SS (Sustainable Sites) Flashcards
Which tool would a project team use to calculate the 95th percentile rainfall event for SS Credit Rainwater Management?
USGBC Rainfall Events Calculator
A project site’s total area 100,000 SF (9,290 m2), of which 80,000 SF (7,432 m2) is previously developed. The building has a FAR of 1.8. The project team is considering installing an 8,000 SF (740 m2) green roof. If the green roof is installed, how much additional area would need to be restored to earn SS Credit Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat?
If a project has a FAR of at least 1.5, a green roof counts toward the 30% required restoration of the previously developed area.
80,000 SF (7,432 m2) X 30% = 24,000 SF (2,230 m2)
24,000 SF - 8,000 SF = 16,000 SF
Community leaders are meeting with the school board to discuss sharing some of a new school’s facilities. If the community engages in a contract with the school for dedicated-use spaces, in addition to providing access to toilets what other space types would qualify for SS Credit Joint Use of Facilities?
Police office and a parking lot
When a school is providing space, contracts are used for Option 2, which requires 2 dedicated-use spaces in the building. Access to toilets after normal school hours is required. Some of the potential shared facilities include:
commercial office; health clinic; community service centers; police office; library or media center;
parking lot; and one or more commercial businesses.
A map with a walkshed boundary
Project teams pursuing Option 2: Pedestrian Access need to delineate a walkshed boundary using mapping software (GIS or CAD). The walkshed boundary varies based on the age or grade level of the school. Points are earned based on the percentage of students in the boundary.
Open space adjacent to the building could count toward the credit.
Shared open spaces, such as a park, that are used by multiple buildings within the same site master plan that are not LEED projects can be included in the open space and vegetation calculation.
What percentage of parking spaces must be placed under cover to achieve SS Credit Heat Island Reduction?
75%
A project’s total site area is 280,000 SF (26,000 m2). The total previously developed area on site is 100,000 SF (9,290 m2). The building FAR is 1.7. How much financial support would an owner have to provide to earn SS Credit Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat?
This type of question will likely include additional, extraneous information to cause confusion. For Option 2 Financial Support, the requirement is as follows:
$0.40/SF ($4/m2) for the total site area including the building footprint.
280,000 X $0.40 = $112,000
A schools project in a suburban location is building on a previously developed site. The project site area is 174,240 SF. The building footprint is 65,000 SF and there are 20,000 SF of access roads and parking area. How much of the site does the project have to restore to earn a SS Credit Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat?
30% of the site including the building footprint must be restored.
174,240 X 0.3 = 52,272 SF
A project’s total site area is 280,000 SF (26,000 m2). At the beginning of a project, a landscape architect has categorized all areas of a site as either greenfield (180,000 SF/16,700 m2) or previously developed (100,000 SF/9,290 m2). Which strategy could the project team use to earn SS Credit Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat?
First, preserve and protect 40% of the greenfield area - NOT 40% of the site.
The correct choice indicates 100% of the greenfield will be preserved, which meets the 40% minimum.
Then choose 1 of 2 options:
Restore 30% (including building footprint) of all portions of the site identified as previously developed,
OR
Provide financial support (donated land does not count).
Restore 100,000 X 30% = 30,000 SF (2,787 m2)
For international projects using products that may not have SRI values, which actions should the project team take to make purchasing decisions for materials that can mitigate the heat island effect?
Send material samples to labs for testing
Compare materials listed in the Cool Roof Rating Council Standard Database
Notes:
Comparisons can be made to other materials in the Cool Roof Rating Council Standard. Also samples can be sent to labs for testing.
A lighting designer has completed the lighting boundary for a project site and is gathering data on luminaires to use for the BUG method for SS Credit Light Pollution Reduction. Some of the luminaires do not have BUG ratings. Which action should the project team take next?
Use software to calculate the BUG rating for the luminaires that don’t have ratings
The BUG rating method is the easiest approach for the credit. If some of the lights don’t have BUG ratings, software can be used to calculate them.
A building planned for a previously developed site has a zero-lot-line and a single flat roof. The project has a FAR of 1.7. Given that the project will earn LT Credit Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses what additional credits could be earned by installing an intensive vegetated roof?
SS Credit Heat Island Reduction
Green roofs will help contribute to SS Credit Heat Island Reduction.
SS Credit Site Development-Protect or Restore Habitat
This credit could be earned if the FAR is 1.5 or more.
SS Credit Open Space
This credit could be earned if the FAR is 1.5 or more.
The total site area (including the building footprint) of a project is 100,000 SF. The project has a FAR of 1.75. How much vegetated area is required to earn SS Credit Open Space?
The FAR does not increase the quantity of open space or vegetated area required.
30% of the total site area (including the building footprint) must be open space.
Of that percent, 25% must be vegetated.
100,000 SF X 30% = 30,000 SF
30,000 SF X 25% = 7,500 SF
Project teams choosing on-site restoration for SS Credit Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat must restore which elements?
Habitat and soil restoration is required.
