EPG: Chapter 6 - Sustainable Sites Flashcards
LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Guide LEED v4 Edition - Key Terms and Concepts in Chapter
The Sustainable Sites (SS) category closely addresses the environmental impacts of ___ design and management, ___water management, ___ ___ effect, and ___ pollution of a building site.
site / rain / heat island / light
albedo
metric to define the reflectivity of an object from darkest black to white using a scale from 0 to 1
aquifer
a body of saturated rock through wich water can easily move
biodiversity
variety of all life on earth including plants, animals, insects, micro-organisms, and humans
bioswale
a constructed rainwater control feature containing an engineered basin, soil, stone, and vegetation designed to reduce rainwater runoff and increase groundwater recharge
dry pond
an excavated area designed to hold rainwater during a rain event, but is dry when there is no precipitation
ecosystem
a complex set of interconnected relationships between the living organisms of a specific place that form a system
green infrastructure (GI)
the patchwork of natural areas that provide habitat, flood protection, clean air, and clean water at the scale of a city or country, or rainwater management systems that mimic nature by soaking up and storing water at the scale of a neighborhood or site
head island effect
the absorption of solar heat by hardscapes such as roofs, roads, parking lots, and sidewalks
impervious
vs
pervious
the characteristic of a material preventing the penetration of liquids and/or gasses
vs
the characteristic of a material allowing the penetration of liquids and/or gasses
integrated pest management (IPM)
a sustainable approach of pest control in an economical way while minimizing hazards to people, property and the environment
light trespass
the spillage of light across a project boundary onto neighboring sites
low impact development (LID)
a land management strategy that emulates natural systems to manage rainwater as close to its source as possible
native and adapted species
plants that are either native to the region or have adapted to the region and require little to no irrigation
nonpoint source pollution
water pollution caused by pollutants, such as gasoline, oil, salt, and fertilizers, which are washed into the nearest water bodies by rainwater runoff
rain garden
a depressed area of ground containing soil, stone, vegetation that is designed to catch and slow rainwater
rainwater harvesting
precipitation captured with a cistern or other catchment device from outside the building for use in irrigation, flush fixtures, or building processes, but not for potable uses
rainwater runoff
water from precipitation that runs off of impervious surfaces into the nearest water bodies and sewer systems
solar reflectance index (SRI)
a metric from 0 to 100 that measures how well a material reflects solar heat, with higher numbers signifying better reflectance
watershed
the area of land where all of the water that is under it or drains off of it goes to the same place
xeriscaping
landscaping designed to reduce or eliminate potable water use in irrigation through the planting of native and adapted species of vegetation and the use of other water-conserving techniques
Project using the LEED BD+C: ____ and ____ rating systems MUST perform an environmental site assessment.
What does this prerequisite in SS require?
Schools and Healthcare
SS Prerequisite - Environmental Site Assessment requires that the site receives a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment to determine if there are any contaminants as described in ASTM E1527-05. If contamination seems evident, a Phase II assessment must be conducted. (Phase II indicates remediation must occur).
What is the primary goal of the SS Prerequisite - Construction Activity Pollution Prevention?
What does this prerequisite require?
Reducing the impact of pollution on the building site due to construction activity (by controlling soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, and the generation of airborne dust).
Therefore, it is required to create and implement an erosion and sedimentation control plan for all construction activities.
What are some examples of site operational procedures that can be used to fulfill the SS Prerequisite - Construction Activity Pollution Prevention?
silt fencing, control erosion, watering down the site, putting down gravel to control airborne dust, using filtration materials around inlets to control sedimentation.
The strategy of reducing footprint is important for…?
cost savings and reduction of environmental impact of the project
Building ___ rather than “out” maximizes the FAR of a building project.
“up”
The SS Credit - Open Space requires project teams to provide outdoor space greater than or equal to ___% of the total site area.
30%
A prerequisite for the LEED O+M: ____ rating system is SS Prerequisite - Site Management Policy.
What is the intent of this prerequisite?
Existing Buildings
The intent is to preserve ecological integrity and encourage environmentally sensitive site management practices that provide a clean, well-maintained, and safe building exterior and landscape.
What is the intent of SS Credit - Rainwater Management?
To reduce rainwater runoff and improve water quality by duplicating the natural hydrology and water balance of the site. Rainwater may be captured to reduce the building’s potable water use.
What are the two steps to do to earn points under SS Credit - Rainwater Management?
- reduce the amount of impervious areas that cause runoff
- manage runoff by using green infrastructure and low-impact development techniques.
What is the most popular alternatives to pervious surface for rooftops?
green (vegetated) roof
What is the challenge of using porous, permeable surfaces?
They are not only permeable to water, but also salt and soil. They will clog up over time so must be periodically cleaned to retain their permeability.
Rainwater cannot be used for ___.
Drinking.
Note that rainwater harvesting is typically prohibited in states with drought issues (ie Western states) because water is allocated for downstream users.
What does a passive rainwater management system do?
How about an active one?
It redirects rainwater to planted areas where it is allowed to saturate the soil.
On the other hand, an active rainwater management system captures, stores, and later transports rainwater to the desired application area.
Flushing toilets use ___% of treated domestic water.
30%
Using harvested rainwater instead of treated water for toilets could greatly reduce the demand for treated water.
Gabion
collection of rocks or boulders held together using wire mesh or metal fabric to reduce soil erosion. It slows the movement of water, which allows for saturation into the soil.
What two strategies can be implemented in order to address the SS Credit - Heat Island Reduction?
- Reduce Exposed Hardscapes
- Use High-Reflectance Materials
High-reflectance materials have a low or high SR/SRI rating?
A high SR/SRI rating is lighter in color and more reflective.
What are the 3 main forms of light pollution?
Define their effect on light pollution.
uplight, glare, and light trespass
- Uplight causes artificial sky glow
- Glare is caused by high-angled front lighting
- Light trespass is caused by misdirecting light onto adjacent sites and unintended directions
What are 2 strategies you can do to meet the SS Credit - Light Pollution Reduction?
- Install sensors and timers
- Eliminate unnecessary lighting (ie avoid overlighting)
Strategic Lighting
helps eliminate overlight by locating fixtures appropriately and reducing the number of fixtures required
Smart Fixtures
utilize proper shielding to focus light downward and to intended areas; may utilize motion sensors; are BUG rated
What is a BUG rating?
classifies luminairs according to their potential to generate light pollution (backlight, upright, and glare). A low BUG rating means lower light pollution.
