Page 57 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

38 Cha pte r T w o

Many states now have certification programs for ESC professionals, and a listing of
these can be found at www.cpesc.net. This is a good resource for a review of common
terminology and measures used for ESC in the United States. Additional information
on erosion and sediment control can be found in Chap. 10.

2.1 SS Credit 1: Site Selection

USGBC Rating System
The intention of this credit is to minimize the impact of building construction on natural
resources both on-site and nearby. This credit was worth one point in LEED 2.2 and is
worth one point in LEED 2009. LEED-NC 2.2 and 2009 list the Intent, Requirements,
and Potential Technologies and Strategies (2.2) for this credit as follows:

Intent
Avoid development of inappropriate sites and reduce the environmental impact from the
location of a building on a site.
Requirement
Do not develop buildings, hardscape, roads or parking areas on portions of sites that meet
any one of the following criteria:
• Prime farmland as defined by the United States Department of Agriculture in the
United States Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7, Volume 6, Parts 400 to 699, Section
657.5 (citation 7CFR657.5).
• Previously undeveloped land whose elevation is lower than 5 feet above the elevation
of the 100-year flood as defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA).
• Land which is specifically identified as habitat for any species on Federal or State
threatened or endangered lists.
• Land within 100 feet of any wetlands as defined by United States Code of Federal
Regulations 40 CFR, Parts 230–233 and Part 22, and isolated wetlands or areas of special
concern identified by state or local rule, OR within setback distances from wetlands
prescribed in state or local regulations, as defined by local or state rule or law, whichever
is more stringent.
• Previously undeveloped land that is within 50 feet of a water body, defined as seas,
lakes, rivers, streams, tributaries which support or could support fish, recreation or
industrial use, consistent with the terminology of the Clean Water Act.
• Land which prior to acquisition for the project was public parkland, unless land of
equal or greater value as parkland is accepted in trade by the public landowner (Park
Authority projects are exempt).

Potential Technologies and Strategies
During the site selection process, give preference to those sites that do not include sensitive
site elements and restrictive land types. Select a suitable building location and design the
building with the minimal footprint to minimize site disruption of those environmentally
sensitive areas as identified.
Calculations and Considerations
This credit tries to avoid disturbing pristine or special natural resources by selectively
locating buildings and the development footprint away from these resources or