by Dan Shalloway
Special to GreenGroup.com
LEED Accredited Professional

In my last column I discussed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) system used by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED system is a point based system where you earn credits in different categories in order to qualify as a Green Building. The first category we will examine is “Sustainable Sites,” and we will look at ways Green Builders looking for LEED certification can earn points in this category.

The credit system for Sustainable Sites is designed to reward building projects that reduce the environmental impact on the land on which they are erected. The system discourages development of prime farmland, land within flood plains, and land with endangered species habitat or wetlands. In addition it also discourages building on land that was previously used as public parkland. Points are given for redevelopment of sites, urban areas and brownfields.

Once a site is selected, points are scored for protecting or restoring habitat. On a Greenfield site (those that remain natural), every effort is made to limit the footprint of development. On disturbed sites an effort is made to restore a portion with native habitat. Maximizing open space above and beyond that required by the local zoning ordinance earns a credit.

Resolving transportation issues provides a great opportunity begin to obtain credits. Points are scored for projects located close to bus stops or commuter rail lines. Even if a site is not located next to mass transit, you can earn a point for providing bicycle racks and changing rooms. In order to reduce the impacts of commuting, there are credits for encouraging carpooling. You can earn these credits by simply offering preferred parking for low carbon emitting and fuel efficient vehicles.

Addressing stormwater issues also scores points. Methods are outlined to improve both the quantity and quality of stormwater. An impact of site development that most of us haven not considered is heat island effect. Points can be scored by minimizing the impact on microclimate and human and wildlife habitat. This is accomplished by shading paved areas or using open grid paving systems. The heat island effect can also be reduced by utilizing roofs or pavement with a high Solar Reflective Index (SRI). One of the hot topics of discussion in the sustainable building community these days is vegetated roofs. Vegetated roofs not only score points in this category but other categories we will be examining in future columns.

The final way to earn a credit is by reducing light pollution. The purpose is to reduce sky-glow in order to increase night sky access, improve nighttime visibility through glare reduction and reduce development impact on nocturnal environments.

We’ve covered all of this and we haven’t even gone inside the building yet!

As you can see, there is a lot more to Building Green than you might expect. Next week we will look at Water Efficiency.

Dan Shalloway is a Professional Engineer and a LEED Accredited Professional by the US Green Building Council. He writes a weekly column for GreenGroup.com. He is also the Developer of Florida’s first Green Industrial Park. In next week's column, Mr. Shalloway will explore the topic of Water Efficiency in relationship to Green Building.