Page 74 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

LEED Sustainable Sites 55

Special Circumstances and Exemplary Performance
There is not an exemplary performance point tied individually to SSc4.2; however, there
is an overall point that can be earned for a transportation plan as previously mentioned.

SS Credit 4.3: Alternative Transportation—Low-Emitting and Fuel-Efficient
Vehicles (LEFEVs) [and also Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs)]
Air quality and the global climate may be affected by emissions from motor vehicles
and the combustion of fossil fuels. This credit seeks to reduce these impacts by promoting
motor vehicles that have lower emissions either due to advanced or alternative designs
or due to high fuel efficiency. However, full life-cycle analyses should be considered
when changing to alternative fuels, as there may be other environment issues relating
to the manufacture or use of the fuels. This credit is worth three points in LEED 2009
and was worth one point in LEED 2.2.

USGBC Rating System
LEED-NC 2.2 lists the Intent, Requirements, and Potential Technologies and Strategies
for this credit as follows, with modifications to LEED 2009 as noted (the option numbers
have changed in the new version and the options have been reordered accordingly):

Intent
Reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use.
Requirements
OPTION 1 LEED 2009 (Was OPTION 2 in LEED 2.2)
Provide preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 5% of the total
vehicle parking capacity of the site. (LEED 2009 further clarifies that a discounted parking
rate is an acceptable substitute for low-emitting and fuel-efficient preferred parking and
requires that it must be discounted at least 20%, available to all customers, not just the
calculated 5% of the total vehicle parking capacity, publicly posted at the parking area
entrance and available for at least two years.)
OR
OPTION 2 LEED 2009 (Was OPTION 3 in LEED 2.2)
Install alternative-fuel refueling stations for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the
site (liquid or gaseous fueling facilities must be separately ventilated or located outdoors).
OR
OPTION 3 LEED 2009 (Was OPTION 1 in LEED 2.2)
Provide low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles for 3% of Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)
occupants AND provide preferred parking for these vehicles.
OR
OPTION 4 LEED 2009 (New Option in 2009)
This new option requires that a low-emitting or fuel-efficient vehicle sharing program be
provided for building occupants. In this program, at least one such vehicle is provided for
3% of the FTE occupants (assuming that the vehicle can carry eight persons this means one
vehicle for everyone 267 FTE occupants, or fraction thereof), the contract must be provided
for at least two years, customers served must be supported by documentation, a narrative
of the program must be submitted and parking for such vehicles must be in preferred
spaces.