SS Flashcards
SS acronym
Sustainable Sites
SS overall purpose
The sustainable sites category focuses on the vital relationship among ecosystems, ecosystem services, and buildings.
It emphasizes:
integrating the site with regional and local ecosystems,
restoring project site elements, and
preserving the biodiversity of natural systems
SS facts
A National survey in 2014 estimated that of the earth’s “natural capital”: coral reefs, woodlands, forests, and other ecosystems that provide regenerative services, approximately 60% of what has been accessed worldwide is currently used unsustainably or considered irreversibly degraded.
This results in soil erosion, deforestation, disappearing rivers, drops in water table levels, and the extinction of species.
Eutrophication
A process in which a body of water becomes rich in dissolved nutrients from fertilizers or sewage, thereby encouraging the growth and decomposition of oxygen-depleting plant life and resulting in harm to other organisms
SS measures
Specific measures rewarded by LEED sustainable sites credits:
Construction activity pollution prevention
Site development that protects or restores habitat
Storm water design with quality and quality control
Heat island reduction for non-roof and roof materials
Light pollution reduction
SS core concepts
Management and design of the site: Stewardship of the site Site development Light pollution reduction Pest management integration
Management of storm water
Storm water quantity reduction and water quality protection
Impervious surface impact
SS strategies: brownfields
Local state and federal governments offering financial incentives for the clean up and reuse of Brownfield sites (contain hazardous substances, pollutants or chemicals) to promote water quality protection, low impact development, and Smart growth.
SS strategies and technologies
- Protect or restore habitat during site development
- Restore, plan for or protect open spaces
- Manage and intercept Stormwater
- Apply cool roof technologies
- Reduce duration of lighting use and lighting density, comply with dark sky requirements.
SSP: Construction activity pollution prevention
purpose
Controls airborne dust, soil erosion, waterway sedimentation, and reduces pollution from construction sites.
SSP: Construction activity pollution prevention
concept
This prerequisite encourages project teams to reduce construction project disturbances three water systems, the site, and neighboring properties in the event that local codes do not require such measures.
Review the EPA CGP, a United States national standard, to guarantee that all projects implement ESC measures during construction.
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency
GCP
Construction General Permit
ESC
Erosion and sedimentation control
SSP: Environmental Site Assessment
purpose
To make sure the site is
evaluated for environmental contamination,
remediates the environmental contamination if needed, and
protects the health of vulnerable populations.
SSP: Environmental Site Assessment
concept
Contamination that exists on the the building sites has the potential to harm future occupants. Ground water or soil they have contaminants left by previous uses for existing buildings would have hazardous materials such as asbestos for lead.
Certain populations such as hospital patients couple young children, or the elderly are more susceptible to hazardous materials. Identifying and mediating environmental contamination can provide a safer environment for everyone.
Use ASTM ESA methodology for identifying investigating a site environmental contamination. Local standard assessments are acceptable if they are at least as stringent as ASTM phase I and II ESA.
ASTM
American Society for Testing Materials
ESA
Environmental Site Assessment
Phase I ESA
Phase I: involves a review of records, a site inspection, and interviews with owners, occupants, neighbors and local government officials.
Phase II ESA
Phase II: If a Phase I ESA identifies potential contamination of the site by hazardous materials, a Phase II ESA may be conducted.
Includes sampling and laboratory analysis to confirm the presence of
hazardous materials.
SSC: Site assessment
purpose
Evaluates site conditions to assist related design decisions and assesses sustainable options for design.
SSC: Site Assessment
concept
Site assessment assesses environmental features that should be considered in the design of sustainable site and building.
It identifies assets such as good solar access, healthy plant populations, favorable site conditions…
As well as liabilities such as steep slopes, pollution sources, blighted structures, unhealthy soils, and extreme clinic patterns.
Site assessment assists good design decisions and it is a critical part of an integrative design process.
Site assessment assists good design decisions and it is a critical part of an integrative design process.
A good assessment performed before or during the conceptual design phase can
honor a site’s unique characteristics,
promote occupant health, and
reduce project risks and costs.
It is important to understand how a site’s climate, ambient air quality, topography, soil types, and water availability can impact the project’s ultimate performance and design.
SSC: Protect/restore habitat
purpose
Restores damaged areas to
promote biodiversity,
provide habitat, and
protect existing natural areas
SSC: Protect/restore habitat
concept
Project teams should conserve and preserve high-quality or intact native ecosystems, including their soils, hydrology, sensitive species habitats, native vegetation, and wildlife corridors.
Buildings should be situated to properly protect undeveloped land.
In previously developed sites consideration should be given to restoring hydrology, soils and native plants because they manage and filter rainwater, improve the viability of ecological communities, and fulfill other ecosystem functions.
This credit encourages teams to first consider on-site restoration, but when this is not possible, consider off-site restoration and conservation.
SSC: open space
purpose
To create exterior open space that promotes interaction with the environment, passive recreation, social interaction, and physical activities.
SSC: open space
concept
Connects building occupants with the outdoors can improve their productivity and well-being.
Open spaces can
Reduce heat island effect
Provide increased rainwater infiltration
Contribute to habitat creation and the link habitat corridors in urban areas
Open spaces may include: Paved plazas, turf lawns, preserved habitats, vegetated roofs, community gardens.
SSC: Rainwater Management
purpose
Based on undeveloped ecosystems and historical conditions in the region, replicates the natural water balance and hydrology of the site to improve water quality and reduce runoff volume.
SSC: Rainwater Management
concept
Conventional site development compact soil creating impervious surfaces which change natural drainage patterns leading to loss of vegetation and destruction of natural watersheds and hydrological systems.
Typical rain water management pipes runoff into large centralized facilities at the base of drainage areas as quickly as possible. This promotes efficient drainage and prevents flooding, but also increases the peak flow, temperature, volume, and duration of water - it erodes streams, harms watersheds, and causes other ecological damage.
LID and GI rain water management strategies mimic a site’s natural hydrology, treat rainwater as a resource rather than a waste product.
This credit aims to limit the amount of the impervious cover on a site, minimize disturbed areas on the site and encourages filtering, infiltrating, storing, detaining, or evaporating rainwater on site or close to its source.
LID
Low Impact Development
GI
Green Infrastructure
SSC: Heat Island Rediction
purpose
Reduces heat islands and minimizes effects on human and wildlife habitats and microclimates.
SSC: Heat Island concept
Dark surfaces like roads, parking, walkways, grooves etc. absorb most of the suns warmth radiates heat, affect microclimate, and create heat islands.
In urban areas temperatures are 1.8º to 5.4° higher on average than that of developed areas, and as much as 22º hotter in the evenings.
Negative consequences of this include:
Inhospitable habitats for animals and plants
Larger cooling demands in the summer for HVAC systems
Greater electricity use
Increased greenhouse gas emissions
Increased operating costs for buildings
SR
solar reflectance
SRI
Solar relfectance index (three-year aged SR)
SRI concept
SRI is the most effective measure of the ability of a roofing material to project solar heat
However in this credit SR is used to measure the solar heat rejection of non-proof materials such as shading devices, vegetation, and other less reflective components.
To measure material performance overtime a product’s three-year-aged SR or SRI in addition to the product’s original values.
This credit encourages project teams to adopt high– SR or high-SRI materials such as shaded parking and vegetation and reduced hardscape.
SSC: Light pollution reduction
purpose
Reduces the consequences of development for people and wildlife
Improves nighttime visibility, and
Increases night sky access.
SSC: Light pollution reduction
concept
if done correctly, exterior lighting offers comfort, extended productive hours, security, safety, aesthetics, building identification, and way-finding. If done incorrectly it can also cause light pollution.
Hi angle front light causes glare. Artificial sky glow is caused by uplight, spotlights can often create backlight and trespass onto the adjacent sites.
3 forms of LP
glare
uplight
light tresspass
SSC: light pollution reduction
concept
This credit requires: implementing an appropriate control strategy, locating lights properly, selecting appropriate luminaires, specifying only necessary lighting
This credit offers two choices for compliance
A new backlight, uplight and glare rating method
A calculation method (From LEED v3)
BUG
backlight, uplight, and glare
IES
Illuminating Engineering Society
IDA
International Dark-Sky Association
MLO
Model Lighting Ordinance
The IES/IDA MLO is the reference standard for light pollution prevention
System-specific credits
Schools:
Site Master Plan
Joint Use of Facilities
Core and shell:
Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines
Healthcare:
Places of Respite
Direct Exterior Access
