing energy efficiency and reduced need for artificial lighting. Core & Shell projects must incorporate a feasible tenant layout using the default occupancy counts. Design submittal: architect, civil engineer, landscape architect IEQc9 Enhanced Acoustical Performance: This credit applies to LEED for School projects and provides classrooms better teacher-to-student and student-to-student communications through effective acoustical design in two ways: • Sound Transmission: Design the building shell, classroom partitions and other core learning space partitions to meet the Sound Transmission Class (STC) requirements of ANSI S12.602002, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements and Guidelines for Schools, except windows which must meet an STC rating of at least 35 • Background Noise: Reduce background noise level to 40 dBA or less from HVAC systems in classrooms and other core learning spaces Design submittal: owner, architect, mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, acoustical consultant, contractor IEQc10 Mold Prevention: This credit applies to LEED for School projects and reduces the potential for mold through preventive design and construction by requiring achievement of these credits: • IEQc3.1: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan - During Construction • IEQc7.1: Thermal Comfort - Design • IEQc7.2: Thermal Comfort - Verification Construction submittal: mechanical engineer SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Indoor Environmental Quality Credit Checklist Analysis 

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



   

   







  



  

 

  

  

   

   

 



 

 

  

  



 

 





      





 

 

      

 

      

    

  

         



 



         

 

 

  



    

 

             

  

      

   

  



           

 

     

 

     

     

 

   



   

 



In the Indoor Environmental Quality category, a total of 14 points are available for credits applicable to this project and we have collected 4 points. We now have gathered 41 points, enough to receive certification, if all are accepted during the final review. The next session will begin at the end of the Innovation in Design chapter.

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

140 | Chapter 8


T

he LEED Innovation in Design credit category awards bonus points for projects that use new and innovative technologies and strategies to improve a building’s performance well beyond what is required by other LEED credits or in green building considerations that are not specifically addressed elsewhere in LEED. This credit category also rewards projects for including a LEED Accredited Professional on the team to ensure a holistic, integrated approach to the design and construction phase.

CHAPTER | 9

Innovation in Design (ID) »» Credit Matrix »» Introduction »» Innovation in Design »» Innovation in Design »» Exemplary Performance »» LEED Accredited Professional »» The School as a Teaching Tool »» Studio4 Project: Innovation in Design

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

142

Innovation in Design Credit Matrix Credit IDc1.1 IDc1.2 IDc1.3 IDc1.4 IDc1.5 IDc2 IDc3

NC Title

INNOVATION IN DESIGN (ID) Innovation in Design Innovation in Design Innovation in Design Innovation in Design Innovation in Design LEED® Accredited Professional The School as a Teaching Tool

6 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

Schools Points 6 1 1 1 1 0 1 1

CS 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 0

Introduction The Innovation in Design credits IDc1.1 - IDc1.5 provide bonus points for projects that incorporate innovative and sustainable building features that improve performance above and beyond the LEED Rating System requirements as directed in each credit. With the Innovation in Design credit series there are two strategies available to receive points. The first is to exceed a credit’s requirements and is referred to as exemplary performance where the general rule is that the ID requirements meet the next increment or double if incremental levels do not exist. The second option is to address a sustainable topic not covered in the LEED Rating System, and this is referred to as innovative performance. For IDc2, a LEED Accredited Professional is an important member in the makeup of the project team for a coordinated path to LEED Certification and LEED rewards the project that has a LEED AP involved as a principle participant. When someone with training, experience, and guidance in the LEED Rating System is on the team, it saves time and money in the certification process. IDc3 is available only to EB O&M and School projects. The credit structure for Innovation is Design is as follows: Innovation in Design ●● ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design • Innovation in Design • Exemplary Performance ●● ID Credit 2: LEED AP ●● ID Credit 3: The School as a Teaching Tool Some confusing aspects of the ID category arise given the fact that the category is titled Innovation in Design, ID Credit 1 is titled Innovation in Design also and 1 of the 2 compliance paths for ID Credit 1 is also titled Innovation in Design. For the specific ID Credit 1, there are 2 compliance paths allowed, either for all Innovation in Design credits or for Innovation in Design credits in combination with Exemplary Performance credits. Download Guidance on Innovation & Design (ID) Credits : http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3594 SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Innovation in Design ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design Innovation in Design (Innovative Performance) Innovation in Design points are awarded for innovative strategies that introduce new ideas not covered in the 5 LEED categories under prerequisites and credits and must meet three criteria: • The strategy must demonstrate a quantifiable environmental performance benefit • The strategy must be applied comprehensively across the project • The strategy must be transferable to other projects and be significantly better than standard sustainable practices Types of strategies that are indicative of Innovation in Design are: • Developing an educational outreach program • Using a greenhouse gas budget to demonstrate carbon neutral design and operations • Incorporating high levels of fly ash in concrete to divert waste materials from landfills Exemplary Performance The terms Exceptional Performance and Exemplary Performance are used interchangeably and are for strategies exceeding credit requirements. Exemplary Performance strategies are not available for every LEED credit. These points, when available, are awarded for going to the next higher incremental level of credit performance. For example, if the credit threshold percentage requirements are 10% and 20%, an ID point may be awarded for achieving a 30% level of performance. Incrementally, 30% would be the next threshold. For credits with more than 1 compliance path, an ID point can be earned by satisfying more than 1 compliance path if their benefits are additive. Points may also awarded for doubling the level of credit performance. For example, if the credit requires a 2 year contract at 35%, an ID point may be awarded for providing a 4 year contract at 35%, or a 2 year contract at 70%. ID points may be awarded for doubling the percentage of credit performance. For example, if 10% and 20% thresholds are required, an exemplary point may be awarded when a performance achievement of 40% is provided. 40% would be doubling the 20% threshold.

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Innovation in Design Rating System ID Points ID Credit 1: Innovation in Design Path 1: Innovation in Design (Innovative Performance) • NC, CS & CI: 1 - 5 points • EB O&M and Schools: 1 - 4 points • Each Innovation in Design strategy achieved is allowed one (1) point Each strategy must identify, in writing: • The intent of the proposed innovation credit • The proposed requirement for compliance • The proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance • The design approach (strategies) used to meet the requirements Path 2: Exemplary Performance • NC, CS, CI, EB O&M & Schools: 1 - 3 points • Each Exemplary Performance strategy achieved is allowed one (1) point ID Credit 2: LEED Accredited Professional • NC, CS, CI, EB O&M and Schools: 1 point is allowed for one member of the Project Team being a LEED Accredited Professional and performing as a principal participant Required submittal information: • Name of the LEED AP • Name of the LEED AP’s company • Brief description of the LEED AP’s project role(s) • Copy of the LEED AP certificate ID Credit 3: The School as a Teaching Tool • EB O&M: 1 point for Documenting Building Costs Impacts • Schools: 1 point for The School as a Teaching Tool Total ID Points Available • NC, CS & CI: 6 points: 5 points for ID Credit 1 & 1 point for ID Credit 2 • EB O&M & Schools: 6 points: 4 points for ID Credit 1, 1point for ID Credit 2 & 1 point for ID Credit 3


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Innovation in Design Studio4 Office Project: Innovation in Design Innovation in Design Category During the course of developing this project, we have not looked at the ID points available to selected credits. Section 9 Exemplary Performance under each credit will state if an ID Exemplary Performance point is available and if so, what the requirement or threshold is for achieving compliance. Since Exemplary Performance requires achievement, we will concentrate on the other option and see if we can gather any points for Innovative Performance. Innovative Performance is, in a sense, granted to strategies and programs that exhibit unique performance. The USGBC website offers guidance on these types of strategies. In part, they include comprehensive strategies which demonstrate quantifiable environmental benefits. Examples are: Educational Outreach Programs; Green Housekeeping; High Volume Fly Ash Low-Emitting Furniture & Furnishings; Organic Landscaping / Integrated Pest Management Program. The project will attempt to achieve the following: IDc1.1 Green Building Education: Studio4 provides educational services related to sustainable development ideals and conducts classes for individuals and employees of companies interested in receiving accreditation. Studio4 has a website that promotes sustainability and being located in an excellent public school system, will develop a children’s Green Educational Program. IDc1.2 Green Housekeeping: Cleaning products can be harmful to the environment and human health and have the potential to off-gas volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals also harm water systems by the way they are carelessly disposed. Reverting to an environmental cleaning program is a cost effective alternative to conventional cleaning programs that should be considered by all projects seeking certification. IDc2 LEED Accredited Professional (AP): The intent of this credit is to support and encourage the design integration required by a LEED green building project and to streamline the application and certification process. The requirement for compliance is that at least one principal participant of the project team be a LEED Accredited Professional. Construction Submittal

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Innovation in Design Credit Checklist Analysis 







 



  

             

                              





   

   







  



  

 

  

  

   

   

 

         

      





 

  

  





      





 

 

      

      

    

    



 

 



   

  



     

 

   



           

 

     

 

     

 

             



  

 

 

 

  

 



 



         

 

 

  



   

 



We picked up 3 of the 6 points available in the Innovation in Design category. The project team could have collected additional points by looking at the Exemplary Performance credits and other Innovative Performance option such as the use of fly ash in our concrete mix. However, we already have the point total necessary - 44 - for certification and a small safety net of 4 points, with the Regional Priority category remaining. The final session will begin at the end of the Regional Priority chapter.


Chapter 9 |

147

U

SGBC’s regional councils, chapters and affiliates have identified the environmental concerns that are locally most important for every region of the country, and six LEED credits that address those local priorities were selected for each region. A project that earns a regional priority credit will earn one bonus point in addition to any points awarded for that credit. Up to four extra points can be earned in this way.

CHAPTER | 10

Regional Priority (RP) »» Credit Matrix

»» Regional Priority Credits »» Studio4 Project: Regional Priority »» Studio4 Project: Certification Summary

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

148

Regional Priority Credit Matrix Credit RPc1.1 RPc1.2 RPc1.3 RPc1.4

NC Title

REGIONAL PRIORITY (RP) Regional Priority Regional Priority Regional Priority Regional Priority

4 1 1 1 1

Schools Points 4 1 1 1 1

CS 4 1 1 1 1

Regional Priority Credits Since environmental priorities may differ between different geographical regions in the U.S., the Regional Priority category tackles the unique challenges and opportunities for addressing critical environmental issues for various regions throughout the country. The challenges in the Northeast differ tremendously from those in the Southwest, from the usage of heating oil to the urgency of water conservation. Densely populated urban locations often feature credits related to stormwater management or heat island reduction, while site protection and building reuse credits are frequently prioritized in rural locations with low population densities. Through USGBC’s regional councils, chapters and affiliates, regionally specific environmental issues were identified. For a project’s location, as determined by its zip code, 6 existing LEED credits have been prioritized because they address environmental issues within that specific zip code. Each Regional Priority credit is based on an existing credit and, if achieved, worth an additional 1 point. A total of 4 additional points may be earned from the pool of 6 Regional Priority credits. Upon project registration, LEED Online automatically determines a project’s Regional Priority credits, based on the project’s zip code. Although the project may be able to qualify for more than 4 of the 6 Regional Priority credits available, the project team can choose any 4 credits for which they prefer the points to apply. Regional Priority Credits are available only in the U.S. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet by state is available for download from the USGBC website. For current Regional Priority information, refer: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1971


Chapter 10 |

149

Regional Priority Studio4 Office Project: Regional Priority Regional Priority Category Upon project registration, LEED Online automatically determines a project’s Regional Priority credits, based on the project’s zip code. Each Regional Priority credit is based on an existing credit and, if achieved, worth an additional 1 point. A total of 4 additional points may be earned from the pool of 6 Regional Priority credits.

As shown is this capture of the spreadsheet for the zip code 45242, the credits available for Regional Priority points are: • SSc6.1 Stormwater Design - Quantity Control • EAc2 On-Site Renewable Energy • MRc1.1 (75%) Building Reuse - Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof • MRc2 (75%) Construction Waste Management • MRc3 Materials Reuse • IEQc8.1 Daylight and Views - Daylight Two Regional Priority points are applicable, based on previous credit achievement: • SSc6.1 Stormwater Design - Quantity Control • MRc2 Construction Waste Management.

SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

150 | Chapter 10


Regional Priority Credit Checklist Analysis 







 



  

             

                              





   

   







  



  

 

  

  

   

   

 

         

      





 

  

  





      





 

 

      

      

    

    



 

 



   



 

 

  

 



           

 

     



     

 

             



  

 

 

 

  

 



 



         

 

 

  



     

 

   

   

 



2 of the 4 points available in the Regional Priority category provides the project team with 46 points. We will take an overview look at the final Credit Checklist to determine if this is the path to certification we want to focus on and then prepare a Summary Report.


Chapter 10 |

151

Studio4 Office Project: Certification Summary Project Certification Summary 







 



  

             

                              





   

   







  

  

  

  

  

   

   

 

         

      



 

 

  

  



 

 





      





 

 

      

      

    

  

 



 



         

 

 

  



    

 

             





 

 

   

   



 

 

  

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     

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   

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

The project team has analyzed the preliminary credit count and determined basic certification can be achieved by complying with local codes and ordinances, implementing good design and construction techniques and prioritizing which limited sustainable credits to pursue. A review by category indicates the credits achieved in the Sustainable Sites category were assisted by, in large part, the location and condition of the site, the demands of local codes and ordinances and an aggressive Pilot Program by the local storm and sanitary sewer authority. The Water Efficiency credits were achieved primarily through the use of water efficient plumbing fixtures and credits previously achieved in the Sustainable Sites category. Energy and Atmosphere took the hit that is indicative of many projects seeking certification. The credits within this category represent a substantial initial cost and although credible evidence exists that indicate attractive payback periods, budgets are often tight and cannot handle this financial burden. With each LEED project that receives certification and federal, state and local governments mandate some degree of certification in government and educational facilities, new products become available that make the Materials and Resources category an easy mark for collecting credits.

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The Indoor Environmental Quality category doesn’t address sustainable elements the same as any of the other categories. Yet it is an extremely important part of certification because it deals directly and immediately with human health, well being and occupant productivity. Low VOC products are available in every category for little, if any, additional cost or at a sacrifice to design. The Daylight and Views credits can be difficult if the site and floor plan are not suitable for considering these credits on their face. Revising the building floor plan and fenestration along with the interior office layout can come at the sacrifice of the Owners Project Requirements or site conditions and not always obtainable. Every project should look closely at increased ventilation, monitoring and chemical and pollutant control at the source. In all likelihood, this project will probably go back and reconsider some of the credits passed over. The direction of this project changed, however, to focus on achieving certification at minimal cost and achieved this goal in illustrating how little cost LEED certification can contribute to the overall budget. Given, this project is small although typical of many projects in size and site attributes. Not discussed are the costs for compliance to the prerequisites, though all but Fundamental Commissioning and Water Use Reduction are mainly a step above code or standards implemented in construction today such as providing space for recycling, a smoke free environment, construction pollution activity and refrigerant management. In summary, many attributes of green building have already been put in place thru federal, state and local laws, codes and ordinances. Combined with proper design and good construction practices and BMPs inherent in the industry today, NOT being green would be difficult to defend!

Studio4 Office Project


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he LEED Green Associate accreditation is for professionals who want to demonstrate green building expertise in non-technical fields of practice denoting basic knowledge of green design, construction, and operations. The LEED Green Associate examination is also required for all candidates who plan to continue forward with one of the Tier II credentialing examinations.

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LEED Green Associate Exam »» Study Materials

»» 4 Steps for Exam Preparation »» LEED Green Associate Exam

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LEED Green Associate Exam LEED Green Associate Exam A LEED Green Associate is an individual who has passed the exam and possesses the knowledge and skill to understand and support green design, construction and operations. The LEED Green Associate exam is a Tier I exam that is constructed towards those who want a basic understanding of sustainability but not in need of the technical knowledge required to obtain a Tier II exam for a LEED Accredited Professional with Specialty. For those who wish to obtain any of the Tier II credentials, they must also pass the Green Associate exam. This can be taken prior to a Tier II exam or at the same time as a Tier II exam.

Study Materials The primary sources for the development of the core references are the LEED Rating Systems. he LEED Green Associate examination is designed to test your general knowledge of green building practices and how to support other professionals working on LEED projects. The two primary resources for the Green Associate exam as recommended by USGBC/GBCI are the Green Associate Candidate Handbook and the Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide. The GBCI Green Associate Candidate Handbook is a free download and is frequently updated, therefore it is recommended to review the most current edition of this document for any revisions. All LEED Candidate Handbooks can be located at: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=97 LEED Reference Guides (Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide) are published by the U.S. Green Building Council and are available for purchase at: http://www.usgbc.org/Store/PublicationsList_New.aspx?CMSPageID=1518 Importantly, the Green Associate Candidate Handbook lists two categories of additional reference materials. There are currently eleven (11) primary references and eleven (11) ancillary references listed. Primary references are those from which exam items are taken and ancillary references contain concepts relating to the LEED rating systems that the candidate should be familiar with.

4 Steps for Exam Preparation • Download the Green Associate Candidate Handbook to determine if eligibility requirements are met • Register for and schedule the exam per instructions in the Green Associate Candidate Handbook • Gather study materials as listed above plus additional reference materials available on the web • Study the collected resources until you feel comfortable with your degree of green awareness and knowledge SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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LEED Green Associate Exam Getting Started

The first thing you should to do is download and study the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, available as a free download at www.gbci.org. This handbook is the default source for information regarding the specifics for the LEED Green Associate exam process. The information contained In the Studio4 LEED Green Associate study guide is an outline description of the exam process. A review of the LEED Green Associate Handbook will acquaint you with the specifics regarding exam rescheduling, test site hours of operation, contact numbers, etc. Note: Check the GBCI website frequently for the current version of the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook. Detailed within the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook is, in part, the following information: • 5 Things Every Candidate Should Know (includes study links) • Study Materials (includes sample exam questions) • Applying for Your Exam (includes eligibility requirements) • Scheduling Your Exam (days, dates and times available) • Pre-Exam Checklist (one month & one week checklists) • The Day of Your Exam (ID and name requirements) • After Your Exam (passing, failing, credentialing and certificates) • Contact information

Examination Eligibility Requirements

To take the LEED Green Associate exam, you must have experience in the form of involvement on a LEED registered project, employment (or previous employment) in a sustainable field of work, or engagement in (or completion of) an education program that addresses green building principles. You only have to meet one of these criteria to demonstrate eligibility. For candidates who have attended, or are attending, an education program that addresses green building principles, GBCI will accept a certificate of completion or an official transcript in lieu of a letter of attestation. Any other eligibility documentation must be in the form of a letter of attestation. Candidates must also agree to the disciplinary policy and credential maintenance requirements and submit to an application audit.

Applying for the Exam

The process necessary to take the LEED Green Associate exam requires three (3) steps. First, you must apply for the exam and receive approval from the GBCI, the second step is to register for the exam with Prometric and third, upon successful registration, you can schedule your exam with Prometric. Registration is valid for a period of one (1) year from date of application approval. You are permitted to have one pending registration at any one time, but can take the examination three times during one year of the application approval. After three unsuccessful attempts, you must wait three months before you can register again. SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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LEED Green Associate Exam • Go to www.gbci.org and click My Credentials. Create an account with GBCI, if you do not have one Create, or update, your profile and upload the required document for proof of eligibility. Verify that your name matches the identification you will present at the test center • GBCI will review the application and approve, request additional information or deny • After application approval by GBCI, you can register and schedule the exam with Prometric

Registration and Scheduling GBCI contracts with Prometric to administer all LEED credentialing examinations. After you have been approved by GBCI and received your eligibility ID, you can register and schedule your exam with Prometric. After registering and scheduling, you will receive a confirmation number via e-mail. It is recommended that this be printed in the event you need to contact Prometric in the future. Candidates may register at any point during their one year application period through My Credentials at www.gbci.org. Available Prometric test sites can be located by visiting www. prometric.com/gbci

LEED Green Associate Application and Exam Fees • $50 non-refundable LEED Green Associate application fee • $150 examination fee for USGBC national members and full time students • $200 examination fee for all other exam applicants • Payment can be made electronically by credit or debit card • For test sites within the U.S., the fee is charged at the time the exam is taken • For test sites outside the U.S., the fee is charged at the time the exam is scheduled

Testing Rules & Regulations It is important to note that the USGBC and Prometric adhere to these rules, almost without exception, and are explained in full detail in the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook. • You must provide a valid government issued photo ID (Drivers License, Passport or Military ID). The name on your photo ID must match the name you used when registering for the exam • The test site will have available small lockers for you to place your personal items which are not permitted to be taken into the examination room. These items include wallets, purses, watches, keys, cell phones, calculators, paper, pens/pencils, computers, beverages, food, books, bags • You must receive approval from the testing proctor prior to leaving the examination room. If you need to leave the examination room for any reason, make certain you have your photo ID with you. If you leave the building during the examination, the test proctor will terminate your exam


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LEED Green Associate Exam One Month Before Your Exam Ensure that your name in My Credentials matches the identification you will present at the test center

One Week Before Your Exam Confirm that the exam scheduled with Prometric is for the correct date, time, and location Ensure that your name in My Credentials matches the identification you will present at the test center

The Day of Your Exam You must provide a valid, unexpired ID with a signature and a photograph

Examination Format Raw exam scores are converted to a scaled score that ranges from a minimum of 125 to a maximum of 200 with a passing score set at 170. The scaled score is reported on screen at the end of the exam You will have 10 minutes to review a tutorial on how to use the computer. Any time remaining can be used to write memorization notes on the scrap paper provided at the test site There are 100 randomly delivered questions on the exam and you will have 2 hours to complete the 100 question exam, not including the 10 minute tutorial Questions are multiple choice with some having more than one answer, such as choose 3 of 5

Miscellaneous Make certain you know where the test center is located and get there 15 - 30 minutes early You are permitted to move thru the questions and either answer, leave unanswered or mark. At the conclusion of the exam, you will be shown a summary of the 100 questions showing which have been answered, marked or unanswered and given the opportunity to go back to address the marked or unanswered questions. You can also elect to review all of the questions at this time No credit is given for providing partial answers, such as answering 2 of 5 when 3 of 5 is required No credit is given for unanswered questions. Therefore it is recommended that you answer all questions on the first try and mark those you are unsure of. Marked questions count as being answered Take your time and read each question carefully. Pay particular attention to words such as not, may, prerequisite, may be required, etc.. Not seeing these words can have an effect on the correct answer Certain questions and answers may remind you of something that can provide assistance in answering other questions you were previously unsure of

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LEED Green Associate Exam Passing the Exam If you receive a score of 170 or higher, you earn the LEED Green Associate designation You will receive a print out of your examination results which will indicate your performance on each section You will receive an automatic e-mail from GBCI notifying you when your results have posted Two to three months after you pass the exam, you will receive formal notification from GBCI, including a congratulatory letter and a certificate recognizing you as a LEED Green Associate

Failing the Exam If you receive a score of 169 or lower you will be denied the LEED Green Associate credential You will receive a print out of your exam results which will indicate your performance on each section If you decide to retake the exam, you can use the report to focus your studies on your weakest areas as indicated by your exam print out You will receive an automatic e-mail from GBCI notifying you when your results have posted

Certificates Certificates will be mailed directly from GBCI headquarters two to three months after the test date

Exam Specifications The specifications for each section of the LEED Green Associate exam are organized to include a list of seven (7) domains and their corresponding knowledge areas. This structure assesses whether a candidate is capable of performing specific tasks and services. The following outline provides a general description of exam content areas for the LEED Green Associate exam: 1. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process • Project Requirements (site; program; budget; schedule) • Costs (hard costs; soft costs; life-cycle) • Green Resources (USGBC; Environmental Building News) • Standards that support LEED Credit (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Airconditioning Engineers [ASHRAE]; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association [SMACNA] guidelines; Green Seal) • Credit Interactions (energy and IEQ; waste management) • Credit Interpretation Rulings/Requests and precedents that lead to exemplary performance • Components of LEED Online and Project Registration • Components of LEED Scorecard SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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LEED Green Associate Exam • Components of Credit Forms (project calculations; supplementary documentation) • Strategies to Achieve Credit • Project Boundary; LEED Boundary; Property Boundary • Prerequisites and/or Minimum Program Requirements for LEED Certification • Preliminary Rating (target certification level) • Multiple Certifications for Same Building (Operations & Maintenance for certified building new construction; core and shell and commercial interior; certified building in neighborhood development) • Occupancy Requirements (existing building - building must be fully occupied for 12 continuous months as described in minimum program requirements) • USGBC Policies (trademark usage; logo usage) • Requirements to earn LEED AP Credit 2. Project Site Factors • Community Connectivity: Transportation (public transportation; bike storage; fuel efficient vehicle parking; parking capacity; car pool parking; car share membership [Zipcar™]; shuttles; carts) Pedestrian Access (circulation and accessibility such as cross walks; ramps; and trails) • Zoning Requirements: (density components such as calculations -site area and floor area ratio; construction limits; open space; building footprint; development footprint; specific landscaping restrictions) • Development: Heat Islands (non-roof; roof; Solar Reflectance Index [SRI]; emissivity; albedo; heat island effect; green roofs) 3. Water Management • Types and Quality of Water (potable; graywater; blackwater; stormwater) • Water Management (water use reduction through fixtures such as water closets; urinals; sinks; lavatory faucets; showers; harvesting; baseline water demand; calculations of Full Time Equivalent; irrigation) 4. Project Systems and Energy Impacts • Environmental Concerns (chlorofluorocarbon [CFC] reduction, no refrigerant option, ozone depletion, fire suppressions without halons or CFC’s, phase-out plan, hydrochlorofluorocarbons [HCFC]) • Green Power (off-site generated, renewable energy certificates, Green-e providers)

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LEED Green Associate Exam 5. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials • Recycled Materials (pre-consumer, post-consumer, collection requirements, commingled) • Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials • Construction Waste Management (written plan; accounted by weight or volume; reduction strategies; polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) removal and Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) management) 6. Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation • Integrated Project Team Criteria (architect, heating-ventilation-air-conditioning [HVAC] engineer, landscape architect, civil engineer, contractor, Facility Manager) • Durability Planning and Management (material life cycle, building re-use) • Innovative and Regional Design (regional green design and construction measures as appropriate and established requirements) 7. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach • Codes (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire protection)

LEED Credentialing There are three tiers to the LEED Credentialing system: ●● Tier I: LEED Green Associate ●● Tier II: LEED AP+ (with Specialty) • Building Design & Construction (BD&C) • Interior Design & Construction (ID&C) • Operations & Maintenance (O&M) • Homes • Neighborhood Development (ND) ●● Tier III: LEED Fellow (Under Development) A LEED Green Associate is someone who has passed the LEED Green Associate examination by demonstrating an understanding of basic green building knowledge, construction and operations and has a general knowledge of green building practices and how to support other professionals working on LEED projects.


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LEED Green Associate Exam 5 Things Every Candidate Should Know 1. Ensure that your name in My Credentials matches the identification you will present at the test center 2. In order to receive member pricing for your examination, you must enter your Corporate Access ID into your USGBC account prior to registration. (To update your member status, go to www.usgbc.org > Your Account > Membership) The member discount is not automatically applied retroactively to exam registrations that are submitted under non-member pricing 3. To change or cancel your exam appointment you must do so through Prometric no later than midnight on the third day before your scheduled exam. All exam appointments cancelled/ rescheduled 30 days or less before the exam date are charged a $30 fee. If you do not receive a new confirmation number from Prometric, contact them immediately to confirm that your appointment has been successfully cancelled/rescheduled 4. The only field you cannot edit in your My Credentials account is the name. (If you need to change your name, contact GBCI credentialing staff at www.gbci.org/contact > Name Changes or at 1-800-795-1746, within the US, or at +1-202-828-1145, outside the US.) Every other field, including username, e-mail address, password, street address, company affiliation, etc., can be changed, so there is no reason to create a new account when you change jobs, locations, or job titles 5. If you have a documented disability that would prevent you from taking a LEED Professional Credentialing exam under standard conditions, you may request a reasonable accommodation as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Prometric certifies that it shall comply with the provisions of the ADA.

Examination Question Format The following question is provided only as an example of the general format and content of items on the examination. Question: 1: What Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) program set standards for low-emitting carpets, adhesives, and pads? (select 1) A. Green Seal B. Green Guard C. Green-e Certified D. Green Label Plus Answer: D. Green Label Plus This question aligns itself with: 1. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process • Standards that support LEED credit SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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T

he specifications for each section of the LEED Green Associate examination are organized to include a list of seven (7) domains and their corresponding knowledge areas. This structure provides the framework to guide the development of the examination items to assess whether a candidate is capable of performing specific tasks and services.

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The Seven Domains

»» Synergistic Opportunities and LEED »» Project Site Factors »» Water Management »» Project Systems & Energy Impacts »» Project Materials »» Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation »» Project Surroundings & Public Outreach »» Miscellaneous Recommended Resources »» USGBC/GBCI Resources

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The Seven Domains As outlined in the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook, the content of the Green Associate exam is categorized into seven sections, or domains. Each domain contains various descriptions relative to a specific topic to study. The seven domains are: 1. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process 2. Project Site Factors 3. Water Management 4. Project Systems and Energy Impacts 5. Acquisition, Installation and Management of Project Materials 6. Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation 7. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach Additionally, it is recommended that the study material links included in the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook be downloaded and reviewed. All current rating system candidate handbooks can be located on the GBCI website under Resources > Credentialing Resources. The LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook has a reference section listing Primary and Ancillary reference materials that should be reviewed. Many of these links have been included at the end of this section. Note: Click on the green buttons to be directed to the section(s) that describe the topic(s) being addressed

1. Synergistic Opportunities and LEED Application Process ●● Project Requirements (site; program; budget; schedule) • During the predesign phase (charrette), stakeholders meet to establish the initial project parameters including site selection, registering the owner’s program requirements regarding building size, number of employees, how the business and organization functions, any specific requirements relative to the building systems such as HVAC, power and lighting, project budget, design and construction schedules and also to target the rating system and level of achievement to pursue. By using the Scorecard, the project team will be able to determine the range of certification levels that are within reach of the project. Understand the 4 levels of certification and the credit point ranges required for each level. Selecting the proper rating system is usually an easy task but may require in depth consideration in some instances, particularly if renovation is involved. It may be a matter of adding the credits that can be achieved with 2 or more possibilities in order to make the determination. ●● Costs (hard costs; soft costs; life-cycle costs) ●● Green Resources (USGBC; Environmental Building News) • The first section of the Appendix contains links to the following types of green resources: websites, magazines and interactive blogs relating to sustainability SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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The Seven Domains ●● Standards that support LEED Credit (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers [ASHRAE]; Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association [SMACNA] guidelines; Green Seal) • The crux of the LEED rating systems is based on meeting requirements as established by governing authorities, best management practices (BMPs) or standards that have been created by organizations such as ASHRAE, ANSI, Green Seal and others. Located in the Appendix are charts listing each standard as referenced in the LEED reference guide ●● Credit Interactions (energy and IEQ; waste management) • It would be nearly impossible to design a sustainable and high performance building without understanding the interactions between the credits. Many definitions exist as to what synergies are, but in the most simplistic form an analogy would be similar to that of “every action causes an opposite and equal reaction”. That’s not exactly the case, as LEED defines credit interactions that are positive as synergies and those interactions which are negative as tradeoffs. It is crucial to understand the side effects whenever considering the implementation of a credit. For instance, a green roof has so many positive synergies such as improving stormwater quantity and quality, reducing heating/cooling loads, providing habitat, increasing open spaces, etc. On the other hand, when looking at the replacement of CFCs in existing refrigerant systems with HCFCs, you reduce ozone depletion but add to the global warming effect. A synergy and a tradeoff. The Appendix has a credit-bycredit listing of common credit synergies and tradeoffs. These should be studied for a better understanding of this critical responsibility of an integrative project team. Because every construction project is different, the makeup of synergies and tradeoffs is unique to that project. Located in the Appendix are charts listing the synergies associated with each credit ●● Credit Interpretation Rulings/Requests and precedents that lead to exemplary performance ●● Components of LEED Online and Project Registration ●● Components of LEED Scorecard ●● Components of Letter Templates (project calculations; supplementary docs) ●● Strategies to Achieve Credit • Strategies to achieve a credit, or prerequisite, can be as simple as complying with a single referenced standard or they may be complex and require creative planning. Credits can be different as to their requirement structure. A credit may have just one requirement that must be met, several requirements that must be met, such as credit SSc1: Site Selection which has 6 requirements and then there are credits that offer options, or alternative compliance paths, for achievement such as WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping. Credits may also be achieved by implementing innovative strategies that would be considered as Innovation in Design performance. Some credits require calculations, uploading supporting data or verification that the work was actually performed. Link to the section that outlines how prerequisites and credits are structured SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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The Seven Domains ●● Project Boundary; LEED Boundary; Property Boundary ●● Prerequisites and/or Minimum Program Requirements for LEED Certification ●● Preliminary Rating (target certification level) • A preliminary rating is the target rating level as determined by the total credit count of the credits the project initially sets out to pursue. Ideally, during the predesign (charrette) phase. The project team uses the Scorecard to evaluate each credit and its requirements to determine if the credit is achievable, and at what cost to the project budget or it’s interaction with other credits. The total of these credits will be the target certification level ●● Multiple Certifications for Same Building (Operations & Maintenance for certified building new construction; core and shell and commercial interior; certified building in neighborhood development) ●● Occupancy Requirements (existing building -- building must be fully occupied for 12 continuous months as described in minimum program requirements) ●● USGBC Policies (trademark usage; logo usage) ●● Requirements to Earn LEED AP Credit

2. Project Site Factors ●● Community Connectivity: Transportation (public transportation; bike storage; fuel efficient vehicle parking; parking capacity; car pool parking; car share membership [Zipcar™]; shuttles; carts); Pedestrian Access (circulation and accessibility such as cross walks; ramps; and trails) ●● Zoning Requirements: density components such as calculations, site area and floor area ratio; construction limits; open space; building footprint; development footprint; specific landscaping restrictions ●● Development: Heat Islands (non-roof; roof; Solar Reflectance Index [SRI]; emissivity; albedo; heat island effect; green roofs)

3. Water Management ●● Types and Quality of Water (potable; graywater; blackwater; stormwater) ●● Water Management (water use reduction through fixtures such as water closets; urinals; sinks; lavatory faucets; showers; harvesting; baseline water demand; calculations of Full Time Equivalent; irrigation)

4. Project Systems and Energy Impacts ●● Environmental Concerns (chlorofluorocarbon [CFC] reduction, no refrigerant option, ozone depletion, fire suppressions without halons or CFC’s, phase-out plan, Hydrochlorofluorocarbons [HCFC]) ●● Green Power (off-site generated, renewable energy certificates, Green-e providers)


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The Seven Domains 5. Acquisition, Installation, and Management of Project Materials ●● Recycled Materials (pre-consumer, post-consumer, collection requirements, commingled) ●● Locally (regionally) Harvested and Manufactured Materials ●● Construction Waste Management (written plan; accounted by weight or volume; reduction strategies; polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) removal and Asbestos-containing materials (ACM) management)

6. Stakeholder Involvement in Innovation ●● Integrated Project Team Criteria (architect, heating-ventilation-air-conditioning [HVAC] engineer, landscape architect, civil engineer, contractor, Facility Manager) • The 4 conversations in Chapter 1 provide an excellent analysis of the roles and value of an integrative project and design team ●● Durability Planning and Management (material lifecycle, building re-use) • This subject promotes durability and high performance of the building enclosure and its components and systems through appropriate design, materials selection and construction practices. Although this can be applicable to all green projects through the sustainable procurement policies, Durability Planning and Management is a LEED for Homes mandated prerequisite and can be reviewed in the LEED for Homes Reference Guide ●● Innovative and Regional Design (regional green design and construction measures as appropriate and established requirements)

7. Project Surroundings and Public Outreach ●● Codes (building, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, fire protection) • Every construction project in this country will most likely be governed to some degree by local, state and/or federal regulations, laws and codes. They include local zoning and building codes that are concerned with building setbacks, parking requirements, landscaping and open space ordinances, fire protection and, most importantly, life safety issues. The Sustainable Building Technical Manual: Part II provides additional information regarding Laws, Codes and Standards. The Appendix provides a link to this manual

Miscellaneous Recommended Resources Some of the subject matter in the following materials are covered in this study guide in whole, in part and in outline form. However, it is important to review the original materials, particularly from the USGBC/GBCI resources as they are subject to frequent change. Other information may not be covered in this guide for a variety of reasons, primarily due to the importance of the document in it’s entirety and are recommended in the LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook. Refer to the following websites for USGBC/GBCI recommended resources to study and all are important resources, be certain to read the materials that have bold titles: SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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The Seven Domains Sustainable Building Technical Manual, Part II, Pre-Design Issues: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3591 AIA Integrated Project Delivery, A Guide: http://www.aia.org/contractdocs/AIAS077630 The Cost of Green Revisited: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3590 Green Office Building Guide, Integrating LEED into Your Leasing Process: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3676 The Treatment by LEED of the Environmental Impact of HVAC Refrigerants: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3592 Guide to Purchasing Green Power: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3595 U.S. Doe Energy Building Codes: http://www.energycodes.gov/ GBCI Policy Manual: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=129 USGBC Logo Guidelines: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1835 GBCI Project Registration and Certification information: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=211 GBCI Credential Maintenance Program (CMP): http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=202 USGBC LEED Rating Systems: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 Guidelines for CIR Customers: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3596%20 LEED 2009 Minimum Program Requirements: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=130 USGBC Portfolio program: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1729 LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG): Foundations of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, Environmental Rating System, A Tool for Market Transformation: http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3599 LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations: http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=5546 LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance: Introduction http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3664 LEED for Homes: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147 SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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cronyms and definitions that may be unfamiliar or have specific meanings in the context of sustainability and green building.

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms »» Acronyms & Abbreviations »» Glossary of Terms

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms Acronyms & Abbreviations ACCA: Air Conditioning Contractors of America ACEEE: American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy AE: Awareness and Education Section AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency AIA: American Institute of Architects AFV: Alternative Fueled Vehicle (hybrid-electric, electric, natural gas, bio-diesel, fuel cell ALP ENERGY STAR: Advanced Lighting Package ANSI: American National Standards Institute ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. ASME: American Society of Mechanical Engineers ASTM: American Society for Testing and Materials BIPV: Building Integrated Photovoltaics (integrated with roof, spandrels, glazing, shading devices BOD: Biological Oxygen Demand (that which is created by the release of nitrogen rich wastewater CAE: Combined Annual Efficiency CDVR: Corrected Design Ventilation Rate (design ventilation rate divided by the air change effectiveness CFA: Conditioned Floor Area CFC: Chlorofluorocarbon (ozone depleting HVAC refrigerants CFL: Compact Fluorescent Light CFM: Cubic Feet per Minute CFR: U.S. Code of Federal Regulations CGP: Construction General Permit CIBSE: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers CIR: USGBC Credit Interpretation Request CIWMB: California Integrated Waste Management Board CO: Carbon Monoxide CO2: Carbon Dioxide COC: Chain of Custody COP: Coefficient of Performance CRI: Carpet & Rug Institute SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms CRS: Center for Resource Solutions CSI: Construction Specifications Institute CWA: Clean Water Act (formerly referred to as the Federal Water Pollution Control Act or Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972) CZ: Climate zone DHW: Domestic Hot Water DOE: U.S. Department of Energy DU: Distribution Uniformity EA: LEED Energy and Atmosphere section ECB: Energy Cost Budget (ASHRAE 90.1 compliance path ECM: Energy Conservation Measure (design strategies intended to reduce energy use EEM: Energy Efficient Measure (interchangeable with ECM, term used in energy modeling tools EER: Energy Efficiency Rating EERE :U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy EF: Energy Factor EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ETS: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (includes that which is spread through ventilation systems FEMA: U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency FSC: Forest Stewardship Council GBCI: Green Building Certification Institute GPF: Gallons Per Flush GPM : Gallons Per Minute GWP: Global Warming Potential (rating of a gaseous substance’s contribution to greenhouse effects HCFC: Hydrochloroflourocarbon (alternative refrigerant that has reduced ozone depleting effects HFC: Hydroflourocarbon (alternative refrigerant with no ozone depleting effects but some tradeoff HEPA: High-Efficiency Particle Absorbing HERS: Home Efficiency Rating Standards HET: High-Efficiency Toilet HOA: Homeowner’s Association SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms HSPF: Heating Season Performance Ffactor HVAC: Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning HVAC&R: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration IAP: ENERGY STAR with Indoor Air Package IAQ: Indoor Air Quality (with respect to human occupancy of a building ICC: International Code Council ICF: Insulated Concrete Form ID: LEED Innovation & Design section IDR: Innovative Design Report IECC: International Energy Conservation Code IEQ: LEED Indoor Environmental Quality section (encompasses IAQ, thermal comfort, daylighting, etc IESNA: Illuminating Engineering Society of North America IPLV: Integrated Part Load Value (chiller efficiency including part load operation for a given cycle IPMVP: International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol, Inc. IRC: International Residence Code ISO: International Organization for Standardization KW: Kilowatt KWH: Kilowatt-hour LCA: Life Cycle Assessment (a full assessment of a material’s “cradle-to-grave” environmental impacts LED: Light-Emitting Diode LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® LEED AP: LEED Accredited Professional LL: LEED Location and Linkages section (Homes) MEF: Modified Energy Factor MERV: Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (a measure of the effectiveness of air filtration media MR: LEED Materials & Resources section MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet (provides essential information on composition and hazards NFRC: National Fenestration Rating Council NPDES: National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms NPS: Non-point Source O&M: Operation and Maintenance ODP: Ozone Depleting Potential (rating of a gaseous substance’s ability to destroy stratospheric ozone OSB: Oriented Strand Board OSWER: U.S. EPA Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response RESNET: Residential Energy Services Network SCAQMD: South Coast Air Quality Management District SCS: Scientific Certification Systems SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating SHGC: Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (the fraction of solar radiation admitted through a particular glazing SIP: Structural Insulated Panels SMACNA: Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association SWPPP: Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan SRI: Solar Reflectance Index SS: LEED Sustainable Site section TASC: Technical Advisory Subcommittee TP: Total Phosphorous (phosphates, polyphosphates and orthophosphates in stormwater TSS: Total Suspended Solids (particles too small or light to be removed from a liquid by gravity settling UL: Underwriter’s Laboratory UBC: Uniform Building Code: The International Conference of Building Officials model building code UPC :Uniform Plumbing Code USGBC: U.S. Green Building Council VAV: Variable Air Volume (ventilation system configuration differentiated from Constant Air Volume) VOC: Volatile Organic Compound (hazardous substances that offgass from certain chemicals WE: LEED Water Efficiency section WF: Water Factor WFA: Window-to-floor ratio

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms Glossary of Terms acid rain: precipitation of dilute solutions of strong mineral acids, formed by the mixing of the atmosphere of various industrial pollutants (primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) with naturally occurring oxygen and water vapor active ventilation: synonymous with mechanical ventilation adapted (or introduced) plants: non-native, introduced plants that reliably grow well in a given habitat with minimal winter protection, pest control, fertilization or irrigation once their root systems are established; adapted plants are considered low, maintenance and not invasive adaptive reuse: renovation of a space for a purpose different from the original adhesives: substance that is used to bond one surface to another by attachment aerosol adhesive: an aerosol product in which the spray mechanism is permanently housed in a nonrefillable can agrifibre: agricultural fiber such as wheat, straw, cereal straw, sugarcane bagasse, sunflower husk, walnut shells, coconut husks agrifibre board: a composite panel product derived from recovered agricultural waste fiber and mixed together with a resin. To meet credit requirements, the products must: be inside the building’s weatherproofing system, composite components used in assemblies must be included and the product must be part of the base building system air conditioning: the process of treating air to meet the requirements of a conditioned space by controlling the temperature, humidity, cleanliness and distribution air handling units (AHUs): mechanically indirect heating, ventilating or air conditioning systems in which air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the space served and conveyed to and from the space by means of a fan and duct system air quality standards: level of pollutants prescribed by regulations that are not to be exceeded during a given time in a defined area airborne pollutant: any substance in the air that could cause harm to humans, animals and vegetation albedo: reflectance of sunlight, also known as Solar Reflectance alternative daily cover: material that is placed on the surface of the active face of a municipal solid waste landfill at the end of each day to control vectors, fires, odors, blowing litter and scavenging alternative fuel vehicles: engines that do not rely on petroleum as their only source of fuel ambient temperature: temperature of the surrounding air or other medium anticorrosive paint: coatings formulated for use in preventing the corrosion of ferrous metal substrates aquifer: underground rock formations holding water that is supplied to wells and springs


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms architectural nonporous sealant primer: substance used as a sealant primer on nonporous materials architectural porous sealant primer: substance used as a sealant on porous materials area weighted SRI: weighted average calculation for buildings with multiple roof surfaces to demonstrate that the total roof area has an average SRI equal to or greater than that of a theoretical roof 75% of whose surfaces have an SRI of 78 and 25% have an SRi of 30% assembly recycled content: percentage of material in a product that is either postconsumer or preconsumer recycled content attendance boundary: used by school districts to determine which students attend what school based on where they live audiovisual (A/V) media: slides, film, video, sound recordings and other such devises used to present information automatic fixture sensors: motion detectors that automatically turn on and turn off lavatories, sinks, water closets and urinals ASHRAE: American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers bake out: process of removing VOCs from a building by elevating the temperature balancing damper: adjustable plate that adjusts air flow within ducts baseline building performance: annual energy costs for a building design intended for use as a baseline for rating above standard design, as defined by ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Appendix G baseline case versus design case: amount of design case water saved over the baseline case amount; the baseline case is based on the Energy Policy Act or 1992 (EPAct 1992) for flush and flow rates baseline irrigation water use: amount of water used by conventional irrigation in the region basis of design (BOD): design information gathered to document the owner’s project requirements bay: a component of a standard, rectilinear building design that is an open area defined by a building element such as columns or a window bedroom: LEED for Homes, any room or space that could be used or is intended to be used for sleeping purposes and meets local fire and building code requirements Best Management Practices (BMPs): used to control the generation and delivery of pollutants from the built environment to water ways, thereby reducing the amount of pollutants entering surface and ground waters. BMPs can be structural like a Vortechs System or can be nonstructural, like street sweeping bicycle racks: outdoor bicycle racks, bicycle lockers and indoor bicycle storage rooms biochemical oxygen demand: measure of how fast biological organisms use up oxygen in a body of water biodegradable: capable of decomposing under natural conditions SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms biodiversity: variety of life in all forms, levels and combination including ecosystem diversity, species diversity and genetic diversity biofuel based energy systems: electrical power systems that run on renewable fuels derived from organic materials such as untreated wood waste, agricultural crops and residues, animal wastes, landfill gas and other organic waste biological control: use of chemical or physical water treatment to inhibit bacterial growth in cooling towers biomass: total weight of a designated group of organisms in a particular area bioswale: stormwater control feature that uses a combination of engineered basin, soils and vegetation to slow and detain stormwater blackwater: wastewater from toilets and urinals, definitions vary where wastewater from kitchen sinks, showers and bathtubs are considered as blackwater under some jurisdictions bleed off or blow down: release of solids in a cooling tower by releasing the tower’s recirculating water bleed off rate: frequency bleed off occurs borate: nontoxic wood preservative breathing zone: part of an occupied room from 3 to 6 feet off the floor and more than 2 feet from walls or fixed air conditioning equipment as per ASHRAE 62.1 brownfield: land whose former use resulted in potential pollution or the presence of hazardous substances British thermal unit (Btu): amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of liquid water from 60° F to 61° F buildable land: portion of the site where construction can occur; excludes public streets or other public right-of-ways and other public areas such as parks Building Automation Systems (BAS): systems that use computer controls to monitor and control building subsystems for maximum operating efficiency and reporting building density: floor area of the building divided by the total area of the site (sf per acre) building engineer: engineering professional who oversees and is responsible for the operation and maintenance of of the buildings plumbing, mechanical and electrical systems building envelope: exterior surfaces of a building. Walls, roof, windows, floor and also referred to as the shell building footprint: area of the building structure that is defined by the perimeter of the building plan. Pavement, landscaping and other nonbuilding facilities are not included in the building footprint building operating plan: document covering the intended operation of each building base system


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms building related illness: illness which can be diagnosed and attributed to building contaminants built environment: manmade alterations to a specific area, including its natural resources byproduct: material, other than the principal material, that is generated as a consequence of an industrial process or as a breakdown product in a living system campus or private bus: bus or shuttle service that is privately operated and not available to the general public; in LEED, a campus or private bus line that falls within 1/4 mile of the project site and provides transportation service to the public can contribute to earning points cap and trade system: regulatory or management system that sets a target level for emissions or natural resource use, and, after distributing shares in that quota, lets trading in those permits determine their price carbon dioxide levels (CO2): measuring exhaust gas levels that indicate ventilation effectiveness. Concentrations above 530 ppm (parts per million) show inadequate ventilation, while concentrations above 800 ppm show poor air quality carbon footprint: measure of greenhouse gas emissions associated with an activity; a comprehensive carbon footprint includes building construction, operation, energy use, building related transportation and the embodied energy of water, solid waste and construction materials carpool: two or more people sharing a vehicle catchment: the surface area of a roof that captures rainwater for rainwater harvesting certified wood: wood that has been issued a certificate from an independent organization with developed standards of good forest management, verifying harvesting from responsibly managed forests chain-of-custody (COC): tracks products from harvest or extraction to consumer end-use chain of custody certification: awarded to companies that produce, sell, promote or trade forest products after audits verify proper accounting of material flows and proper use of the FSC name and logo charrette: collaborative session in which the project team discusses design and construction options chemical runoff: water that takes chemicals from the project, including the surrounding hardscape, to local waterways chemical treatment: chemicals to control rusting, biological growth and scaling in cooling towers. Other treatments such apply ultra-violet light, are considered healthier for humans chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): chemical compound made up of carbon, fluorine, and chlorine; CFCs have been used as propellants in spray cans, coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, and in foam, plastics, and cleaning solvents; they are very stable in the troposphere, but are broken down by strong ultraviolet light in the stratosphere and release chlorine atoms that then deplete the ozone layer SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms churn: movement of people and workspaces within a space circulation loop: system that returns cold water to the water heater until hot water reaches the source (faucet); one component of a structured plumbing system climate change: significant change to a given climate over 10 years or more climate zone: in the U.S., one of eight regions defined by the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) that characterizes the temperature of an area of the country; climate zone 1 is the hottest and climate zone 8 is the coldest closed combustion: furnace and water heater design where the supply air is ducted from the outside and exhaust gases are ducted to the outdoors coating: substance applied to beautify, protect or provide a barrier to a surface combined heat and power (CHP) (or cogeneration): generates both electrical power and thermal energy from one fuel source combustion exhaust gases: most common gases resulting from fossil fuel combustion, including carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides comfort criteria: conditions for human comfort based on temperature, humidity, clothing and anticipated activity commingling recycling: permits putting different materials in one container for later sorting and recycling at a sorting facility commissioning (Cx): process of verifying and documenting that a building and all of it’s systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated and maintained to meet the owner’s project requirements (OPR) commissioning authority (CxA): individual designated to organize, lead and review the completion of commissioning process activities; ensures that systems are installed and function in accordance with the owner’s project requirements (OPR) commissioning cycle: schedule of commissioning phases commissioning plan: document that outlines the organization, schedule, allocation of resources and documentation requirements of the commissioning process commissioning process: systematic effort to ensure that building systems are designed, specified, installed and functioning in accordance with the owner’s intent commissioning report: document that details the commissioning process, including a commissioning program overview, identification of the commissioning team and description of the commissioning process activities commissioning specification: contract language used in construction documents to detail the objective, scope and implementation of the construction and acceptance phases of the commissioning process as developed by the design phase of the commissioning plan commissioning team: includes those people responsible for working together to carry out the commissioning process SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms community connectivity: amount of connection between a site and the surrounding community; the physical location of the site relative to homes, schools, retail, restaurants, medical and other services compact fluorescent lamp (CFL): small fluorescent lamp used as a more efficient alternative to incandescent lamps compensating shower valves: designed to keep bathing water temperatures in the shower fairly constant when other appliances are in use or when the hot or cold water supply pressure changes or the bathing water outlet temperature changes completed design area: total area of the finished ceilings, floors, full height walls and demountable partitions, interior doors and built-in case goods. Not included are exterior doors and windows composite wood: wood or plant particles or fibers bonded together by a synthetic resin or binder and include plywood, particle board, oriented strandboard (OSB), medium density fiberboard (MDF) and composite door cores; to meet credit requirements, the products must: be inside the building’s weatherproofing system, composite components used in assemblies must be included and the product must be part of the base building system composting (or nonwater) toilets: dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that contain and treat human waste via microbiological processes Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA): tax on the chemical and petroleum industries to clean up abandoned or historic waste sites compressed work week: rearranges the workweek by increasing the daily hours and decreasing the number of days from a standard of 8 hours per day for 5 consecutive days concentration: ratio of the level of dissolved solids in the recirculating water to the level found in the entering makeup water conditioned space: sections of a building that are heated, cooled or both conductivity meter or EC meter: device that measures the amount of nutrients and salt in the air conservation: methods of utilizing natural resources in ways to prevent their depletion constructed wetland: artificial system designed to simulate the water treatment effects of wetlands and remove any pollutants construction and demolition debris (C&D): waste and recyclable materials from construction, demolition, deconstruction or renovation of existing buildings construction, demolition and land clearing debris (CDL): everything included in construction and demolition debris plus soil, vegetation and rock from land clearing construction IAQ management plan: plan to minimize air contamination caused by building construction; includes procedures to remove contaminants before occupancy

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms construction waste management plan: plan that diverts construction debris from landfills or incinerators through recycling, salvaging and reusing contaminant: unwanted airborne element that may reduce indoor air quality controllability of systems: percentage of occupants who have direct control over temperature, airflow and lighting in their spaces controls: operating mechanisms that enable a person to turn devices on or off conventional irrigation: most common type of irrigation used in the region where the project is located conventional turf: typically regional monoculture grass that requires considerable watering, mowing and fertilizing cooling tower: equipment using water to absorb heat from other sources, such as air conditioning systems core learning spaces: spaces for educational activities where the primary purpose is teaching or learning critical visual tasks: visual tasks completed by building occupants curfew hours: locally set times when lighting restrictions take effect; default time is 10 p.m. daylight factor: percentage of exterior illumination to interior illumination; variables include floor area, window area, window design, visible transmittance and window height daylight glazing: vertical window 7’-6” above the floor daylighting: controlled admission of natural light into a space to reduce or eliminate the need for artificial light daylighting zone: total floor area that meets the performance requirements for daylighting daylight responsive lighting controls: photosensors used with other switching and dimming devices to control the amount of artificial light in relationship to the amount of natural daylight declarant: LEED AP team member technically qualified to verify the content of a LEED credit submittal template and is authorized by the project administrator to sign the template and upload to LEED Online; the declarant have a significant degree of responsibility for the credit such as participation in or oversight of the implementation and verification; the declarant for credits may be restricted or unrestricted. demand control circulation: switch or sensor triggered automatic circulation of water through a looped system to ensure that hot water is immediately available while keeping unused cold water in the system in order to save water and energy demand control ventilation: automatic reduction of outside air to a level below design rates when occupancy is less than design determined by occupancy indicators such as time of day, schedules


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms density: quantity of structures on a site, measured for residential buildings as dwelling units per usable acre of buildable land available for residential uses and for nonresidential buildings as floor area ratio per net acre of buildable land available for nonresidential uses densely occupied space: area with 25 people or more per 1,000 square feet, or 40 square feet or less of floor space per person density factor (kd): modifies the evapotranspiration rate to reflect the use by a particular plant or group of plants to calculate the landscape coefficient design light output: output of a lamp at 40% of its useful life designed landscape: the arrangement of features on a site, including softscapes (grasses, shrubs) and hardscapes (patios, fountains) not under roof development density: total area of all buildings within a particular area and expressed in square feet per acre development footprint: area impacted by the project site, which includes parking, landscaping, roads and other facilities in addition to the building distribution uniformity (DU): metric for estimating how uniformly water is applied to an area; DU ranges from 0 and 1, where 1 indicates the irrigation system is providing equal coverage and 0 indicates under or over watering district energy system: central energy conversion plant and transmission and distribution system that provides thermal energy to a group of buildings; central energy systems that provide only electricity are not included disturbed lot area: part of the site directly affected by construction activity or any activity that would compact the soil or damage vegetation dew point: temperature to which air must be cooled for the water vapor it contains to revert to a liquid state direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing: method used to determine the calculated area of regularly occupied areas with direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing displacement ventilation: provides buoyancy driven air flow rather than conventional forced methods diversity of uses or housing types: number of spaces or housing types, offices, homes, schools, parks, stores, per acre downstream equipment: all heating or cooling systems, equipment and controls located within a project building and site associated with transporting thermal energy into heated or cooled spaces drip irrigation: uses low pressure to deliver water through a series of tubes directly to specific plants; uses less water than standard means and supplies water only to selected plants, not weeds or hardscape surfaces

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms dry ponds: elevated areas that detain stormwater and slow runoff but are dry between rain events dry urinals: also known as nonwater urinals and composting toilets; a water flush is replaced with a trap full of buoyant liquid that blocks sewer gas and odors from escaping dry wells: underground structure that collects stormwater runoff and distributes it over a large area, increasing absorption and minimizing erosion dual flush toilet: toilet with two flush volumes; one for solid waste and a reduced volume for liquid waste durability: ability of a building or any of its components to perform its required function in its service environment over the period of time without foreseen cost for maintenance or repair durable goods: items that have a useful life of 2 or more years or may require capital expenditure durable goods waste stream: durable goods leaving the project site that have been fully depreciated and have reached the end of their useful life ecological restoration: process of assisting in the recovery and management of ecological integrity ecologically appropriate features: natural inanimate features of the landscape (rocks and water features) ecologically appropriate site features: natural site elements that maintain or restore the ecological integrity of the site economizer: devices such as HVAC enthalpy controls used to make building systems more energy efficient ecosystem: basic unit of nature that includes a community of organisms and their nonliving environment linked by biological, chemical and physical processes edge development: a group of homes that extend an existing community beyond its borders but remain connected to it; in LEED for Homes, at least 25% of an edge development’s perimeter must border land that has been previously developed electrical conductivity meter (EC): device that measures the amount of nutrients and salt in water elemental mercury: pure mercury. Mercury vapor is commonly used in fluorescent and other types of lamps embodied energy: energy used during the entire life cycle of a product, including the manufacture, transportation, disposal as well as the inherent energy captured within the product emissions reduction reporting: calculation, tracking and documentation of the greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the energy usage of a building


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms emissivity: ratio of radiation emitted from a material to the radiation from a black body at the same temperature endangered species: species threatened with extinction energy audit: identifies the amount and purpose of the energy used and identifies efficiency and cost reduction opportunities energy conservation measures: methods or activities that use less energy energy or greenhouse gas emissions per capita: total greenhouse gas emissions of a community divided by the total resident count energy efficient products and systems: building components and appliances that use less energy energy management system: control system capable of monitoring environmental and system loads and adjusting HVAC operations accordingly in order to conserve energy while maintaining comfort energy simulation model (or energy model): computer representations that allow users to estimate the anticipated energy use of the building; allows various systems to be compared for performance with a baseline ENERGY STAR®home: home build to a high standard of energy efficiency that is at least 15% more efficient than International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) ENERGY STAR®with Indoor Air package (IAP): certification program that recognizes homes with systems to ensure high standards of indoor air quality and rated as an ENERGY STAR® home ENERGY STAR® rating: measure of a building’s energy performance compared to those with similar characteristics; a 50 score represents average building performance energy use intensity: energy consumption divided by the area in square feet in a building; energy consumption is usually expressed as British thermal units (Btus) per square foot or as kilowatt-hours of electricity per square foot per year (kWh/sf/yr) enhanced commissioning: set of best practices that go beyond fundamental commissioning that includes designating a commissioning authority prior to the construction documents phase, conducting commissioning design reviews, reviewing contractor submittals, developing a systems manual, verifying operator training and performing a post occupancy operations review entryway systems: open floor grates or grilles designed to capture potential pollutants from people entering a building environmental attributes of green power: includes emissions reduction environmental sustainability: long term maintenance of ecosystem components for future generations

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): (also known as secondhand smoke) refers to all forms of tobacco smoke exhaled, or allowed to be released into the air, by smokers erosion: process by which hard materials are loosened or dissolved, or worn away and transported by natural agents eutrophication: increase in chemical nutrients, such as nitrogen found in fertilizers, in an ecosystem evapotranspiration: amount of water lost from the soil and by transpiration from plants and expressed in millimeters per unit of time evapotranspiration rate (ET): amount of water lost from a vegetated surface in units of water depth and expressed in millimeters per unit of time exfiltration: air leakage through cracks exhaust air: air removed from a building and discharged outside the building by mechanical or natural ventilation systems existing area: total area of a building structure, core and envelope that existed when the project area was selected facility alteration or addition: building work done on an existing building; facility alterations refers to changes made to the building that do not alter the original design character of the building; facility additions are structures added to the original building smaller than the original building in scale. Fairtrade: product certification system overseen by FLO International that identifies products that meet certain environmental, labor and development standards floodplain: land that has a likelihood of being flooded within a given storm cycle, such as a 100 year storm floor area ratio: ratio of total building area to that of the amount of buildable land fly ash: solid waste from an incineration process which can be used in concrete flush out: operation of mechanical systems for two weeks using 100% outside air at the end of construction and prior to occupancy to ensure safe indoor air quality Food Alliance: certifies food from sustainable farms and ranches that produce natural products, ensure quality control and food safety, responsibly manage water and energy resources, stresses recycling and waste management, provides a safe work environment and commits to a continuous improvement of sustainable practices footcandle: amount of illumination falling on a surface at one lumen per square foot of surface area formaldehyde: a natural VOC compound found in plants and animals fossil fuel: energy derived from ancient organic remains such as peat, coal, crude oil and natural gas


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms fuel efficient vehicles: vehicles earning a score of 40 or more on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy annual vehicle rating guide full cutoff luminaire: light source where the light output (in lumens) does not exceed 0% at 90 degrees above nadir and 10% above 80 degrees full disclosure: for products that are not formulated with listed suspect carcinogens has two components: (1) disclosure of all ingredients (both hazardous and nonhazardous) that make up 1% or more of the undiluted product and (2) use of concentration ranges for each of the disclosed ingredients; full disclosure for products that are formulated with listed suspect carcinogens has three components: (1) disclosure of listed suspect carcinogens that make up 0.1% or more of the undiluted product (2) disclosure of all ingredients (both hazardous and nonhazardous) that make up 1% or more of the undiluted product and (3) use of concentration ranges for each of the disclosed ingredients; suspect carcinogens are those that are listed on authoritative lists (IARC, NTP or California Proposition 65) for MSDS preparation; concentration range definitions are available from OSHA or Canada WHMIS Standards full time equivalent (FTE): regular building occupant who spends 40 hours per week in the project building. Part time or overtime occupants have FTE values based on their hours per week divided by 40. Multiple shifts are included or excluded depending on their intent and requirements of the credit full time equivalent building occupants: measure equal to the total number of hours all building occupants spend in the building during the peak 8 hour occupancy period divided by 8 hours fully shielded exterior light fixtures: attached to outside light sources and built so the lower edge of the shield is at or below the lowest edge of the lamp, such that light travels downward only fundamental commissioning: set of essential best practices used to ensure that building performance requirements have been identified early in the project’s development and to verify that the designed systems have been installed in compliance with those requirements. Included are the process of designating a commissioning authority, documenting the owner’s project requirements and basis of design (BOD), incorporating commissioning requirements into the construction documents, establishing a commissioning plan, verifying installation and performance of specified building systems and completing a summary commissioning report furniture, fixtures and equipment (FFE): all movable items not part of the base building such as desks, computers and portable lights gallons per minute: measurement of water used by flow fixtures (faucets, showerheads, aerators, sprinkler heads); Per EPAct 1992, baseline rates for faucets, showerheads and aerators is 2.5 gpm gallons per flush: measurement of water used by flush fixtures (water closets and urinals); per EPAct 1992, baseline rates for water closets is 1.6 gpf and urinals is 1.0 gpf

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms geothermal energy: the heat of the earth; where this heat occurs close to the earth’s surface, and is able to maintain a temperature in the surrounding rock or water at or above 150 degrees C, it may be tapped to drive steam turbines geothermal heating systems: systems that use pipes to transfer heat from underground steam or hot water for heating, cooling and hot water glare: any excessively bright source of light within the visual field that creates discomfort or loss of visibility glazing factor: ratio of interior light at a specific point on a specific plane under known overcast skies; the variables used by LEED area the floor area, window areas, window geometry, visible transmittance and window height global warming: increase in the temperature near the surface of the earth graywater: domestic wastewater composed of wash water from kitchen, bathroom and laundry sinks, tubs and washers; the Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) defines graywater as untreated household wastewater that has not come in contact with toilet waste; the International Plumbing Code (IPC) defines graywater as wastewater discharged from lavatories, bathtubs, showers, clothes washers and laundry sinks; some states will allow kitchen sinks to be included with graywater green cleaning: use of cleaning products and practices that have lower environmental impacts and more positive indoor air quality impacts than conventional products and practices green power: synonymous with renewable energy green-e: program established by the Center for Resource Solutions to promote green electricity products Green Rater: individual that performs field inspections and performance testing of LEED for Homes measures for the LEED for Homes Provider; a HERS rater with additional training can become a Green Rater greenfields: sites not previously developed or graded that could support open space, habitat or agriculture greenwashing: term playing off “whitewash” that is used to describe projects that are labeled as energy-efficient and sustainable when they’re really not; it’s also a term sometimes used to describe the distribution of misleading information by a business or an organization to conceal its abuse of the environment greenhouse effect: the rise in temperature that the Earth experiences because certain gases in the atmosphere (water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane, for example) trap energy from the sun; because of their warming effect, these gases are referred to as greenhouse gases; without them, more heat would escape back into space and the Earth’s average temperature would be about 33ºC colder; similarly, their rapid accumulation in the atmosphere can lead to rising temperatures


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms greenhouse gases (GHGs): gasses such as carbon dioxide or methane that reflects infrared radiation emitted by the earth, thereby helping to retain heat in the atmosphere group multi occupant spaces: include conference rooms, classrooms and other indoor spaces used as places of congregation halons: ozone damaging chemicals used in fire fighting systems and extinguishers hard costs: project costs directly related to construction and development activities such as contractor costs, labor and material costs, and costs related to direct service and material costs for the project; not included are “soft costs” such as legal fees, closing fees, architectural and engineering fees, interest costs, etc. hardscape: refers to the non-plant elements of the landscape; these elements include pavement, concrete, brick, tile and other hard surfaces external to the building shell hard surface flooring: includes vinyl, linoleum, laminate, wood rubber, wall base and associated sundries harvested rainwater: precipitation captured and used for indoor and/or irrigation needs heat island effect: refers to the absorption of heat by dark surfaces, such as buildings, then radiating that heat into nearby areas Hertz (Hz): unit to describe the frequency of vibrations (cycles) per second high efficiency particulate air filters (HEPA): filters that remove (99.97%) 0.3 micron particles high efficiency toilet: toilets that use no more than 1.3 gallons per flush (GPF) high performance green building: structure designed to conserve water and energy; uses space, materials and resources efficiently; minimizes construction waste; creates a healthful indoor environment Home Energy Rating System (HERS): indexed system for evaluating the energy efficiency of a home using an energy simulation model; a HERS index of 100 represents the energy efficiency of a home that meets IECC code requirements; each additional index point represents a 1% increase in energy use; lower index numbers indicates the percentage savings in energy use horizontal footcandle: light on a horizontal surface hospitality: the business of providing temporary residence to customers, such as a hotel hospitality industry: companies within the food services, accommodations, recreation and entertainment sectors HVAC systems: equipment, distribution systems and terminals that provide the processes of heating, ventilating and air conditioning HVAC&R systems: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration systems inside a building hybrid vehicles: use a gasoline engine to drive an electric generator and use the electric generator to drive the vehicle’s wheels

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms hydro energy: energy supplied by water flowing hydronic system: heating or cooling systems that use circulating water as the heat transfer medium such as a boiler with hot water circulated through radiators hydrochloroflourocarbons (HCFCs): cooling chemicals used in building equipment; they damage the ozone layer, but not to the extent of CFCs hydroflourocarbons (HFCs): cooling chemicals that do not damage the ozone layer but may contribute to global warming hydrology: study of water occurrence, movement and balances in an ecosystem hydro energy or hydropower: electricity produced from the downhill flow of water impervious surfaces: having a perviousness of less than 50% and promote runoff of water instead of infiltration into the subsurface imperviousness: resistance of a material to penetration by a liquid such as water incinerator: furnace for burning waste individual occupant spaces: where workers use standard workspaces to conduct individual tasks indoor adhesive, sealant or primer: adhesive or sealant product applied on-site, inside the building’s weatherproofing system indoor air quality (IAQ): nature of air inside a space that affects the health and well being of building occupants; it is considered acceptable when there are no known contaminants at harmful concentrations and when the majority (80%) of the occupants do not express dissatisfaction indoor carpet systems: carpet, carpet adhesive or carpet cushion products installed inside the building’s weatherproofing system indoor paints or coating products: applied inside a building’s weatherproofing system indoor composite wood or agrifibre: product installed inside the building’s weatherproofing system infill site: a lot in an existing community; LEED for Homes requires at least 75% of its perimeter bordering land to be previously developed infiltration: air leakage into conditioned spaces through cracks in floors, ceilings and walls from unconditioned spaces or the outdoors infiltration basins and trenches: devices that help stormwater settle into the ground infrared (or thermal) emittance: a parameter between 0 and 1 that indicates the ability of a material to shed infrared radiation (heat) in situ remediation: involves treating contaminants in place using injection wells, reactive trenches or other technologies that take advantage of the natural hydraulic gradient of groundwater


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms installation inspection: examines components of the building systems to determine whether they are installed properly and ready for systems performance testing integrative design team: all the individuals involved in a building project from early in the design process integrated pest management (IPM): coordinated use of knowledge about pests, the environment and pest prevention and control methods to minimize pest infestation and damage interior lighting power allowance: maximum lighting power allowed for the interior of a building and expressed in watts Interior nonstructural components reuse: determined by dividing the area of retained components by the larger area of the prior condition or the area of the completed design invasive plants: aggressive, reproduce rapidly and tend to overrun areas, forcing out native species. irrigated land: land watered by artificial means irrigation efficiency: percentage of water used by irrigation equipment that is effective for irrigation that does not evaporate, blow away or fall on hardscape surfaces ladder blocking: method of framing where interior partition walls meet and are reinforced by walls that are perpendicular laminate adhesive: adhesives used in wood or agrifibre products lamp life: useful operating span of a lamp lamps: products that use electricity to produce light landfills: disposal site where waste is buried landscape area: total site area used for landscaping purposes excluding the building footprint, hardscape areas, water bodies, parking, etc. landscape coefficient (KL): coefficient used to calculate the evapotranspiration rate taking into account the species factor, density factor and microclimate factor of the area leakage rate: speed at which an appliance loses refrigerant, measured between refrigerant changes or over 12 months, whichever is shorter least toxic chemical pesticide: pesticide products where all active ingredients and known inactive ingredients meet the least toxic Tier 3 hazard criteria under the City and County of San Francisco’s hazard screening protocol; least toxic also applies to any pesticide product, or other rodent bait, that is applied in a self-contained, enclosed bait station placed in an accessible location, or applied in a gel that is neither visible nor accessible

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs): people who have passed the LEED professional test. LEED credit: optional LEED Green Building Rating System™ component whose achievement results in the earning of points toward certification LEED Credit Interpretation Request (CIR): formal USGBC process in which a project team experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit can seek and receive clarification LEED intent: primary goal of each LEED prerequisite or credit LEED® Green Building Rating System: voluntary, consensus based, market driven building rating system based on existing proven technology LEED prerequisite: required LEED Green building Rating System™ component whose achievement is mandatory and does not earn any points LEED project boundary: portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification; for single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is limited to the site boundary; for multiple building developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of the development as determined by the project team LEED Technical Advisory Group (TAG): committee consisting of industry experts who assist in interpreting credits and developing improvements to the LEED Green Building Rating System® legionella pneumophilia: a waterborne bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s disease life cycle assessment: analyzes a product, process or service’s environmental aspects and impacts. life cycle cost analysis (LCC): calculates expected future operating, maintenance and replacement costs of designs and features to assist owners in developing a realistic design and budget estimate light pollution: waste light produces glare or is directed into the night sky or off-site light trespass: unobtrusive light that causes annoyance, discomfort or loss of visibility lighting power density (LPD): installed lighting power per unit area local zoning requirements: local government regulations imposed to promote orderly development of private lands and prevent land use issues lodging: facilities that provide overnight accommodations to customers or guests, including hotels, motels, inns and resorts lot: individual parcel of land on which a home is built low emitting vehicles: classified as zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) by the California Air Resources Board lumen: unit of luminous flux equal to the light emitted in a unit solid angle by a uniform point source of 1 candle intensity


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms luminaire: complete lighting unit consisting of a lamp and housing luminaire opening: part of the luminaire that allows light to be emitted makeup water: water used by cooling systems to replace that which has been lost management staff: employees or contractors involved in operating and maintaining a building or site manufacturing: final assembly of components into the building product that is furnished and installed by the trade workers market transformation: systemic improvements in the performance of a market or market segment market value: value presumed to be less than the replacement value, the amount paid or would have been paid mass transit: designed to transport large groups of people in a single vehicle master plan: overall design or development concept for the buildings and site Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS): detailed instructions documenting a method to achieve uniformity of performance measures of energy use: three primary measures of energy consumption associated with buildings expressed in kilowatt hours of electricity, therms of natural gas and gallons of liquid fuel mechanical (active) ventilation: air circulated through mechanical means such as fans and blowers metering controls: controls that limit the time water can flow, typically installed on bathroom faucets and showers and are generally manual-on and automatic-off devices methylmercury: toxic compounds of mercury containing the complex CH3HG-; often occurs in pollutants and bioaccumulates in living organisms; found in higher levels of a food chain microclimate factor (kmc): coefficient used for calculating the landscape coefficient by adjusting the Evapotranspiration Rate to reflect the climate of the area microirrigation: irrigation using small sprinklers, microjets and drippers designed to apply small amounts of water minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV): mechanical system air filter efficiency rating ranging from 1 to 16 mixed (active and passive) mode ventilation: combines natural and mechanical ventilation, using one method or the other, or a combination of the two mixed use: project that involves a combination of residential and commercial or retail components mycotoxins: toxic substances produced by fungus

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES): permit program to control water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into the waterways native (or indigenous) plants: adapted to a given area during a defined time period and are not invasive natural areas: native or adaptive vegetation or other ecologically appropriate features natural (passive) ventilation: air circulated by natural means and without the aid of fans or blowers negative pressure smoking rooms: rooms with mechanical airflow devices (exhaust fans) to lower the air pressure below that of surrounding spaces; the negative pressure causes the air to flow from surrounding areas into the space to provide ventilation neighborhood: synonymous with residential area net metering: metering and billing arrangements that allows on-site generators to send excess electricity flows to the regional power grid net present value: total discounted value of all cash inflows from a project or investment net project material value: includes the construction material value and the CSI Division 12 (Furniture and Furnishings) material value, less the material values for mechanical and electrical components and the salvage value identified in the MR credits no-disturbance zone: an area that is protected during construction noise reduction coefficient (NRC): the arithmetic average of absorption coefficients at 250, 500, 1,000 and 2,000 Hz for a material nonoccupied spaces: includes all rooms used by maintenance personnel that are not open for use by occupants nonporous sealant: substance used as a sealant on nonporous materials nonpotable water (aka gray water): water unfit for human consumption that has not come into contact with human waste, but is adequate for other uses such as irrigation nonregularly occupied spaces: hallways, corridors, lobbies, break rooms and other areas where people do not spend extended periods of time nonrenewable resource: resource that can be depleted over time nonwater (or composting) toilet systems: dry plumbing fixtures and fittings that contain and treat human waste via microbiological processes nonwater (or dry) urinal: replaces a water flush with a trap containing a layer of buoyant liquid that floats above the urine, blocking sewer gas and odors occasional furniture: furniture located in lobbies and in conference rooms occupants: workers in a commercial building who either have a permanent office or workstation in the building or typically spend a minimum of 10 hours per week in the building; in residential building, occupants include all people who live in the building; in schools, occupants include students, faculty, support staff, administration and maintenance employees SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms off gassing: the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) off-site salvaged materials: items recovered from a source different from the project site on-demand (tankless) heaters: heaters that heat water only when needed and applies only the amount of heat required to meet the demand ongoing commissioning: applies the commissioning process continually to maintain optimal building performance ongoing consumables: products that have a low unit cost and regularly used and replaced during the course of business on-site renewable energy: energy derived from renewable sources located within the project site perimeter on-site salvaged materials: Items recovered and reused at the same location on-site wastewater treatment: transport, storage, treatment and disposal of wastewater generated on the project site open grid pavement: is less than 50% impervious and accommodates vegetation between the open cells open space area: if no local codes define open space, LEED defines as the property area minus the development footprint outdoor air: ambient air from the outside that enters a building through a ventilation system owner: person directly employed by the organization holding title to the project and recognized by law as having rights, responsibilities and ultimate control over the project building owners project requirements (OPR): document detailing the ideas, concepts and criteria that are determined by the owner to be important to the success of the project ozone: a chemically unstable and highly reactive gas (each molecule of which consists of three atoms of oxygen in contrast with the usual two) found mainly at ground level in cities and in the stratosphere; at ground level, ozone can be a lung irritant; in the stratospheric ozone layer, the gas plays an important role in protecting the Earth’s surface from high levels of biologically damaging ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which is known to be a significant risk factor for skin cancers, eye cataracts, and the suppression of mammalian immune systems ozone layer: region of the stratosphere (lying approximately 15-40 km above the Earth’s surface) that contains the bulk of the world’s atmospheric ozone paint: liquid, liquefiable or mastic composition that is converted to a solid protective, decorative or functional adherent film after application as a thin layer parking footprint: site area occupied by parking structures partially shielded light fixtures: outside light fixtures built so light travels horizontally or downward, but not upward particulates: solid particles or droplets in the atmosphere; the chemical composition varies depending on location and time of the year SUSTAINABLEIDEALS

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms passive ventilation: uses the building layout, fabric and form to provide natural ventilation to a conditioned space using nonmechanical forms of heat transfer and air movement pedestrian access: allows people to walk to services without being blocked by walls, freeways or other barriers percentage improvement: measures the energy cost savings for the proposed design as defined in ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Appendix G perviousness: percentage of a paved area that is open and allows water to soak into the ground pheno-formaldehyde: combination of urea and formaldehyde that is used in glues and may emit formaldehyde at room temperature photovoltaic cell: device incorporating a semiconductor that generates electricity when exposed to (sun) light; the technology may be further sub-divided into crystalline, multicrystalline, thin-film and concentrator variants photovoltaic energy (PV) or solar: energy from the sun converted by photovoltaic cells into electricity picogram: one trillionth of a gram picograms per lumen hour: measure of the amount of mercury in a lamp per unit of light delivered over its useful life plug load: synonymous with receptacle load plumbing fixtures and fittings: receptacles, devices or appliances that are either permanently or temporarily connected to the building’s water distribution system and receive liquid or liquid borne wastes and discharge wastewater, liquid borne waste materials, or sewage either directly or indirectly to the drainage system of the premises; includes water closets, urinals, lavatories, sinks, showers and drinking fountains pollutant: substance introduced into the environment that adversely affects the usefulness of a resource or the health of humans, animals or the ecosystem; common pollutants include carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), mercury (Hg), small particulates (PM25) and large particulates (PM10) porous materials (aka permeable): having tiny openings which can absorb or discharge fluids porous pavements and permeable surfaces: allows runoff to infiltrate into the ground postconsumer fiber: paper, paperboard and fibrous wastes that are collected from municipal solid waste systems postconsumer material: recycled from consumer waste postconsumer recycled content: percentage of material in a product that was consumer waste; recycled materials generated by household, commercial, industrial or institutional end users and can no longer be used for its intended purpose. It includes returns from the distribution chain SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms postconsumer waste: materials generated by households, commercial, industrial and institutional facilities that can no longer be used for its intended purpose; includes returns of materials from the distribution chain; construction and demolition debris, materials collected through recycling programs, discarded materials such as cabinetry and decking, and maintenance waste such as leaves, grass clippings and tree trimmings potable water: water that meets or exceeds EPA’s drinking water quality standards and is approved for human consumption by the state or local authorities having jurisdiction power vented exhaust: active fans that pulls air and gases out of spaces PPM: parts per million, a measurement commonly used for distribution of an element in a gas or liquid preconsumer recycled content (also known as post-industrial content): percentage of material made from recycled manufacturing waste; reclaimable items that are reworked, regrind or scrap generated in a process that be reused in the same process are not included predicted mean vote: empirical equation for predicting the mean vote on a rating scale of thermal comfort of a large population of people exposed to a certain environment preferred parking: parking spaces that provide advantages to vehicle drivers, such as being close to buildings or being covered preproject: before the LEED project was initiated, but not necessarily before any development or disturbance took place. Pre-project conditions describe conditions on the date the developer acquired rights to a majority of the buildable land on the project site through purchase or option to purchase preventive maintenance: routinely scheduled inspection, cleaning and repairs previously developed sites: sites that have previously been built upon, graded or altered by human activities; in LEED for Homes, at least 75% of the area has to have been previously developed prime farmland: undeveloped land that has been determined to be suitable for agricultural use primer: material applied to a substrate to improve adhesion of subsequently applied coats prior condition: state of the project space at the time it was selected prior condition area: total area of the finished ceilings, floors and full height walls that existed when the project was selected. It does not include doors or windows private or private use: plumbing fixtures in residences, apartments, and dormitories, to private (non-public) bathrooms in transient lodging facilities (hotels and motels), and to private bathrooms in hospitals and nursing facilities process water: water used for industrial processes and building systems such as boilers, cooling towers and chillers

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms project boundary: portion of the project site submitted for LEED certification. For single building developments, this is the entire project scope and is limited to the site boundary; for multiple building developments, the LEED project boundary may be a portion of the development as determined by the project team project building: the real property, including an occupied and operational building(s) and the associated grounds that is registered for and actively pursuing LEED certification property area: total area within the legal property boundaries of a site property manager: person in charge of building operations and maintenance proposed building performance: annual energy cost calculated for a proposed design as defined in ASHRAE 90.1-2007, Appendix G Protected Harvest certification standards: reflects the requirements and environmental considerations of different crops and bioregions Provider: organization that recruits, trains and coordinates LEED for Homes Green Raters to serve as third party verifiers of LEED homes; Providers are the official certifiers of LEED for Homes on behalf of USGBC public transportation: bus, rail, light rail and other services designed to move large numbers of people on a regular basis and route public or public use: applies to all buildings, structures, or uses that are not defined as private or private use radon: radioactive gas that naturally vents from the ground Rainforest Alliance certification: award for farms that protects wildlife by planting trees, controls erosion, limits agrichemicals, protects native vegetation, hires local workers and pays fair wages rain garden: a stormwater management feature consisting of an excavated depression and vegetation that collects and infiltrates runoff to reduce peak discharge rates rainwater harvesting: the collection and storage of precipitation from a catchment area rapidly renewable materials: agricultural products that can be grown or raised and harvested within a ten year cycle rated power: the nameplate power on equipment representing its maximum draw receptacle (aka plug) load: the current drawn by all equipment that is plugged into the electrical system recirculated air: air that has been used then reconditioned for further use reclaimed material: also referred to as salvaged or reuse materials, these are building components that have been recovered from a demolition site and are reused in their original state, but not recycled reclaimed water: wastewater that has been treated and purified for reuse


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms recommissioning: applies to previously commissioned buildings undergoing new construction or renovation recovered fiber: postconsumer and waste fiber from the manufacturing process recycled content: percentage (by volume or weight) of material in a product that has been recycled from the manufacturing waste stream (preconsumer) or the consumer waste stream (postconsumer) and used to manufacture new materials recycling: collection, reprocessing and reuse of materials recovered or diverted from waste stream recycling collection area: an area located in a regularly occupied space in the building for the collection of occupants recyclable materials refrigerants: the working fluids of refrigeration cycles that absorb heat from a reservoir at low temperatures and reject heat at higher temperatures refurbished materials: used products that are updated and/or repaired to increase their lifespan regenerative design: sustainable plans that improve existing conditions to create positive change in the local and global environments regional materials: percentage (total material costs of the building) of a building’s materials that have been extracted, processed and manufactured within a 500 mile radius of the project site regionally harvested or extracted materials: materials taken from within a 500 mile radius of the project site regionally manufactured products: materials assembled as finished products within a 500 mile radius of the project site regular building occupants: people who spend 10 hours or more per week in a building, including those who live there regularly occupied spaces: in commercial buildings are where people sit or stand as they work; in residential applications these spaces include all living and family rooms and exclude bathrooms, closets or other storage or utility areas; in schools, they are areas where students, teachers or administrators are seated or standing as they work or study relative humidity: ratio of partial density of airborne water vapor to the saturation density of water vapor at the same temperature and total pressure remanufactured materials: Items made into other products, such as plastic bottles turned into clothing remediation: process of cleaning up a contaminated site by physical, chemical or biological means

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms renewable energy (aka green power): energy sources that are not depleted by use; derived from incoming solar radiation, wind, hydropower, waves and tidal, lake and pond thermal differences, from decomposition of waste material such as methane gas from landfills, from processes that use regenerated materials such as wood and biobased products and from the internal heat of the earth renewable energy certificates (RECs): tradable commodities that verify electricity was generated by a renewable source renewable resource: a resource that is capable of being replenished through natural processes or its own reproduction, generally within a time span that does not exceed a few decades; metal bearing ores are not renewable, but metals themselves can be recycled indefinitely replacement value: estimated cost of replacing a used product Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA): legislation allows the EPA to control hazardous waste from cradle to grave residential area: land zoned primarily for housing at a density of 10 units per acre or greater retained components: portions the finished ceilings, finished floors and full height walls and demountable partitions, interior doors and built in case goods that existed in the prior condition area and remain in the completed design retention ponds: designed to capture stormwater and clear it of pollutants before its release retrofit: any change to an existing building return air: air removed from a space and then recirculated or exhausted reuse: percentage (total material costs of the building) that have been salvaged and reused in the same or related use reused area: total area of the building structure, core and envelope that existed in the prior condition and remains in the completed design reverberation: acoustical phenomenon that occurs when sound persists in an enclosed space because of its repeated reflection or scattering upon the enclosing surfaces or objects within the space reverberation time (RT): measure of the amount of reverberation in a space and equal to the time required for the level of a steady sound to decay by 60dB after the sound has stopped ridesharing: synonymous with carpooling R value: measure of thermal resistance and is the inverse of U value; R = 1/U safety and comfort light levels: meets local code requirements and must be adequate to provide a safe path of egress salvaged materials or reused materials: construction items recovered from existing buildings or construction sites and reused


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms sealant: an adhesive used to fill, seal or waterproof gaps or joints between two surfaces sealant primer: substance applied to a substrate prior to the application of a sealant to enhance the bonding surface sealers: coatings applied to either block materials from penetrating into or leaching out of a substrate, to prevent subsequent coatings from being absorbed by the substrate or to prevent harm to subsequent coatings by materials in the substrate seating: task and guest chairs used with systems furniture secure bicycle storage: internal or external secured location for keeping bikes safe from theft sedimentation: addition of soil particles to bodies of water, which decreases water quality and clarity sensors: devices that undergo a measurable change in response to environmental changes and communicate this to the appropriate equipment or control system sequence of operations: detailed system level document for each building system covering all stages of operation and variable setpoints: normal operating ranges for building systems and indoor environmental quality shielding: devices or techniques used as part of a luminaire to limit glare, light trespass or sky glow sick building syndrome (SBS): combination of symptoms that appear to be linked to time spent in a building but cannot be traced to a specific cause siltration: depositation and sedimentation of particles in water bodies simple payback: amount of time it will take to recover the initial investment through savings; simple payback, in years, can be calculated by dividing first cost by annual savings site area: synonymous with property area and total area within a project boundary, both built and natural portions site assessment: investigation of a site’s above ground and subsurface characteristics including its structures, geology and hydrology site disturbance: portion of the site which disturbed due to the project requirements site energy: amount of heat and electricity consumed by a building sky glow: caused by stray light from unshielded light sources and light reflecting off surfaces that enter the atmosphere and illuminate off dust, debris and water vapor soft costs: Indirect construction costs such as architectural, engineering and permit fees softscape: natural elements of a landscape such as soil and plant materials Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC): measurement of windows ability to block heat from the sun and expressed as a fraction of the heat from the sun that enters the window; a lower SHGC blocks more heat than higher SHGC values

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms solar reflectance (albedo): the ability of a surface material to reflect sunlight and measured on a scale from 0 to 1; black has a solar reflectance of 0; white has a solar reflectance of 1 solar reflex index (SRI): measure of a material’s ability to reject heat from the surface of a material, with the index ranging from 0, black and less reflective, to 100, white and highly reflective. solar thermal systems: systems that collect or absorb sunlight via solar collectors to heat water that is then circulated to the building’s hot water tank solar window: screen mesh used to block heat and light from the sun sound absorption: the portion of sound energy striking a surface that is not returned as sound energy sound absorption coefficient: ability of a material to absorb sound, expressed as a fraction of incident sound sound absorption class (STC): single number rating for the acoustic attenuation of airborne sound passing through a partition or other building element source energy: raw fuel used by a building source reduction: reduces the amount of unnecessary material brought into a building, such as packaging species factor (ks): coefficient used to adjust the Evapotranspiration Rate to reflect features of a specific plant species spores: microscopic cells used by mold to reproduce square footage: total area of a building including all rooms, corridors, elevators, stairwells and shafts standard operating procedures (SOPs): detailed instructions documenting a method to achieve uniformity of performance stewardship: stewardship is assuming responsibility for taking good care of resources; these resources may be individual, communal, commercial, or environmental, and form part of any community’s natural capital stormwater: runoff water resulting from precipitation that flows over surfaces and usually to storm sewers or waterways stormwater pollution prevention plan: describes all measures to prevent stormwater contamination, control sedimentation and erosion during construction and comply with the requirements of the Clean Water Act stormwater runoff: water from precipitation that flows over surfaces into sewer systems or receiving water bodies stratified random sampling: categorizes members of a population into discreet subgroups, based on characteristics that may affect their responses to a survey


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms stratosphere: layer of the earth’s atmosphere just above the troposphere, extending from 10 km to about 50 km above the earth street grid density: neighborhood density calculated as the number of centerline miles per square mile. Centerline miles are the length of a road down its center subdivision: homes and building lots that immediately surround a new LEED for Homes project submetering: measuring energy consumption by specific mechanical or electrical systems, such as heating or air-conditioning substantial completion: a contractual benchmark that usually corresponds to the point at which a client could occupy a nearly completed space; of the building’s indoor plumbing system is defined as either initial building construction or the last plumbing renovation of all or part of the building that included a 100% retrofit of all plumbing fixtures and fittings as part of the renovation supply air: air delivered to a space by mechanical or natural ventilation sustainable development: development path along which the maximization of human wellbeing for today’s generations does not lead to declines in future well-being sustainable forestry: process of managing forest resources by maintaining the biodiversity of the forests sustainable purchasing policies: policies that prefer products with limited environmental impacts sustainability: meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs sustainable forestry: management of forest resources to meet the long term forest product needs of humans while maintaining the biodiversity of forested landscapes sustained yield forestry: management of a forest to produce in perpetuity a high level annual or regular periodic output through a balance between increment and cutting systemic sampling: surveys every xth person in a population using a constant skip interval systems furniture: panel based workstations systems narrative: general description of each major building heating, cooling, ventilation, humidification/dehumidification and lighting systems systems performance testing: determining the ability of commissioned systems to perform in accordance with the owners project requirements (OPR) telecommuting: to work by using telecommunication and computer technologies from a location other than the usual or traditional place of business termite: wood eating social insect also know as a white ant

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms tertiary treatment: highest level of water treatment that removes organics, solids and other pollutants thermal bridge: part of the building envelope having high heat conductance, which lowers the average R value thermal comfort: temperature, humidity and air flow range for human comfort when occupants express satisfaction thermal envelope: thermal enclosure created by the building exterior and insulation tipping fees: charges by a landfill for disposal of waste topsoil: uppermost layer of soil containing high levels of nutrients and organic matter total phosphorus (TP): organically bound phosphates, polyphosphates and orthophosphates in stormwater, commonly attributed to fertilizers total suspended solids (TSS): particles too small or light to be removed from stormwater via gravity settling transient users: occupants who do not use a facility on a consistent, regular, daily basis transportation demand management: process of reducing peak period vehicle trips tree and plant preservation plan: formal assessment of the lot and the subsequent development of a landscape plan that seeks to preserve existing trees and plants two year, 24-hour design storm: rate that represents the largest amount of rainfall expected over a 24 hour period during a 2 year interval undercover parking: underground or under a deck, roof or building where the hardscape surfaces are shaded underground parking: parking beneath a stacked structure such as a building universal notification: notifying building occupants not less than 72 hours before a pesticide is applied in a building or on surrounding grounds under normal conditions and within 24 hours after application in emergency conditions upstream equipment: heating or cooling systems, equipment and controls that are associated with a district energy system but are not part of the project building’s thermal connection or do not interfere with the district energy system; includes the central energy plant and all transmission and distribution equipment associated with transporting thermal energy to the project building and site urea formaldehyde: combination of two materials often found in glue that can emit formaldehyde at room temperature USDA organic: USDA’s certification for products that contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients; remaining ingredients must contain nonagricultural substances or be nonorganically produced agricultural products that are not commercially available in organic form


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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms U value: the measure of heat flow through materials that separate the building facade, slab or roof from the exterior environment in units; the inverse of R value vapor barrier: material used to prevent moisture penetration through wall, ceiling, floor and roof assemblies and the potential condensation that can result from temperature differentials between the building’s interior and exterior temperatures vegetation containing artifices: planters, gardens or other constructions that hosts flora vehicle miles traveled (vmt): transportation demand measurement of vehicle miles associated with a project ventilation: process of supplying air to or removing air from a space for the purpose of controlling air contaminant levels, humidity or temperature within the space ventilation rate: amount of air circulated in a space measured in air changes per hour; ASHRAE standard 62 determines the proper amount to ensure that a sufficient quantity of air is supplied for the number of occupants to prevent carbon monoxide and other pollutant accumulation verification: range of checks and tests carried out to determine whether components, subsystems, systems and interfaces between systems operate in accordance with the contract documents vertical footcandles: light on a vertical surface visible light transmittance (Tvis): ratio of total transmitted light to the total incident light; the amount of visible spectrum light passing through a glazing surface divided by the amount of light striking the glazing surface vision glazing: portion of exterior windows between 2’6” and 7’6” above the floor that permits a view to the exterior volatile organic compounds (VOC): carbon-containing compound, such as gasoline or acetone, that vaporizes at a relatively low temperature, generally below 40°C; VOCs can contaminate water, and in the atmosphere can react with other gases in the presence of sunlight to form ozone or other photochemical oxidants Walk off mats: mats placed inside the building entrances to capture dirt, water and other materials tracked inside by people and equipment walking distance: defines the length of the walkable pathway between the building and public transportation waste: materials that flow from the building to final disposal waste disposal: eliminates waste by means of burial in a landfill, combustion through incineration or any other way that is not reuse or recycling waste diversion: activity that disposes of waste other than landfills or incinerators waste reduction program: program to reduce waste flowing from a project to landfills and/or incinerators; includes a list of steps that will be taken to reduce the flow and increase reuse and recycling; tracking and review procedures are also part of the plan

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Acronyms & Glossary of Terms waste stream: overall flow of waste from a building or site wastewater: spent or used water from a home, farm, community or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter water meters: devices that measure water volume usage wave and tidal energy systems: energy captured by wave and tidal action that is turned into electricity and primarily used for desalination, water pumping and electricity generation weighted decibel (dBA): sound pressure level measured with a conventional frequency weighting that approximates how the human ear hears different frequency components of sounds at typical listening levels for speech wet ponds: elevated areas that detain stormwater and slow runoff and hold water all the time wetland vegetation: plants that require saturated soils to survive or can tolerate prolonged wet soil conditions wind energy: electricity generated by wind turbines window -to-floor ratio (WFR): total area of the window, measured vertically from 30 inches above the finished floor to the top of the glass, multiplied by the width of the glass divided by the floor area xeriscaping: landscaping method that makes routine irrigation unnecessary, allowing plants to be watered from rain and or use compost to retain moisture


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CHAPTER | 14 Appendix »» Green Resource Links: Websites, Publications & Blogs »» USGBC & GCBI Organizational Chart »» Six Steps to Certification Flow Chart »» LEED Rating Systems & Reference Guide Chart »» Certification Fee Chart »» Project Checklist Sample »» Credit Form Sample »» Commissioning Process »» Tasks & Responsibilities for EAp1 & EAc3 »» CxA Qualifications »» Credit Charts »» Referenced Standards »» Credit Interactions »» Detailed LEED Rating Systems

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Green Resources Websites Refer last page of the Seven Domains Chapter for additional resource links »» USGBC Home Page www.usgbc.org/ »» Green Building Research www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1718 »» LEED resources www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=75 »» LEED rating systems http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 »» USGBC green building education http://www.greenbuild365.org/ »» USGBC courses www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=283 »» USGBC Green Building Resource Links http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=76& »» GBCI Home Page www.gbci.org/ »» GBCI Green Associate Candidate Handbook (required primary and ancillary resource links) www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3571 »» Credentialing resources www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=93 »» Policy Manual http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=129 »» Registration & Certification Processes http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=211 »» LEED CIRs http://www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3596%20 »» LEED MPRs http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=130 »» LEED sample credit forms www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1447 »» LEED White Paper on Sustainable Building Design Technical Manual www.gbci.org/ShowFile. aspx?DocumentID=3591 »» LEED White Paper on Environmental Impact of Refrigerants www.gbci.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=3592 »» Miscellaneous Resource Websites »» Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.gov/ »» Harvard Green Building Resource www.green.harvard.edu/theresource/ »» Stormwater Glossary of Terms www.stormwaterauthority.org/glossary.aspx »» LEED credit analysis www.leeduser.com/ »» McGraw-Hill green website www.greensource.construction.com/Default.asp »» HOK green website http://hoklife.com/category/archives/sustainable-design/ »» Sustainable Connections resource website www.sustainableconnections.org/ »» Inhabitat sustainable website www.inhabitat.com »» Studio4 sustainable website www.studio4llc.com

Publications »» Environmental magazine lists »» http://www.deb.uminho.pt/Fontes/enviroinfo/publications/ »» http://local444.caw.ca/docs/enviromaglist-may2008.pdf »» http://www.city.stratford.on.ca/naturally/envmag.asp »» Environmental Design + Construction www.edcmag.com/ »» Green Builder www.greenbuildermag.com/

Blogs »» Green blog directory www.bestgreenblogs.com// SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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USGBCand & GBCI Chart USBGC GBCIOrganizational Organizational Chart

GBCI Professional Accredidtaion

USGBC Building Certification

LEED Online

Reference Guides Professional Accreditation: Tier I: LEED Green Associate Tier II: LEED AP (BD+C): Building Design + Construction LEED AP (ID+C): Interior Design + Construction LEED AP (O+M): Operations + Maintenance LEED AP Homes LEED AP (ND): Neighborhood Development Tier III: LEED Fellow: (TBD) Building Certification: LEED for New Construction LEED for Schools LEED for Core & Shell LEED for Existing Buildings LEED for Commercial Interiors LEED for Homes

LEED

Rating Systems

Education Programs

Reference Guides: Green Building Design and Construction Reference Guide Green Interior Design and Construction Reference Guide Green Building Operations and Maintenance Reference Guide Green Building and LEED Core Concepts Guide Rating Systems: New Construction and Major Renovations Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Commercial Interiors Core & Shell Schools Retail* Healthcare* Homes Neighborhood Development* * : Pilot Program Education Programs: 100 Level: Awareness 200 Level: Understanding 300 Level: Application & Implementation

GBCI

USGBC

Mission: To support a high level of competence in building methods for environmental efficiency through the development and administration of a formal program of certification and recertification

Mission: To transorm the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life

Primary Functions: • Provides third party LEED project certiﬁcation • Provides third party LEED professional credentials

Primary Functions: • Developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System. The LEED Green Building Rating Sustem is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings • Provides and develops LEED based education and research programs

Organization: The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) was established in January 2008 to provide third party certification and professional credentials for recognition of excellence in green building practice and performance

Organization: The The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity composed of leaders from every sector or the building industry working to promote buildings and communities that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and work

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Six Steps to Certification Six Steps to Certification

LEED 2009: New Construction & Major Renovations, Schools and Core&Shell

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Is LEED Right for You

Registration

Prepare Application

Submit Application

Application Review

Certification

Step 1: Determine appropriateness of LEED Form a charrette and gather information to determine if, and at what level, LEED is appropriate Step 2: Registration via LEED OnLine www.gbci.org Step 3: Prepare Application Assign team members and prepare all documents required for prerequisites and credits being sought (minimum number of credits are required for Certification) Step 4: Submit Application via LEED OnLine Upload Credit Forms with all required documentation Step 5: Application Review Upon receipt of a completed submittal application, a formal review will be initiated Step 6: Certification Certification is the final step in the LEED Review Process. Once the final review is complete, the project team can either accept or appeal the final decision. If accepted, LEED Certified Projects: will receive a formal certificate of recognition will receive information on how to order plaques, certificates, photo submissions and marketing May be included in an online directory and US Dept. of Energy High Performance Bldgs. Database NOTE: Project certification requires all Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) and prerequisites in each sustainable category be met along with a minimum total number of credit points For current Steps to Certification process: http://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=211


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Project Certification Fees PROJECT CERTIFICATION FEES

LEED 2009: New Construction, Schools, Core and Shell

Project Certification Rates: Effective 11 January, 2010 Project Certification fees depend on USGBC membership status and the sf of the building Project Registration fees not included < 50,000 sf

50,000 500,000 sf

> 500,000 sf

Appeals (if applicable)

Fixed Rate

Based on sf

Fixed Rate

Per Credit

USGBC Members

$2,000

$0.040

$20,000

$500

Non-Members Expedited Fee

$2,250

$0.045 $5,000 regardless of sf

$22,500

$500

LEED 2009: NC, CS &CI Design Review

$500

Construction Review USGBC Members

$500

$0.010

$5,000

$500


$750


$7,500

$500

$0.045

$22,500

$500

$0.055 $27,500 $10,000 regardless of sf

$500

$500

Combined Design & Construction Review USGBC Members

$2,250


$2,750

LEED 2009: EB O&M

$500

Fixed Rate

Based on SF

Fixed Rate

Per Credit

USGBC Members

$1,500

$0.030

$15,000

$500


$2,000


$2,000

$500

$0.015

$7,500

$500

$0.020 $10,000 $10,000 regardless of sf

$500

Initial Certification Review

$500

Recertification Review USGBC Members Non-Members Expedited Fee

$750 $1,000

LEED 2009: Core & Shell

$500

Fixed Rate

Per Credit

$3,250

$500

$4,250 $5,000 regardless of sf

$500

for all rating systems

$220

Precertification USGBC Members Non-Members Expedited Fee CIR's

$500

For current Project Certification Fees: https://www.gbci.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=127

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LEED && Reference Guides LEEDRating Ratings Six Systems Steps Systems to Certification Reference Guides

LEED 2009: New Construction & Major Renovations, Schools and Core&Shell

LEED for New Construction Total Possible Points**

110*

LEED for Schools Total Possible Points**

LEED for Core & Shell 110*

Total Possible Points**

26

Water & Efficiency

10

Water & Efficiency

11

Water & Efficiency

10

Energy & Atmosphere

35

Energy & Atmosphere

33

Energy & Atmosphere

37

Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality

14 15


13 19


13 12

Regional Priority

4

Sustainable Sites

110*

Sustainable Sites

Sustainable Sites

* Out of a possible 100 pts + 10 bonus pts ** Certified 40-49 pts; Silver 50-59 pts; Gold 60-79 pts; Platinum 80+ pts Innovation in Design 6

24

* Out of a possible 100 pts + 10 bonus pts ** Certified 40-49 pts; Silver 50-59 pts; Gold 60-79 pts; Platinum 80+ pts Innovation in Design 6 Regional Priority

4

LEED for Retail

LEED for Healthcare 28

Under Development

Under Development


4

LEED for Commercial Interiors LEED for Retail Interiors Total Possible Points**

110*

Sustainable Sites

21

Water & Efficiency

11

Energy & Atmosphere

37


14 17

Under Development


26

Water & Efficiency

14

Energy & Atmosphere

35


10 15

LEED for Core & Shell

LEED for Existing Schools

LEED for Schools

Regional Priority

Under Development

4

D for Neighborhood Development 110*

Smart Location & Linkage

27

Neighborhood Pattern & Design Green Infrastructure & Buildings

44 29

* Out of a possible 100 pts + 10 bonus pts ** Certified 40+ pts; Silver 50+ pts; Gold 60+ pts; Platinum 80+ pts Innovation & Design Process 6 Regional Priority

4

LEED for Homes 136*

Innovation & Design Process Location & Linkages Sustainable Sites

The LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Design & Construction

LEED for Healthcare*

* Out of a possible 100 pts + 10 bonus pts ** Certified 40-49 pts; Silver 50-59 pts; Gold 60-79 pts; Platinum 80+ pts Innovation in Operations 6


LEED for New Construction & Major Renovations

110*

Sustainable Sites


Reference Guide

4

LEED for Existing Buildings Total Possible Points**

Rating System

LEED for Retail*

LEED for Commercial Interiors

LEED for Retail Interiors*

LEED for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance LEED for Existing Schools*

The LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Interior Design & Construction

The LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Operations & Maintenance

LEED for Homes

The LEED for Homes Reference Guide

LEED for Neighborhood Development

The LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Neighborhood Development

* These rating systems are under development

11 10 22

Water & Efficiency

15

Energy & Atmosphere

38

Materials & Resources Indoor Environmental Quality Awareness & Education

16 21 3

* Out of a possible 136pts ** Certified 45-59 pts; Silver 60-74 pts; Gold 75-89 pts; Platinum 90+ pts

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LEED Rating Systems Reference Guides RATING SYSTEMS REFERENCE GUIDES LEED 2009: New Construction, Schools, Core and Shell

LEED Rating System

Applies To

Reference Guide

New Buildings and Major Renovations New Buildings : Offices, institutional buildings (libraries, museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings of 4 or more habitable stories LEED for Major Renovations : Major HVAC replacement or modifications; New Construction (NC) Building core (major mechanical systems) & shell (building envelope and structural) renovation Owner or Tenant occupies greater than 50% of leasable space

LEED for Core & Shell (CS)

Developer controls core (major mechanical systems) & shell (building envelope and structural) but not leasable tenant spaces Commercial office buildings, medical office buildings, retail centers, warehouses, institutional buildings and laboratory facilities Owner or Tenant occupies 50% or less of leasable area

LEED for Schools

Must be used for the construction or major renovation of an academic building on K–12 school grounds Other projects on a school campus may qualify under 2 or more LEED rating system project scopes: Nonacademic buildings on a school campus, such as administrative offices, maintenance facilities or dormitories are eligible for either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools Projects involving postsecondary academic buildings or prekindergarten buildings may also choose to use either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools

LEED for Commercial Interiors (CI)

Tenant spaces primarily in office, retail, and institutional buildings: Tenant spaces that do not occupy the entire building Designed to work hand in hand with LEED Core & Shell projects

LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Interior Design and Construction

LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (EB O&M)

For the ongoing operations and maintenance of existing commercial and institutional buildings Also used for buildings certified under NC, Schools or C&S

LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Operations & Maintenance

LEED for Homes

New Residences Single Family: Attached and Detached Multifamily: Low rise 1 to 3 stories and include 2 or more dwelling units Rehabilitation Manufactured and Modular Mixed Use if at least 50% of the floor area is residential

LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Homes

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LEED 2009 Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction

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Project Checklist Sample


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Credit Form Sample

(v3 Credit Forms were not available at time of printing)

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COMMISSIONING PROCESS

Commissioning Process LEED 2009: New Construction, Schools, Core and Shell Commissioning Authority COMMISSIONING AUTHORITY

Party Acting as Commissioning Authority (CxA)

Fundamental Commissioning Prerequisite 2 4 5

Enhanced Commissioning Credit 3 4 5

< 50,000 (sf) >= 50,000 (sf)

Employee or subcontractor of general contractor with construction responsibilities

Yes

Employee or subcontractor, with construction responsibilities, of construction manager who holds construction contracts

Yes

Employee or subcontractor, with project design responsibilities, of the architect or engineer of record

Yes

Disinterested employee or subcontractor of general contractor or construction manager 1

Yes

Yes

Disinterested employee of architect or engineer 1

Yes

Yes

Disinterested subcontractor to architect or engineer 1

Yes

Yes

Yes

Construction manager not holding construction contracts

Yes

Yes

Yes

Independent consultant contracted to Owner

Yes

Yes

Yes

Owner employee or staff

Yes

Yes

Yes

1 "Disinterested" means an employee or subcontractor who has no project responsibilities other than 2 EAp1 requirements 3 EAc3 requirements (the CxA must review the owner's project requirements (OPR), basis of design (BOD) and design documents prior to midconstruction documents phase and perform a back check) 4 The came CxA overseeing the enhanced commissioning tasks must also oversee the fundamental 5 Regardless of who employees the CxA, the CxA "shall have documented commissioning authority experience in at least two building projects" and ideally meet the minimum qualifications of having "a high level of experience in energy systems design, installation and operation, commissioning planning and process management, hands on field experience with energy systems performance, interaction, startup, balancing, testing, troubleshooting, operation and maintenance procedures and energy systems automation control knowledge."


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Commissioning Process Tasks and Responsibilities

COMMISSIONING PROCESS LEED 2009: New Construction, Schools, Core and Shell TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES Rating Project Fundamenta Enhanced System l Phases Tasks Predesign/Design Phase Request for EAp1, Task 1 Owner or Owner or proposal Architect 1 Designate commissioning authority (CxA) EAc3, Task 1 Project Team Project Team and engineer selection Owner's project Owner or Owner or Document owner's project requirements requirements CxA* EAp1, Task 2 CxA* 2 (OPR); Develop basis of design (BOD) (OPR); basis of Design Team Design Team design (BOD) Commissioning Tasks 1 - 12

Review owner's project requirements (OPR) and basis of design (BOD)

EAp1, Task 2 EAc3, Task 2

Schematic design

3

Design development

4

Develop and implement commissioning plan

EAp1, Task 4

6

Conduct commissioning design review prior to midconstruction documents

EAc3, Task 2

N/A

CxA

EAc3, Task 3

N/A

CxA

EAp1, Task 5

CxA

CxA

EAc3, Task 4

N/A

Construction documents Construction documents

CxA**

CxA

Project Team Project Team or or CxA CxA* Project Team Project Team Incorporate commissioning requirements 5 or EAp1, Task 3 or into construction documents CxA* CxA

Construction Phase Equipment Review contractor submittals applicable procurement 7 to systems being commissioned Equipment Functional testing Verify installation and performance of Test and balance 8 commissioned systems Performance testing acceptance Operations and Develop systems manual for Maintenance 9 commissioned systems (O&M) manuals

Project Team or CxA Project Team or CxA

O&M training

10

Verify that requirements for training are completed

EAc3, Task 5

N/A

Substantial completion

11

Complete a summary commissioning report

EAp1, Task 6

CxA

CxA

12

Review building operation within 10 months after substantial completion

EAc3, Task 6

N/A

CxA

Occupancy Systems monitoring

* Although EAp1 does not require the CxA to be on the project team until just before the equipment installation phase, if brought in earlier the CxA can also help the owner develop the project requirements and ** Some commissioning tasks can be performed by the owner or other project team members. However, the review of the owner's project requirements (OPR) and basis of design (BOD) must be performed by the CxA. For EAp1, Fundamental Commissioning, this may be performed at any time before verification of equipment installation and acceptance. RED indicates EAc3, Enhanced Commissioning, tasks only www.studio4llc.com

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Referenced Standards SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) SSp1 Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

SSp2 Environmental Site Assessment

2003 EPA Construction General Permit: A set of provisions construction operators must follow to comply with NPDES stormwater regulations OR Local Codes if more stringent ASTM E1527-05 Phase I Environmental Assessment: A report prepared that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities but does not collect physical samples or chemical analysis ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment: An investigation that collects samples of soil, groundwater or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants U.S. Department of Agriculture, United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 7, Volume 6, Parts 400 to 699, Section 657.5: Standard that defines prime farmland Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Definition of 100 Year Flood: The flood elevation that has a 1% chance of being reached or exceeded each yea

SSc1 Site Selection

Endangered Species List (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, List of Threatened and Endangered Species): Addresses threatened and endangered wildlife and plants National Marine Fisheries Services, List of Endangered Marine Species: In addition to this federal list, state agencies provide state specific lists United States Code of Federal Regulations, 40 CFR, Parts 230 -233, and Part 22, Definition of Wetlands: Addresses wetlands and discharges of dredge or filled material into water regulated by states

SSc2 Development Density and No Referenced Standards Community Connectivity U.S. EPA, Definition of Brownfields (EPA Sustainable Redevelopment of Brownfields Program) SSc3 Brownfield Redevelopment

ASTM E1527-05 Phase I Environmental Site Assessment: A report prepared that identifies potential or existing environmental contamination liabilities but does not collect physical samples or chemical analysis ASTM E1903-97 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment: An investigation that collects samples of soil, groundwater or building materials to analyze for quantitative values of various contaminants

SSc4.1 Alternative Transportation No Referenced Standards Public Transportation Access SSc4.2 Alternative Transportation No Referenced Standards Bicycle Storage & Changing Rooms SSc4.3 Alternative Transportation No Referenced Standards Low-Emitting & Fuel-Efficient Vehicles


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Referenced Standards SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) SSc4.4 Institute of Transportation Engineers, Parking Generation Study, 2003: Database of studies for Alternative Transportation various types of parking demands Parking Capacity SSc5.1 No Referenced Standards Site Development Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2 Site Development Maximize Open Space

No Referenced Standards

SSc6.1 Stormwater Design Quantity Control


SSc6.2 Stormwater Design Quality Control


ASTM E408-71(1996) e1, Standard Test Methods for Total Normal Emittance of Surfaces Using Inspection Meter Techniques: Describes how to measure total normal Emittance of surfaces ASTM C1371-04a, Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable Emissometers: Technique for determination of the emittance of typical materials SSc7.1 Heat Island Effect Nonroof

ASTM E903-96, Standard Test Method for Solar Absorptance, Reflectance and Transmittance of Materials Using Integrating Spheres: Energy Star roofing standard for initial reflectance measurement ASTM E1918-97, Standard Test Method for Measuring Solar Reflectance of Horizontal and Low Sloped Surfaces in the Field: Measures solar reflectance in the field ASTM C1549-04, Standard Test Method for Determination of Solar Reflectance Near Ambient Temperatures Using a Portable Solar Reflectometer: Technique for determining the solar reflectance of flat, opaque materials ASTM E1980-01, Standard Practice for Calculating Solar Reflectance Index of Horizontal and Low Sloped Opaque Surfaces: Describes how surface reflectivity and emissivity are combined to calculate solar reflectance index (SRI) for a roofing material or other surface ASTM E408-71(1996)e1, Standard Test Methods for Total Normal Emittance of Surfaces Using Inspection Meter Techniques: Describes how to measure total normal Emittance of surfaces

SSc7.2 Heat Island Effect Roof

ASTM E903-96, Standard Test Method for Solar Absorptance, Reflectance and Transmittance of Materials Using Integrating Spheres: Energy Star roofing standard for initial reflectance measurement ASTM E1918-97, Standard Test Method for Measuring Solar Reflectance of Horizontal and Low Sloped Surfaces in the Field: Measures solar reflectance in the field ASTM C1371-04a, Standard Test Method for Determination of Emittance of Materials Near Room Temperature Using Portable Emissometers: Technique for determination of the emittance of typical material ASTM C1549-04, Standard Test Method for Determination of Solar Reflectance Near Ambient Temperatures Using a Portable Solar Reflectometer: Technique for determining the solar reflectance of flat, opaque materials

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Referenced Standards SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) SSc8 Light Pollution Reduction

ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential Lighting, Section 9 (without amendments): Establishes exterior lighting power densities (LPD) for buildings

SSc9 Tenant Design & Construction Guidelines


SSc9 Site Master Plan


SSc10 Joint Use of Facilities


WATER EFFICIENCY (WE) The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 (and as amended): Addresses energy and water use in commercial, institutional and residential facilities The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005: Statute that became U.S. law in August 2005 WEp1 Water Use Reduction

International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Publication/American National Standards Institute IAPMO/ANSI UPC 1-2006, Uniform Plumbing Code 206, Section 402.0, Water Conserving Fixtures and Fittings: PC defines water conserving fixtures and fittings for water closets, urinals and metered faucets International Code Council, International Plumbing Code 2006, Section 604, Design of Building Water Distribution System: Defines maximum flow rates and consumption for plumbing fixtures and fittings, including public and private lavatories, showerheads, sink faucets, urinals and water closets

WEc1 Water Efficient Landscaping

WEc2 Innovative Wastewater Technologies


The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992 (and as amended): Addresses energy and water use in commercial, institutional and residential facilities The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 2005: Statute that became U.S. law in August 200 International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials Publication/American National Standards Institute IAPMO/ANSI UPC 1-2006, Uniform Plumbing Code 206, Section 402.0, Water Conserving Fixtures and Fittings: UPC defines water conserving fixtures and fittings for water closets, urinals and metered faucets

WEc3 Water Use Reduction

WEc4 Process Water Use Reduction

International Code Council, International Plumbing Code 2006, Section 604, Design of Building Water Distribution System: Defines maximum flow rates and consumption for plumbing fixtures and fittings, including public and private lavatories, showerheads, sink faucets, urinals and water closets



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Referenced Standards ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA) EAp1 Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems


ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential: Establishes minimum requirements for the energy efficient design of buildings using mandatory provisions and additional prescriptive requirements California T-24-2005: granted parallel equivalency to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2007 ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings, 2004: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for office buildings up to 20,000 sf

EAp2 Minimum Energy Performance

ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Warehouses and Self Storage Buildings, 2008: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for warehouses up to 50,000 sf and self storage buildings that use unitary heating and air conditioning equipment ASHRAE Advanced Energy Guide for K-12 School Buildings: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for elementary, middle and high school buildings New Building Institute, Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance Guide: Provides a predictable alternative to energy performance modeling and a simple set of criteria for increasing building energy performance Energy Star® Program, Target Finder Rating Tool: A government partnership managed by the EPA and DOE as an online tool that can establish energy performance goals for a project

EAp3 Fundamental Refrigerant Management

U.S. EPA Clean Air Act, Title VI, Section 608, Compliance with the Section 608 Refrigerant Recycling Rule: Regulations on using and recycling ozone depleting compounds

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Referenced Standards ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE (EA) ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential: Establishes minimum requirements for the energy efficient design of buildings using mandatory provisions and additional prescriptive requirements California T-24-2005: granted parallel equivalency to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2007 ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Office Buildings, 2004: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for office buildings up to 20,000 sf EAc1 Optimize Energy Performance

ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small Warehouses and Self Storage Buildings, 2008: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for warehouses up to 50,000 sf and self storage buildings that use unitary heating and air conditioning equipment ASHRAE Advanced Energy Guide for K-12 School Buildings: Achieves advanced levels of energy savings without having to perform calculations or analysis for elementary, middle and high school buildings New Building Institute, Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance Guide: Provides a predictable alternative to energy performance modeling and a simple set of criteria for increasing building energy performance

EAc2 On-Site Renewable Energy EAc3 Enhanced Commissioning EAc4 Enhanced Refrigerant Management

ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2007: Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low Rise Residential: Establishes minimum requirements for the energy efficient design of buildings using mandatory provisions and additional prescriptive requirement California T-24-2005: granted parallel equivalency to ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2007 No Referenced Standards


EAc5 Measurement & Verification

International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol, Volume III, EVO 30000.12006, Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, effective January, 2006: IPMVP Volume III describes best practice techniques for verifying the energy performance of new construction projects

EAc5.1 Measurement & Verification Base Building


EAc5.2 Measurement & Verification Tenant Submetering


EAc6 Green Power

Center for Resource Solutions, Green-e Product Certification Requirements: Certifies products that meet environmental and consumer protection standards developed un conjunction with environmental, energy and policy organizations. Three types of renewable energy are eligible for Green-e certification: renewable energy certificates, utility green pricing programs and competitive electricity products


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Referenced Standards MATERIALS & RESOURCES (MR) MRp1 Storage & Collection of Recyclables


MRc1.1 Building Reuse Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof


MRc1 Building Reuse Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof


MRc1.2 Building Reuse Maintain Interior Nonstructural Elements


MRc2 Construction Waste Management


MRc3 Materials Reuse


MRc4 Recycled Content

International Standard ISO 14021-1999, Environmental Labels and Declarations - Self Declared Environmental Claims (Type II Environmental Labeling): Specifies requirements for self declared environmental claims including statements, symbols and graphics for products

MRc5 Regional Materials


MRc6 Rapidly Renewable Materials


MRc7 Certified Wood MRc6 Certified Wood

Forest Stewardship Council Principles and Criteria: Seal of approval awarded to forest managers who adopt environmentally and socially responsible forest management practices and to companies that manufacture and sell products made from certified wood

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) IEQp1 Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance

IEQp2 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Specifies minimum standard ventilation rates and IAQ levels

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASTM-E779-03, Standard Test Method for Determining Air Leakage Rate by Fan Pressurization: Standard for measuring air leakage rates through a building envelope under controlled pressurization and depressurization Residential Manual for Compliance with California's 2001 Energy Efficiency Standards (For Low Rise Residential Buildings),Chapter 4: Standard for the quality of design and construction of mechanical ventilation systems and air distribution systems

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Referenced Standards INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) IEQp3 Minimum Acoustical Performance

IEQc1 Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard S12.60-2002, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools: Standard for acoustical performance criteria and design requirements for classrooms and other learning spaces ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 47, Sound and Vibration Control, 2003 HVAC Applications: Addresses sound and vibration from mechanical equipment

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Specifies minimum standard ventilation rates and IAQ levels

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Specifies minimum standard ventilation rates and IAQ levels IEQc2 Increased Ventilation

IEQc3.1 Construction IAQ Management Plan During Construction IEQc3 Construction IAQ Management Plan During Construction IEQc3.2 Construction IAQ Management Plan Before Occupancy

IEQc4.1 Low Emitting Materials Adhesives and Sealants

IEQc4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings

Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Application Manual 10-2005, Natural Ventilation in Non-Domestic Buildings: CIBSE Applications Manual 10-2005 provides guidance for implementing natural ventilation in nonresidential buildings

Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction, 2nd edition, Chapter 3, November 2007: Guidelines for maintaining healthful indoor air quality during demolitions, renovations and construction American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999: Method of Testing General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size: Standard for methods for testing air cleaners for 2 performance characteristics: the device's capacity for removing particles from the air stream and the device's resistance to airflow

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Compendium for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air: Provides regional, state and local environmental regulatory agencies with step-by-step sampling and analysis procedures for the determination of selected pollutants in indoor air South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Amendment to South Coast Rule 1168, VOC Limits, effective January 7, 2005: VOC limits for adhesives, sealants and sealant primers Green Seal Standard GC-36, effective October 19,2000: VOC limits for aerosol adhesives South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings: VOC limits for paints and coatings Green Seal Standard GC-03: VOC limits for anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints Green Seal Standard GS-11: VOC limits for commercial flat and nonflat paints


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Referenced Standards INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus and Green Label Testing Program: CRI is a trade organization representing the carpet and rug industry. Green Label Plus is an independent testing program that identifies carpet and carpet cushions with low VOC emissions. Green Label addresses carpet cushions South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1168, VOC Limits: VOC limits for adhesives South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings : VOC limits for paints and coatings IEQc4.3 Low Emitting Materials Flooring Systems

FloorScore™ Program: Tests and certifies flooring products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements. Products include vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring and wall base California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda: Testing practice that applies to any newly manufactured material generally used within an enclosed indoor environment. Excluded is testing of all products that cannot be tested whole or by representative sample in small scale environmental chambers State of California Standard 1350, Section 9, Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers, Testing Criteria : Specifies testing criteria for carpet emissions that will satisfy the credit requirements

IEQc4.4 Low Emitting Materials Composite Wood & Agrifiber Products

FOR SCHOOLS: California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda: Testing practice that applies to any newly manufactured material generally used within an enclosed indoor environment. Excluded is testing of all products that cannot be tested whole or by representative sample in small scale environmental chambers

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/Business and Institutional Furniture Makers Association (BIFMA) X7.1-2007 Standard for Formaldehyde and TVOC Emissions of Low Emitting Office Furniture Systems and Seating: Standard for Formaldehyde and TVOC Emissions of Low Emitting Office Furniture and Seating BIFMA International: Defines the criteria for office furniture VOC emissions to be classified as low IEQc4.5 emitting products Low Emitting Materials Furniture and Furnishings Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) Large Chamber Test Protocol for Measuring Emissions of VOCs and Aldehydes, effective September 1999: Protocol that requires the placement of the seating product or furniture assembly to be tested in a climatically controlled chamber Greenguard™ Certification Program: Performance based standards to define goods with low chemical emissions for use indoors, primarily for building materials; interior furnishings; furniture; electronics; and cleaning, maintenance and personal care products

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Referenced Standards INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ)

IEQc4.6 Low Emitting Materials Ceiling and Wall Systems

California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda: Testing practice that applies to any newly manufactured material generally used within an enclosed indoor environment. Excluded is testing of all products that cannot be tested whole or by representative sample in small scale environmental chambers

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999: Method of Testing IEQc5 General Ventilation Air Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size: Standard for Indoor Chemical methods for testing air cleaners for 2 performance characteristics: the device's capacity for removing & Pollutant Source Control particles from the air stream and the device's resistance to airflow

IEQc6.1 Controllability of Systems No Referenced Standards Lighting American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007: Ventilation Rate IEQc6.2 for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality: Standard providing minimum requirements for operable openings Controllability of Systems at 4% of the net habitable floor area Thermal Comfort American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 55-2004: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy: Identifies the factors of thermal comfort and the process for developing comfort criteria for a building space and its occupants. Indoor space IEQc6 environmental and personal factors that will produce thermal environmental conditions acceptable to Controllability of Systems 80% of the occupants within a space. The environmental factors addressed are: temperature, thermal Thermal Comfort radiation, humidity and air speed. The personal factors are: activity and clothing

IEQc7.1 Thermal Comfort Design

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 55-2004: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy: Identifies the factors of thermal comfort and the process for developing comfort criteria for a building space and its occupants. Indoor space environmental and personal factors that will produce thermal environmental conditions acceptable to 80% of the occupants within a space. The environmental factors addressed are: temperature, thermal radiation, humidity and air speed. The personal factors are: activity and clothing Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) Application Manual 10-2005, Natural Ventilation in Non-Domestic Buildings: CIBSE Applications Manual 10-2005 provides guidance for implementing natural ventilation in nonresidential building

IEQc7 Thermal Comfort Design

IEQc7.2 Thermal Comfort Verification

SCHOOLS: ASHRAE HVAC Applications Handbook, 2003 edition, Chapter 4 (Places of Assembly), Typical Natatorium Design Conditions: ASHRAE handbook to help design engineers use equipment and systems

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard 55-2004: Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy: Identifies the factors of thermal comfort and the process for developing comfort criteria for a building space and its occupants. Indoor space environmental and personal factors that will produce thermal environmental conditions acceptable to 80% of the occupants within a space. The environmental factors addressed are: temperature, thermal radiation, humidity and air speed. The personal factors are: activity and clothing


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Referenced Standards INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) IEQc8.1 Daylight and Views Daylight

ASTM D1003-07e1, Standard Test Method for Haze and Luminous Transmittance of Transparent Plastics: Tests the specific light transmitting and wide angle light scattering properties of planer sections of materials

IEQc8.2 Daylight and Views Views


IEQc9 Enhanced Acoustical Performance

IEQc10 Mold Prevention

American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/ASHRAE Standard S12.60-2002, Acoustical Performance Criteria, Design Requirements, and Guidelines for Schools: Standard for acoustical performance criteria for classrooms and other learning spaces ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 47, Sound and Vibration Control, 2003 HVAC Applications: Addresses sound and vibration from mechanical equipment Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers, EPA Reference Number 402-F-91-102, effective December 1991:Provides information on factors affecting IAQ and how to develop and manage an IAQ profile

INNOVATION in DESIGN (ID) IDc1.1 Innovation in Design


IDc1.2 Innovation in Design








IDc2 LEED® Accredited Professional


IDc3 The School as a Teaching Tool


REGIONAL PRIORITY (RP) RPc1.1 Regional Priority

Refer project zip code applicable Regional Priority credits

RPc1.2 Regional Priority






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CREDITInteractions INTERACTIONS Credit

LEED 2009: New Construction and Major Renovations, Schools and Corehell

SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) Construction Activity Pollution Prevention SSp1

Ssp2

Minimizing site disturbance and preventing soil and erosion assists SSc5.1 & SSc5.2 Limiting disturbance of natural hydrology assists SSc6. & SSc6.2

Environmental Site Assessment Projects conducting environmental site assessments are eligible to achieve SSc3

Site Selection SSc1

Previously developed sites are likely to public transportation and connectivity and have an opportunity to remediate a contaminated site SSc2, SSc3 & SSc4.1 Limiting development footprint protects sensitive areas, SSc5.1 & SSc5.2 Credit SSc1 can assist stormwater design SSc6.1 & SSc6.2

SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc3: Brownfield Redevelopment SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity SSc3: Brownfield Redevelopment SSc4.1: Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control

Development Density and Community Connectivity SSc2

SSc3

Channeling development toward urban areas increases the likelihood of locating on a previously developed site, SSc1, and near public transportation SSc4.1

Brownfield Redevelopment Projects developing on Brownfield sites are likely to qualify for SSc1

Alt. Transportation - Public Transportation Access SSc4.1 Sites located near public transportation are likely to be previously developed sites, SSc1, and near urban areas SSc2

Alt. Transportation - Bicycle Storage and Changing Rooms SSc4.2 Paving materials added for paving bicycle lanes can affect stormwater design SSc6.1 & SSc6.2 and alter heat island effects, SSc7.1

SSc1: Site Selection SSc4.1: Alternative Transportation - Public Transportation Access

SSc1: Site Selection SSc1: Site Selection SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof

Alt. Transportation - Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient Vehicles SSc4.3 Projects that provide preferred parking without increasing the parking capacity SSc4.4: Alternative Transportation - Parking Capacity may be eligible for SSc4.4

Alt. Transportation - Parking Capacity Minimizing surface parking can enhance the qualities of open space, SSc5.1 & SSc4.4 SSc5.2 Change the stormwater design, SSc6.1 & SSc6.2 Reduce heat island effects, SSc7.1

Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat Protecting or restoring habitat provides open space, SSc5.2 Reduces impervious areas, thereby reducing the quantity and increasing the SSc5.1 quality of stormwater, SSc6.1 & SSc6.2 Reduces heat island effects, SSc7.1 & SSc7.2 Allows for the use of native vegetation to reduce landscaping irrigation requirements, WEc1

Site Development - Maximize Open Space Maximizing open spaces may improve stormwater quantities and qualities, SSc5.2 SSc6.1 & SSc6.2 Increasing the amount of open space can reduce heat island effects, SSC7.1 & SSc7.2

SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof

Stormwater Design - Quantity Control Reducing the rate and quantity of stormwater reduces filtration requirements, SSc6.2 Reducing impervious surfaces by using pervious surfaces, vegetated roofs and SSc6.1 vegetated open spaces can contribute to SSc5.1, SSC5.2, SSc7.1 & SSc7.2 Harvesting rainwater reduces stormwater runoff and can be reused for irrigation, WEc1, and nonpotable needs inside the building, WEc3 Projects in dense urban areas that earn SSc2 may have difficulty achieving credit SSc6.1

SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping WEc3: Water Use Reduction SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity

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CREDITInteractions INTERACTIONS Credit LEED 2009: New Construction and Major Renovations, Schools and Corehell

SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) Stormwater Design - Quality Control Projects Using best management practices (BMP) to capture and treat runoff reducing the runoff volume, affects the stormwater quality, SSc6.2 SSc6.2 Reducing impervious surfaces by using pervious surfaces, vegetated roofs and vegetated open spaces can contribute to SSc5.1, SSC5.2, SSc7.1 & SSc7.2 Using BMPs for rain gardens, vegetated swales, rainwater harvesting, etc. can assist with earning WEc1

SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect: Roof WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping

SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof Locating parking structures underground will assist with SSc5.2 The use of open grid pavements to capture and treat stormwater runoff can contribute to SSc6.1 SSc7.1 & SSc6.2 Vegetation used to shade hardscapes can also help reduce landscaping irrigation requirements, WEc1

Heat Island Effect - Roof Vegetated roofs help capture and treat stormwater, SSc6.1 & SSc6.2 Using highly reflective roofing materials can reduce cooling loads, EAc1 SSc7.2 Vegetated roofs can also reduce the amount of rainwater harvesting that can be used for nonpotable purposes, thereby making it more challenging to achieve WEc3

SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Control - Quality Control EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance WEc3: Water Use Reduction

Light Pollution Reduction SSc8

SSc9

Energy savings beyond the baseline lighting power density (LPD) established by ASHRAE 90.1 may contribute to EAc1 Automatic occupancy controls to shut off interior perimeter lighting assists IEQc6.1

Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines Credit SSc9 is related to all these LEED Core & Shell credits the project pursues

Site Master Plan SSc9

LEED for Schools requires the achievement and recalculation of (4) of these (7) credits for compliance: SSc1, 5.1, 5.2,6.1,6.2, 7.1 and 8.1 Possible community partnerships may result from pursuit of this credit, SSc10

Joint Use of Facilities SSc10 This credit likely will place the project in the proximity of the school to services

EAc1: Optimize energy Performance IEQc6.1: Controllability of Systems - Lighting

WEc3: Water Use Reduction EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc3: Construction IAQ Management Plan IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc6: Controllability of Systems IEQc7: Thermal Comfort IEQc8: Daylighting and Views SSc1: Site Selection SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction SSc10: Joint Use of Facilities SSc2: Development Density and Community Connectivity

and institutions within the neighborhood, SSc2

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CREDITInteractions INTERACTIONS Credit LEED 2009: New Construction and Major Renovations, Schools and Corehell

WATER EFFICIENCY (WE) SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control Water Use Reduction WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping Efforts to increase rainwater harvesting, increase greywater use and decrease in WEc2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies demand on local water aquifers may support SSc6.1, SSc6.2, WEc1, WEc2, WEc3 WEp1 WEc3: Water Use Reduction and WEc4 WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction (Schools) Additional energy use may be needed for certain reuse strategies requiring EAp1, EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc3 and EAc5 EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification

Water Efficient Landscaping WEc1

Using native or adaptive vegetation can assist with SSc5.1, SSc5.2 and SSc7.2 Rainwater capturing can help managing stormwater runoff, SSc6.1 and SSc6.2 Landscaping can mitigate climate conditions and reduce building energy consumption by shading hardscapes and south facing windows and aiding passive solar design, contributing to SSc7.1, EAp2 and EAc1

SSc5.1: Site Development - Protect or Restore SSc5.2: Site Development - Maximize Open Space SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control SSc7.1: Heat Island Effect - Nonroof SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance

WEc2

SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control Innovative Wastewater Technologies WEp1: Water Use Reduction Efforts to increase rainwater harvesting, increase greywater use and decrease in WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping demand on local water aquifers may support SSc6.1, SSc6.2, WEp1, WEc1, WEc2, WEc3: Water Use Reduction WEc3 and WEc4 WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction (Schools) Additional energy use may be needed for certain reuse strategies requiring EAp1, EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc3 and EAc5 EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification

WEc3

SSc6.1: Stormwater Design - Quantity Control SSc6.2: Stormwater Design - Quality Control Water Use Reduction WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping Efforts to increase rainwater harvesting, increase greywater use and decrease in WEc2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies demand on local water aquifers may support SSc6.1, SSc6.2, WEc1, WEc2, WEc3 WEc3: Water Use Reduction and WEc4 WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction (Schools) Additional energy use may be needed for certain reuse strategies possibly EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems requiring credits EAp1, EAc3 and EAc5 EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification Process Water Use Reduction

WEc4

Some water saving technologies affect energy performance and may require commissioning and measurement/verification, EAp1 and EAc5

EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc5: Measurement and Verification

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CREDIT INTERACTIONS Credit Interactions


ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE (EA)

Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAp1

LEED encourages the commissioning of energy using systems in these credits: SSc8, WEc1, WEc2, WEc3, EAc1, EAc2, EAc5, IEQp1, IEQc1, IEQc2, IEQc5, IEQc6 and IEQc7 EAp1 establishes the minimum threshold for commissioning that is used for enhanced commissioning, EAc3

SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping WEc2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies WEc3: Water Use Reduction EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc2: On-site Renewable Energy EAc5: Measurement and Verification IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc6: Controllability of Systems IEQc7: Thermal Comfort EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning

Minimum Energy Performance

EAp2

LEED for NC, Schools and CS address building energy efficiency in 2 places:EAp2 and EAc1 Energy consumption can be reduced by ensuring the project exceeds building code requirements for the envelope, lighting and HVAC systems, EAc1, using climatically appropriate roofing materials, SSc7.2, and optimizing exterior lighting, SSc8 Energy use can be mitigated by using renewable energy, EAc3 and EAc6 Building energy performance and indoor environmental issues such as increased ventilation, occupant controllability and the amount of daylight must be carefully coordinated. Increased ventilation may require additional energy use, which in turn can cause air and water pollution. The additional need for energy may be mitigated by considering these strategies: IEQp1, IEQc1, IEQc2, IEQc6, IEQc7 and IEQc8 Because water use, especially domestic hot water, requires significant energy use, water use reductions can lead to energy savings, WEc3 and WEc4

EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction EAc2: On-site Renewable Energy EAc6: Green Power IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc6: Controllability of Systems IEQc7: Thermal Comfort IEQc8: Daylight and Views WEc3: Water Use Reduction WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction (Schools)

Fundamental Refrigerant Management

EAp3

EAp3 establishes minimum thresholds for refrigerant selection while greater EAc4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management environmental benefits can be achieved by using environmentally preferable or no refrigerants, EAc4

Optimize Energy Performance

EAc1

LEED for NC, Schools and CS address building energy efficiency in 2 places:EAp2 and EAc1 Energy consumption can be reduced by ensuring the project exceeds building code requirements for the envelope, lighting and HVAC systems, EAc1using climatically appropriate roofing materials, SSc7.2, and optimizing exterior lighting, SSc8 Energy use can be mitigated by using renewable energy, EAc3 and EAc6 Building energy performance and indoor environmental issues such as increased ventilation, occupant controllability and the amount of daylight must be carefully coordinated. Increased ventilation may require additional energy use, which in turn can cause air and water pollution. The additional need for energy may be mitigated by considering these strategies: IEQp1, IEQc1, IEQc2, IEQc6, IEQc7 and IEQc8 Because water use, especially domestic hot water, requires significant energy use, water use reductions can lead to energy savings, WEc3 and WEc4

EAp2: Minimize Energy Performance SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction EAc2: On-site Renewable Energy EAc6: Green Power EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc6: Controllability of Systems IEQc7: Thermal Comfort IEQc8: Daylight and Views WEc3: Water Use Reduction WEc4: Process Water Use Reduction (LEED for Schools only)

On-Site Renewable Energy

EAc2

The installation of renewable energy equipment usually has only a small effect on the achievement of other credits but does require commissioning, EAp1, and measurement and verification, EAc5 The achievement of on-site renewable energy, EAc2, is a percentage of the building's energy use and tied to the building's energy performance, EAp2 and EAc1 EAc2 reduces the amount of green power needed, EAc6

EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc5: Measurement and Verification EAc6: Green Power

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ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE (EA)

Enhanced Commissioning EAc3

LEED encourages the commissioning of energy using systems in these credits: SSc8, WEc1, WEc2, WEc3, EAc1, EAc2, EAc5, IEQp1, IEQc1, IEQc2, IEQc5, IEQc6 and IEQc7 EAc3 goes beyond the minimum threshold established by EAp1

SSc8: Light Pollution Reduction WEc1: Water Efficient Landscaping WEc2: Innovative Wastewater Technologies WEc3: Water Use Reduction EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc2: On-site Renewable Energy EAc5: Measurement and Verification IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc6: Controllability of Systems IEQc7: Thermal Comfort EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems

Enhanced Refrigerant Management

EAc4

EAc4 encourages the use of no refrigerants or environmentally preferable refrigerants and goes beyond the baseline prerequisite EAp3 Since building cooling equipment consumes a large part of the energy use, HVAC&R equipment plays a significant role in the building's energy performance, EAp2 & EAc1 Systems addressed by EAc4 can help meet the thermal comfort needs of the building occupants, IEQc7, IEQc7.1 and IEQc7.2

Measurement and Verification

EAc5

Implementation of a measurement & verification (M&V) plan can contribute to realizing optimal energy performance, EAp2 & EAc1 On-site renewable energy generation systems are considered within an M&V plan Commissioning uses measurement devices and often tracks building performance and can serve as a basis for a M&V plan, EAp1 & EAc3

EAp3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance IEQc7.1: (CS IEQc7): Thermal Comfort - Design IEQc7.2: Thermal Comfort - Verification

EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc2: On-site Renewable Energy EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning

EAc5.1 Measurement and Verification - Base Building

refer EAc5

EAc5.2 Measurement and Verification - Tenant Submetering

refer EAc5

Green Power EAc6

Replacing conventional energy sources with renewable energy sources works synergistically with efforts to reduce energy costs, EAc1 Replacing roofing materials with roof mounted renewable energy sources reduces heat island effect, SSc7.2 Renewable energy sources should be commissioned, EAp1 & EAc3

EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance SSc7.2: Heat Island Effect - Roof EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning

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MATERIALS AND RESOURCES (MR) Storage and Collection of Recyclables MRp1 Projects can seek ID credit for educational outreach CS projects should address recycling within tenant guidelines, SSc9

IDc1: Innovation in Design SSc9: Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines

Building Reuse - Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof Develop a comprehensive reuse management plan on an adaptive reuse project MRc2: Construction Waste Management MRc1.1 If reuse is not enough to meet the requirements of MRc1, these materials may be MRc3: Materials Reuse applied to MRc2 or MRc3, but not both

MRc1

Building Reuse - Maintain Existing Walls, Floors and Roof

MRc1.2 Building Reuse - Maintain Interior - Nonstructural Elements Construction Waste Management MRc2

Projects that reuse existing buildings but do not meet the threshold requirements for MRc1 may apply the reused portions toward achievement of MRc2 If the building is found to contain contaminated substances, these materials should be remediated per EPA, SSc3

Materials Reuse

MRc3

Develop a comprehensive reuse management plan to evaluate materials meeting the requirements for MRc1 & MRc2 Remanufactured materials are not considered a reuse of the material but can contribute toward MRc2 & MRc4 The project material costs used for MRc3 must be consistent with those costs used in MRc4, MRc5 & MRc6

refer MRc1.1 refer MRc1.1

MRc1: Building Reuse SSc3: Brownfield Redevelopment

MRc1: Building Reuse MRc2: Construction Waste Management MRc4: Recycled Materials MRc5: Regional Materials MRc6: Rapidly Renewable Materials

Recycled Content

MRc4

Coordinate recycled procurement with a waste management plan to make use of salvaged deconstruction and demolition waste, MRc2 & MRc3 Purchasing new recycled content materials using local waste products that are remanufactured locally can take advantage of synergies with MRc5 The project material costs used for MRc4 must be consistent with those costs used in MRc3, MRc5 & MRc6 Recycled content materials may contain high VOCs, IEQc4

MRc2: Construction Waste Management MRc3: Materials Reuse MRc5: Regional Materials MRc6: Rapidly Renewable Materials IEQc4: Low-Emitting Materials

Regional Materials MRc5

The project material costs used for MRc5 must be consistent with those costs used in MRc3, MRc4 & MRc6 Using regional materials may affect the levels of achievement of MRc3, MRc4 & MRc5

MRc3: Materials Reuse MRc4: Recycled Materials MRc6: Rapidly Renewable Materials

Rapidly Renewable Materials MRc6

MRc7 MRc6

The project material costs used for MRc65 must be consistent with those costs used in MRc3, MRc4 & MRc5 Using rapidly renewable materials may affect the levels of achievement of MRc3, MRc4 & MRc5 Rapidly renewable materials may contain high VOCs, IEQc4

MRc3: Materials Reuse MRc4: Recycled Materials MRc5: Regional Materials IEQc4: Low-Emitting Materials

Certified Wood

MRc5: Regional Materials IEQc4.4: Low-Emitting Materials - Composite Wood and

Certified wood (FSC) may be sourced locally, MRc5 Mixed certified wood products may contain urea-formaldehyde, IEQc4.4

Certified Wood

Agrifiber refer MRc7

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CREDIT INTERACTIONS Credit Interactions LEED 2009: New Construction and Major Renovations, Schools and Corehell

INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance Commissioning and measurement & verification can improve IAQ while minimizing energy efficiency losses, EAp1, EAc3 & EAc5 Specify materials and furnishings that do not release VOCs, IEQc4 IEQp1 Occupant activities such as chemical handling and smoking can affect indoor air quality, IEQc5 & IEQp2 Dense neighborhoods and heavy traffic can affect ventilation, SSc4, where sites could be contaminated, SSc3

EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification IEQc4: Low Emitting Materials IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollution Source Control IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control SSc4: Alternative Transportation SSc3: Brownfield Redevelopment

EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance Using separate ventilation systems to isolate smoking requires additional EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning energy, commissioning and measurement & verification, EAp1, EAc1, EAc3 and EAc5: Measurement and Verification EAc5 IEQp2 IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance Indoor and outdoor smoking affects the IAQ performance and is related to IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQp1, IEQc1 & IEQc2 Project should address smoking related contaminants in conjunction with other IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc4: Low Emitting Materials sources of air pollutants, IEQc4 & IEQc5 IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control

IEQp3

Minimum Acoustical Performance Additional strategies to achieve effective acoustical performance, IEQc9

Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc1

Monitoring airflow can alert building operators of potential IAQ problems that requires increased ventilation, IEQc2 and help the commissioning process and enable measurement & verification, EAp1, EAc3 & EAc5 Dense neighborhoods, heavy traffic and site contamination can raise CO2 levels where alternative transportation methods can help alleviate, SSc4

Increased Ventilation IEQc2

Ventilation strategies influence energy performance and requires commissioning as well as measurement & verification, EAp1, EAc3 & EAc5 Increased mechanical ventilation increase energy consumption and affect EAp2 & EAc1 Installing ventilation monitoring can facilitate the achievement and maintenance of increased ventilation, IEQc1

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan During Construction IEQc3.1 Construction activities can affect a building after occupancy. Reduce levels of

indoor contaminants by implementing a construction IAQ management plan, IEQc3.2, selecting low emitting finish materials and furnishings, IEQc4, and isolating indoor pollutant sources, IEQc5

IEQc9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance IEQc2: Increased Ventilation EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification SSc4: Alternative Transportation EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning of Building Energy Systems EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAc5: Measurement and Verification IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring

IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQc4: Low Emitting Materials IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan During Construction

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQc3 CS projects are eligible for exemplary performance under ID when an indoor IAQ IEQc4: Low Emitting Materials management plan is enforced for 100% of the tenants There are a number of credit synergies between CS and CI offered as incentives IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control for CS projects to pursue CI certification

Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan Before Occupancy Comprehensive IAQ management plans consists of best practices both during construction and after construction prior to occupancy, IEQc3.1 IEQc3.2 Materials specified and installed within the external moisture barrier, as well as filtration, can affect air quality and influence the results for air quality testing, IEQc4 & IEQc5 Dilution of indoor air contaminants can be achieved by introducing outdoor air, IEQp1 & IEQc2

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc4: Low Emitting Materials IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance IEQc2: Increased Ventilation

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INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ)

Low Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.2, IEQc4.3, IEQc4.4, IEQc4.5 & IEQc4.6 Indoor environmental quality also includes occupant's auditory comfort and IEQc4.1 well being, IEQp3 & IEQc9 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.1, IEQc4.3, IEQc4.4, IEQc4.5 & IEQc4.6 IEQc4.2 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.1, IEQc4.2, IEQc4.4, IEQc4.5 & IEQc4.6 IEQc4.3 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.1, IEQc4.2, IEQc4.3, IEQc4.5 & IEQc4.6 IEQc4.4 Indoor environmental quality also includes occupant's auditory comfort and well being, IEQp3 & IEQc9 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

IEQc4.2: Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings IEQc4.3: Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems IEQc4.4: Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood & Agrifiber IEQc4.5: Low Emitting Materials - Furniture & Furnishings (Schools)

IEQc4.6: Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems (Schools) IEQp3: Minimum Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc4.1: Low Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants IEQc4.3: Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems IEQc4.4: Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood & Agrifiber IEQc4.5: Low Emitting Materials - Furniture & Furnishings (Schools)

IEQc4.6: Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems (Schools)

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc4.1: Low Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants IEQc4.2: Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings IEQc4.4: Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood & Agrifiber IEQc4.5: Low Emitting Materials - Furniture & Furnishings (Schools)

IEQc4.6: Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems (Schools)

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc4.1: Low Emitting Materials - Sealants and Adhesives IEQc4.2: Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings IEQc4.3: Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems IEQc4.5: Low Emitting Materials - Furniture & Furnishings (Schools)

IEQc4.6: Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems (Schools) IEQp3: Minimum Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control

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INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ)

Low Emitting Materials - Furniture and Furnishings The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.1, IEQc4.2, IEQc4.3, IEQc4.4 & IEQc4.6 IEQc4.5 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems The credit intent is to reduce odorous, irritating or harmful indoor air contaminants, IEQc4.1, IEQc4.2, IEQc4.3, IEQc4.4 & IEQc4.5 Indoor environmental quality also includes occupant's auditory comfort and IEQc4.6 well being, IEQp3 & IEQc9 Scheduling strategies and the use and tracking of building materials are part of the contractor orientation training, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 Indoor air quality is affected by sources generated within the building IEQp2 & IEQc5

IEQc4.1: Low Emitting Materials - Adhesives and Sealants IEQc4.2: Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings IEQc4.3: Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems IEQc4.4: Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood & Agrifiber IEQc4.6: Low Emitting Materials - Ceiling and Wall Systems (Schools)

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc4.1: Low Emitting Materials - Sealants and Adhesives IEQc4.2: Low Emitting Materials - Paints and Coatings IEQc4.3: Low Emitting Materials - Flooring Systems IEQc4.4: Low Emitting Materials - Composite Wood & Agrifiber IEQc4.5: Low Emitting Materials - Furniture & Furnishings (Schools)

IEQp3: Minimum Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc9: Enhanced Acoustical Performance (Schools) IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy IEQp2: Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction IEQc3.2: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - Before Occupancy Filtration media can remove contaminants from the air during construction and EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance during operation, IEQc3.1 & IEQc3.2 EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance IEQc5 Exhausting air can require additional fan energy and require commissioning, EAp1: Fund. Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc1 & EAp2, EAp1 & EAc3 EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning Filtration systems must be capable of accommodating the filtration media, IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQp1 & IEQc1 IEQc1: Outdoor Air Delivery Monitoring Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control

Controllability of Systems - Lighting Lighting systems are affected by window placement, glazing selection for daylight and views, IEQc8, and zoning strategies employed for thermal comfort IEQc6.1 controllability,IEQc6.2 Lighting systems affect energy performance, EAp2 & EAc1and are required to be commissioned, EAp1 and EAc3

Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort IEQc6.2 The intent of this credit is to enable individuals and groups in multioccupant spaces to control their thermal comfort, systems and maintenance

IEQc6

Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort

IEQc8: Daylight and Views IEQc6.2: Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAp1: Fund. Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning EAp1: Fund. Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning Eac5: Measurement and Verification IEQc5: Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control IEQc6.1: Controllability of Systems - Lighting (NC & Schools) IEQc8: Daylight and Views refer IEQc6.2

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INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (IEQ) Thermal comfort is affected by environmental conditions (air temperature, radiant temperature, relative humidity and air speed), personal factors (metabolic rate and clothing) and personal preferences. Thermal comfort can be controlled by active (HVAC) and passive (natural ventilation. Using both active IEQc7.1 and passive systems, the building's energy consumption can be reduced as well as optimizing comfort levels, EAp2, EAc1, EAc5 Thermal comfort systems should be commissioned, EAp1 & EAc3 Addressing and maintaining thermal comfort are also covered by IEQp1, IEQc2, IEQc6.2 & IEQc7.2

EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAc5: Measurement and Verification EAp1: Fund. Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc6.2: Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort IEQc7.2: Thermal Comfort - Verification

IEQc7

Thermal Comfort - Design

refer IEQc7.1

Thermal Comfort - Verification

EAc5: Measurement and Verification EAp1: Fund. Commissioning of the Building Energy Systems EAc3: Enhanced Commissioning IEQp1: Minimum Indoor Air Delivery Monitoring IEQc2: Increased Ventilation IEQc6.2: Controllability of Systems - Thermal Comfort IEQc7.1: Thermal Comfort - Design

Thermal Comfort - Design

Thermal comfort is affected by environmental conditions (air temperature, radiant temperature, relative humidity and air speed), personal factors (metabolic rate and clothing) and personal preferences. Thermal comfort IEQc7.2 systems should be measured & verified, EAc5, monitored, IEQp1, and commissioned, EAp1 & EAc3 Achieving thermal comfort by ventilation, IEQc2, and controlling, IEQc6.2 per system design parameters, IEQc7.1

Daylight and Views - Daylight Increasing the area of vision glazing can increase access to views from the IEQc8.1 building, IEQc8.2 Increased window-to-wall ration can alter energy performance, EAc1 & EAp2 Daylighting controls can maximize energy savings, IEQc6.1

Daylight and Views - Views

IEQc8.2: Daylight and Views - Views EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance IEQc6.1: Controllability of Systems - Lighting

Increasing the area of vision glazing can increase access to views from the IEQc8.2 building, IEQc8.1 Increased window-to-wall ration can alter energy performance, EAc1 & EAp2 Daylighting controls can maximize energy savings, IEQc6.1

IEQc8.1: Daylight and Views - Daylight EAc1: Optimize Energy Performance EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance IEQc6.1: Controllability of Systems - Lighting

Enhanced Acoustical Performance IEQc9 This credit is directly related to strategies and measures to achieve effective

IEQp3: Minimum Acoustical Performance (Schools)

acoustical performance, IEQp3

IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Mgt Plan - During Construction Mold Prevention IEQc10 Abating mold through preventative design and construction measures is treated IEQc7.1: Thermal Comfort - Design in IEQc3.1, IEQc7.1 & IEQc7.2 IEQc7.2: Thermal Comfort - Verification Innovation in Design (ID) IDc1.1 Innovation in Design IDc1.2 Innovation in Design IDc1.3 Innovation in Design IDc1.4 Innovation in Design IDc1.5 Innovation in Design IDc2

LEED® Accredited Professional

IDc3

The School as a Teaching Tool Regional Priority (RP)

RPc1.1 Regional Priority RPc1.2 Regional Priority RPc1.3 Regional Priority RPc1.4 Regional Priority www.studio4llc.com

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LEED Rating Systems: Detailed (taken from USGBC’s website) LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations LEED for New Construction was designed primarily for new commercial office buildings, but it has been applied to many other building types by LEED practitioners. All commercial buildings, as defined by standard building codes, are eligible for certification as LEED for New Construction buildings. Examples of commercial occupancies include offices, institutional buildings (libraries, museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings of 4 or more habitable stories. LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings. A major renovation involves major HVAC renovation, significant envelope modifications, and major interior rehabilitation. For a major renovation of an existing building, LEED for New Construction is the appropriate rating system. If the project scope does not involve significant design and construction activities and focuses more on operations and maintenance activities, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is more appropriate because it addresses operational and maintenance issues of working buildings. Some projects are designed and constructed to be partially occupied by the owner or developer, and partially occupied by others tenants. In such projects, the owner or developer has direct influence over the portion of the work that they occupy. For such a project to pursue LEED for New Construction certification, the owner or tenant must occupy more than 50% of the building’s leasable square footage. Projects in which 50% or less of the building’s leasable square footage is occupied by an owner should pursue LEED for Core & Shell certification. LEED for Core & Shell The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System is a market-specific application that recognizes the unique nature of core and shell development. The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System acknowledges the limited level of influence a developer can exert in a speculatively developed building. LEED for Core & Shell was developed to serve the speculative development market, in which project teams do not control all scopes of a whole building’s design and construction. Depending on how the project is structured, this scope can vary significantly from project to project. The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System addresses a variety of project types and a broad project range. LEED for Core & Shell can be used for projects in which the developer controls the design and construction of the entire core and shell base building (e.g., mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems) but has no control over the design and construction of the tenant fit-out. Examples of this type of project can be a commercial office building, medical office building, retail center, warehouse, and lab facility. If a project is designed and constructed to be partially occupied by the owner or developer, then the owner or developer has direct influence over that portion of the interior build-out work. For these projects to pursue LEED for Core & SUSTAINABLEIDEALS LEED® Green Associate Study Guide © 2009 Studio4, LLC All Rights Reserved

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LEED Rating Systems: Detailed Shell certification, the owner must occupy 50% or less of the building’s leasable square footage. Projects in which more than 50% of the building’s tenant space is occupied by a owner should pursue LEED for New Construction certification. LEED for Commercial Interiors LEED 2009 for Commercial Interiors addresses the specifics of tenant spaces primarily in office, retail, and institutional buildings. Tenants who lease their space or do not occupy the entire building are eligible. LEED for Commercial Interiors was designed to work hand-inhand with the LEED for Core & Shell certification system. LEED for Core & Shell is used by developers to certify the core and shell of a project; it prepares the building for environmentally conscious tenants. LEED for Schools, LEED for Healthcare and LEED for Retail are all derivatives of LEED for New Construction and LEED for Commercial Interiors. These rating systems are customized to the unique nature of each market segment. LEED for Schools LEED for Schools rating system recognizes the unique nature of the design and construction of K-12 schools. Based on the LEED for New Construction rating system, it addresses issues such as classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention and environmental site assessment. By addressing the uniqueness of school spaces and children’s health issues, LEED for Schools provides a unique, comprehensive tool for schools that wish to build green, with measurable results. LEED for Schools is the recognized third-party standard for high-performance schools that are healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective. As of April 20, 2007, all new construction and major renovations of K-12 school facilities seeking LEED certification must use the LEED for Schools Rating System. LEED for New Construction can no longer be used to certify K-12 school building projects. LEED for Schools is recommended for Early Education, Daycare, and Higher Education facilities. LEED for Healthcare LEED for Healthcare Green Building Rating System was developed to meet the unique needs of the health care market, including inpatient care facilities, licensed outpatient care facilities, and licensed long term care facilities. LEED for Healthcare may also be used for medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education & research centers. LEED for Healthcare addresses issues such as increased sensitivity to chemicals and pollutants, traveling distances from parking facilities, and access to natural spaces.

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LEED Rating Systems: Detailed LEED for Retail LEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of the retail environment and addresses the different types of spaces that retailers need for their distinctive product lines. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is the tool for the ongoing operations and maintenance of existing commercial and institutional buildings. LEED helps building owners and managers solve building problems, improve building performance, and maintain and improve this performance over time. LEED reduces cost streams associated with building operations, reduces environmental impacts, creates healthier and more productive employee workplaces, and provides public recognition for leadership in sustainability. The majority of requirements for LEED for Existing Building certification are operations and maintenance best practices. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance encourages owners and operators of existing buildings to implement sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impacts of their building over their functional life cycles. LEED for New Construction and Commercial Interiors Rating Systems focus largely on the construction and/or major renovation phase of a building. When the project is complete and the building is in operation, LEED for New Construction and Commercial Interiors have performed their intended task. The intent of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is to certify the operations and maintenance of the building and create a plan for ensuring high performance over time. The rating system captures both a building’s physical systems (equipment, design, land use, etc.) and the way the building is occupied and operated by its managers (waste management, temperature monitoring, commuting programs, etc.). A key goal of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance is to institutionalize a process of reporting, inspection and review over the lifespan of the building. So when LEED is applied to new construction and commercial interiors, the one time act of renovating, constructing or tenant fit-out is certified. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance certifies the completed and operated building as it functions on an ongoing basis. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance helps building owners and managers solve building problems, and improve building life cycle performance. The rating system is targeted at single buildings, whether owner occupied, multi-tenanted, or multiple-building campus projects and requires three months of operational data for an initial certification; any building construction must be complete for at least a three month span before LEED Certification can be pursued. Historic properties can also become certified under the rating system, and the USGBC has been working collaboratively with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to outline specific metrics that highlight and promote preservation activities as green building strategies.


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LEED Rating Systems: Detailed Existing buildings undergoing substantial renovations are eligible to become certified under LEED for Commercial Interiors, Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance (upon completion of the renovation and three months of occupancy/operation) or New Construction. Comparing the requirements of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance to other LEED Rating Systems will help you determine which rating system is better suited to your project type. LEED for Homes LEED for Homes is a rating system that promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes. A green home uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste, and is healthier and more comfortable for occupants. Benefits of a LEED home include lower energy and water bills; reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. The net cost of owning a LEED home is comparable to that of owning a conventional home. LEED for Homes, for single family and small multifamily homes, includes two additional categories: • Location and Linkages • Awareness and Education LEED for Neighborhood Development The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for neighborhood design and addresses the land use planning of an entire neighborhood, including buildings, infrastructure, street design and open space. LEED Certification provides independent, third-party verification that a development’s location and design meet accepted high levels of environmentally responsible, sustainable development. LEED for Neighborhood Development is a collaboration among USGBC, the Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council and is organized into entirely different categories: • Smart Location and Linkage • Neighborhood Pattern an Design • Green Infrastructure and Buildings

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LEED GA Study Guide-studio4.pdf

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