Page 87 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

68 Cha pte r T w o

For all the cases, the submittal should include the total site area and the site and
landscape plans which highlight the open spaces, both those vegetated and, when
allowed, those not vegetated with the associated areas noted. For Case 1, also provide
the calculations for the open space as required by local code; and for Case 2, also provide
the area of the building footprint. As with SSc5.1, raised planters were not specifically
addressed in LEED-NC 2.2, but it is assumed that they too may count for urban areas
earning SSc2, but not for other projects. By raised planters, the author is referring to
decorative planters that are substantially raised from the ground surface, not curbed
landscape areas. Curbed landscape areas should count in all cases.
One of the suggested strategies is to stack the building program. This refers to the
architectural decision to try to build up, with facilities stacked upon each other, versus
building in a more sprawled outward design. Obviously, this would help reduce the
building and thus the development footprint.
The requirements to fulfill SSc5.2 for the three cases can be related to equations
which are based on the land area definitions as listed in the beginning of this chapter
and the three additional definitions as listed here:
OSZONE OSZONE represents the percent of the total area required to be open
space by local zoning code, if such a requirement exists.
VR VR is the vegetated roof area (see also SSc7.2).
PED25LS PED25LS represents the special pedestrian areas with a minimum of
25 percent landscaping.
Then each option has the following sets of equations:

LEED 2009 Case 1 One point is earned on most sites if
OS ≥ 1.25(OSZONE/100) × A (2.5.5)
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Or, on urban sites where SSc2 is also earned,
OS + VR + PED25LS ≥ 1.25(OSZONE/100) × A (2.5.6)
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LEED 2009 Case 2 One point is earned on most sites if

OS ≥ BF and is contiguous to it (2.5.7)
Or, on urban sites where SSc2 is also earned,
OS + VR + PED25LS ≥ BF (2.5.8)

LEED 2009 Case 3 One point is earned on most sites if

OS ≥ 0.2A (2.5.9)
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Or, on urban sites where SSc2 is also earned,
OS + VR + PED25LS ≥ 0.2A (2.5.10)
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Special Circumstances and Exemplary Performance
Many times when open spaces are next to walls with glazing, birds become confused by
the reflection of the open spaces and fly into the walls. Care should be taken that glazing