Page 53 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

34 Cha pte r T w o

Exemplary performance (EP) points under the Innovation and Design category
are available, which relate to several items in the Sustainable Sites category. One is
available for the SSc4 Alternative Transportation subcategory as a whole for an
overall transportation management plan, and one is available in LEED 2009 for the
SSc6 Stormwater Design subcategory as a whole for a stormwater management plan
that covers both quantity and quality control beyond the requirements. Six additional
point options are also available with one point related directly to six of the individual
credits. These are available for exceeding each of the respective credit criteria to a
minimum level and meeting other criteria as noted in the credit descriptions for
SSc2, SSc4.1, SSc5.1, SSc5.2, SSc7.1, and SSc7.2. However, the EP point for SSc4.1 and
the EP point for the overall SSc4 transportation plan cannot both count in LEED
2009. There are no EP points available for the other subcategories or credits in the
Sustainable Sites category. The items available for EP points in this category are
shown in Table 2.0.0 for both of the versions. Note that only a maximum total of four
EP points are available in total for a project in LEED 2.2 and a maximum of three in
LEED 2009 and they may be from any of the noted EP options in any of the SS, WE,
EA, MR, or IEQ LEED categories (see Chap. 7).
Table 2.0.1 also has a column that notes the importance of the site boundary and site
area in the credit calculations or verification. These are variables that should be
determined early in a project as they impact many of the credits. Some of the credits are
easier to obtain if the site area is less, while others are easier to obtain if the site area is
greater. Determination of the site area may sometimes be flexible, particularly for campus
locations, but it should be reasonable and must be consistent throughout the LEED
process, as well as in agreement with other nearby project submissions. It is mentioned
again in Chap. 8 as an important variable to analyze early and set in a project.

Land Area Definitions
Many of the Sustainable Sites credits relate to the site land area and the areas within the
sites that are developed or not developed in certain ways (see Fig. 2.0.1). To understand
this better, it is helpful to define the various portions of the site. Definitions as given by
LEED-NC 2.2 for many of these site areas are given in App. B.
Let the following symbols represent the various areas of a site:
A Total area of the lot (also referred to as the total project site area)
T
BF Building footprint—the planar projection of the built structures onto the
land
DF Development footprint—total building and hardscape areas
EQR Total roof areas that are covered by equipment and/or solar
appurtenances and other appurtenances
HS Hardscape: All nonbuilding manmade hard surface on the lot such as
parking areas, walks, drives, and patios. Hardpacked areas such as
gravel parking areas are included. Pools, fountains, and similar
water-covered areas are included if they are on impervious surfaces
which can be exposed when the water is emptied.
LSMAN Manmade or graded landscaped area totals
LSNAT Natural landscaped area totals