LEED Citizens Guide

8/3/2019 LEED Citizens Guide

1/44

A Citiens Guide to LEED o

Neighbohood Deelopment:How to Tell if Development isSmart and Green

LEED or Neighborhood Development was jointly developed by the U.S. Green Building

Council, Natural Resources Deense Council, and the Congress or the New Urbanism.

It is administered by the U.S. Green Building Council.


2/44

Acknowledgements

The Citizens Guide to LEED-ND was developed by Raimi + Associates and the Natural Resources DeenseCouncil (NRDC), with guidance by a national advisory committee o experts in smart growth andLEED-ND, and input rom diverse local and regional advocates. A special thank you to all those contributorsand committee members who have reely given their time and expertise.

Authos

Aaron Welch Raimi + AssociatesKaid Beneld Natural Resources Deense CouncilMatt Raimi Raimi + Associates

Adisoy Committee

Eliot Allen Criterion PlannersJessica Millman Agora Development Company, ormer LEED-ND Core Committee ChairDr. Bridget Jones Cumberland TomorrowJustin Horner Natural Resources Deense CouncilElizabeth Schilling Smart Growth America

John Bailey 1,000 Friends o MinnesotaTrisha White Deenders o Wildlie

Othe Contibutos

Anthony Clark Natural Resources Deense CouncilRachel Sohmer Natural Resources Deense CouncilMarissa Ramirez Natural Resources Deense CouncilCarlita Salazar Natural Resources Deense CouncilMeredith Glaser Raimi + AssociatesMatthew Burris Raimi + AssociatesBeth Altshuler Raimi + AssociatesMeghan Bogaerts U.S. Green Building Council

Jerey Lovshin U.S. Green Building CouncilSophie Lambert U.S. Green Building CouncilAnn Cheng TransFormJoe DiSteano Calthorpe AssociatesConnor Merrigan Governors Energy Oce, State o ColoradoAdam Garcia Greenbelt AllianceMarla Wilson Greenbelt AllianceMatt Taecker City o Berkeley, CaliorniaSteve Lawton The Congress or New Urbanism (Northern Caliornia Chapter) and NU VenturesPaul Zykosky Local Government CommissionVu-Bang Nguyen Urban HabitatDover, Kohl & Partners

COVER PHOTOS: Denver, Colorado Credit: Charles Perry/Perry Rose LLC; Bike-only street, Amsterdam Credit: Aaron Welch/Raimi + Associates;Portland, Oregon Credit: Alex Abboud; San Diego trolly RACTOD/www.ReconnectingAmerica.org; Idaho Falls, Idaho Credit: Lisa Town; Chicago, Illinois Credit: Tim Schapke

NRDC Director o Communications: Phil Gutis

NRDC Deputy Director o Communications: Lisa Goredi

NRDC Publications Director: Anthony Clark

NRDC Publications Editor: Carlita Salazar

Production: Tanja Bos

A Citizens Guide to LEED or Neighborhood Development: How to Tell i Development is Smart and Green


3/44

I 1

A Citizens Guide to LEED or Neighborhood Development

Table o Contents

1. How to Use This Guide .................................................................................................................. 2

How the Guide Is Organized ............................................................................................................ 3

2. What is a Sustainable Neighbohood? ......................................................................................... 4

3. Smat Location and Linkage: Whee to Build .............................................................................. 5

Smart Locations ............................................................................................................................. 5

Design with Nature ........................................................................................................................ 5

Connected Neighborhoods ............................................................................................................ 6

Public Transit .................................................................................................................................. 7

4. Neighbohood Patten and Design: What to Build ..................................................................... 8

Neighborhoods that Use Land Efciently....................................................................................... 8

Diverse and Convenient Neighborhoods........................................................................................ 9

Walkable Streets ............................................................................................................................ 9

Reduced Parking and Transportation Demand ............................................................................. 10

Bicycle-Friendly Design ................................................................................................................ 10

Mixed Uses and Community Spaces ........................................................................................... 11

5. Geen Inastuctue and Buildings: How to Manage Enionmental Impacts ...................... 13

Green Buildings ............................................................................................................................ 13

Reusing Older Buildings ............................................................................................................... 14

Reducing Pollution ....................................................................................................................... 14

Keeping Things Cool .................................................................................................................... 15

Neighborhood-Wide Energy ......................................................................................................... 15

Recycling and Reuse .................................................................................................................... 16

6. How Can LEED-ND Help Impoe You Community?................................................................ 17

1. Evaluate Development Proposals ............................................................................................ 17

2. Improve Development Proposals ............................................................................................. 18

3. Guide Improvements to Existing Neighborhoods .................................................................... 18

4. Inorm Community Planning and Zoning .................................................................................. 195. Inorm State, Local, and Regional Policy .................................................................................. 21

7. Supplementay Mateials ............................................................................................................ 22

Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklist ..................................................................... 23

LEED-ND Rating System Summary ............................................................................................. 33

LEED and LEED-ND Basics .......................................................................................................... 36


4/44

I2


How To Use This Guide

This guide is a plain-English reerence aid designed to help you improve your community and neighborhood.

It explains a sophisticated and innovative set o environmental standards called LEED or NeighborhoodDevelopment (LEED-ND). The name LEED stands or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, aprogram administered by the U.S. Green Building Council, a private, non-prot organization. You may knowLEED as a program that evaluates and certies green buildings across the country.

LEED-ND takes the green certicationconcept beyond individual buildings andapplies it to the neighborhood context.In particular, LEED-ND contains a set omeasurable standards that collectivelyidentiy whether a development or proposeddevelopment o two buildings or more

can be deemed environmentally superior,considering the developments location andaccess, its internal pattern and design, andits use o green technology and buildingtechniques. These standards includeprerequisites (required as a baseline orsustainable neighborhood development) andcredits (additional best practice standardsor sustainable neighborhood development).

The LEED-NDs standards may be downloaded in their entirety rom the U.S. Green Building Councilsneighborhoods page at: www.usgbc.org/neighborhoods.

LEED-ND was developed primarily or application in situations where private developers pursuingenvironmentally sound principles would nd it in their interest to obtain a green stamp o approval ortheir projects. But the system is not only a certication system or green projects. It is also a ready-made seto environmental standards or land development. The standards can be useul to anyone interested in bettercommunity planning and design, including neighbors, citizens, community organizations and leaders,government ocials, and others.

Co-developed by the Natural Resources Deense Council, the Congress or the New Urbanism, and theU.S. Green Building Council, LEED-ND takes a broad approach to neighborhood sustainability, refecting themost current research and ideas about smart, green, sustainable, and well-designed neighborhoods. When usedor ormal certication, LEED-ND is rigorous and complex, but the principles behind the system are much

simpler. The purpose o this Citizens Guide is to make those principles easier to understand and use in a variety ocircumstances. We believe the guide can be useul or citizens with a wide variety o interests, including:

n Smart growth and land use planning

n Transportation

n Sustainable design and livable cities

n Environmental advocacy and natural resource protection

Jerey Lovshin/ U.S. Green Building CouncilLEED Rating Systems

n Housing and aordability

n Climate change and action

n Equity and social justice

n Public health


5/44

I 3


HOW THE GUIDE IS OrGANIzED

You may wish to read the Citizens Guide section by section in its entirety, or simply use the Table o Contentsto nd topics o particular interest.

This introductory section is ollowed by one called What is a Sustainable Neighborhood? that establishes a

rame or the three that ollow, each illuminating a key concept or neighborhood sustainability, reerencingthe LEED-ND credits and prerequisites that inorm each concept.

These are ollowed by How Can LEED-ND Help Improve Your Community? which provides somecreative suggestions to get you started using LEED-NDs diverse standards in your own community.These suggestions include using LEED-ND to evaluate and improve development proposals, to guideimprovements to existing neighborhoods, to inorm community planning and zoning, and otherpolicy-making.

Following this are supplementary materials, including a Sustainable Neighborhood DevelopmentChecklist. The checklist is a sort o crib sheet or every LEED-ND credit and prerequisite, presentingthem in an easy-to-use ormat or evaluating development proposals, assessing existing neighborhoods,and inorming community planning and policy. It is organized by topic, so you can use it in its entirety orjust to evaluate certain topics. The checklist includes an optional scoring exercise so you can calculate whatthe LEED-ND score would or the project you are assessing. It is also a great source or nationally-testedstandards or numerical thresholds to incorporate into design guidelines, planning policy, or other work youare doing.

Finally, the supplementary materials include a summary o the LEED-ND Rating System, and a summary othe basics o ormal LEED and LEED-ND certication procedures.


6/44

I4


What is a SustainableNeighborhood?

LEED-ND was designed to refect the key aspects oneighborhood sustainability. Understanding these conceptsand their relationship to each other can provide citizenswith guidance and technical prowess as they work in theirown neighborhoods and communities.

This section o the guide provides a snapshot oneighborhood sustainability by summarizing the keystrategies o the LEED-ND Rating System, which is organizedinto three basic sections:

n Smr Lin nd Linge (SLL)where to build

n Neighbrhd Pern nd Design (NPD)what to build

n Green Infrsrre nd Bildings (GIB)how to

manage environmental impacts

WHAT IS A NEIGHBOrHOOD?

LEED-ND applies to neighborhoods and parts o neighborhoods. But a neighborhood is more than

territory within a boundary drawn on a map. At best, it is a place with its own unique character andunction, where people can live, work, shop, and interact with their neighbors. The most sustainableneighborhoods tend to exhibit high levels o walkability, a sense o place, social cohesion and stability,and neighborhood resiliency amidst changing economic and sociopolitical conditions. As summarizedby architects Andres Duany and Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, good traditional neighborhoods include:

n A discernible center

n Housing within a ve minute walk othe center

n A variety o dwelling types

n A variety o stores and commercial activity

n Flexible backyard ancillary buildings orworking or living

n A school within walking distance

n Playgrounds near all dwellings

n Connected streets

n Narrow, shaded streets conducive topedestrians and cyclists

n Buildings close to the street at apedestrian scale

n Parking or garages placed behind buildings

and away rom street rontagesn Prominent civic and public buildings

n A community decision process ormaintenance, security, and neighborhooddevelopment

Credit: Jerey Lovshin/U.S. Green Building

Council

LEED-ND Credit

Breakdown


7/44

I 5


Smart Location and Linkage:Where to Build

LEED-ND can be used to help you discern whether a proposed developmentor even an existingneighborhood, plan, or policyrates as a good one when compared to environmental and communitycriteria. When making this determination, the rst question to ask may be the most basic o all: Is this agood place to build something? LEED-ND encourages strategies that conserve resources such as reinvestingwithin existing neighborhoods, cleaning up contaminated sites, protecting natural areas, and acilitatingconnections to the surrounding community.

SMArT LOCATIONS

Selecting and planning or the location o development isundamental to environmental sustainability and, according

to research, the most important determinant o how muchresidents will drive.1 Even i a building or larger developmentuses green construction techniques, a poor location thatdestroys natural areas, requires people to drive long distances,or exposes people to toxic substances will likely overshadow

the benets o green construction. Building on, or redeveloping, preisly deelped sies (wherethere has been previous construction or paving) and inll sites (which are surrounded or mostlysurrounded by previously developed land) is a key smart growth strategy. As a result, it is strongly rewardedin the LEED-ND rating system. Building in these locations uses land eciently and preserves open space,ecological areas, and agricultural land around cities. It also tends to cluster housing, jobs, stores, and publicspaces together. When these conveniences are within easy reach, it makes public transit, cycling, andwalking more easible and reduces the length o car trips.

LEED-ND also rewards cleaning up and redeveloping nmined siesor browneldssuch as oldgas stations, industrial acilities, storage acilities or toxic substances, or contaminated military sites. Thoughmany browneld sites qualiy as smart locationsbeing inll, transit-served and walkablethey oten lievacant unless there are incentives or cleanup, which can be complicated, unpredictable, and expensive.

DESIGN WITH NATUrE

Locating development in a way that is sensiie is nrl seing is an important aspecto protecting local environmental quality. Thisis particularly important or habitat areas,wetlands and water bodies, prime agriculturalland, and foodplains. As a result, several LEED-ND prerequisites prohibit or strictly limitdevelopment in these types o natural areas.

Other important strategies include restoring and conserving habitat areas and wetlands, minimizing on-site construction impacts, and protecting steep slopes rom erosion that can pose saety risks and pollutedownstream lakes and rivers. Inll and previously developed sites are much less likely to contain valuablebiological resources like armland, wetlands, and plant and wildlie habitat.

Key Prerequisites and CreditsSLL Prerequisite 2: Imperiled Species and Ecological Communities

SLL Prerequisite 3: Wetland and Water Body Conservation

SLL Prerequisite 4: Agricultural Land Conservation

SLL Prerequisite 5: Floodplain Avoidance

SLL Credit 6: Steep Slope Protection

SLL Credits 7, 8, 9: Site Design or, Restoration o, or Long-TermConservation Management o Habitat or

Wetlands and Water Bodies

Also see: GIB Credit 7: Minimized Site Disturbance

Key Prerequisites and Credits

SLL Prerequisite 1: Smart Location

SLL Credit 1: Preerred Locations

SLL Credit 2: Brownfelds RedevelopmentSLL Credit 3: Locations with Reduced

Automobile Dependence

SLL Credit 5: Housing and Jobs Proximity


8/44

I6


CONNECTED NEIGHBOrHOODS

Good connections or pedestrians, cyclists, and vehiclesboth within a neighborhood and to surrounding areasareessential or a neighborhood to capitalize on a smart location.This means requent sree nneins nd phys tosurrounding areas, a high degree o internal connectivity, and

ew barrierssuch as cul-de-sacs or dicult-to-cross streetsto adjacent areas and uses. Research showsthat walking and physical tness increase with greater street connectivity, measured by the number ointersections per square mile.2

Curving, suburban-style streets with long blocks and multiple dead-ends, on the other hand, require long,circuitous walking or driving routes to nearby destinations, reducing walking. Street connectivity is animportant cross-cutting strategy or neighborhood sustainability since it also improves access to parks,schools, transit, businesses, jobs, and shoppingall rewarded in LEED-ND.

Idaho Falls, Idaho

Key CreditsSLL Credit 1: Preerred Locations

Also see: NPD Prerequisite 3: Connected

and Open Community

NPD Credit 6: Street Network

Credit: Lisa Town


9/44

I 7


Seattle, Washington

Eastgate Town Center

Chattanooga, Tennessee - Axo Sequence

Credit: RACTOD/www.ReconnectingAmerica.org

Key CreditsSLL Credit 3: Locations with Reduced Automobile

Dependence

Also see: NPD Credit 7: Transit Facilities

NPD Credit 8: Transportation Demand Management

PUBLIC TrANSIT

Locating housing and jobs in compact clusters

near public transit, widely reerred to as transit-oriented development, increases the likelihoodthat people will take transit or walk rather thandrive. In the United States, most vehicle milestraveled VMT are by single-occupancy vehicles,which generate more greenhouse gas emissionsand pollution per mile than car sharing,carpooling, walking, cycling, and most ormso public transit. Transit-oriented developmentreduces greenhouse gas emissions, provides ridersnecessary to support transit systems, oers analternative to automobile use, reduces demand orparking, and captures many o the other benetso inll development. In addition to locating neartransit service, providing comortable shelters,benches, lighting, and schedule inormation attransit stops can encourage transit use. And evenwhen residents o transit-oriented housing dodrive, their central location means their trips areoten shorter.

Credit: Victor Dover/Dover, Kohl & Partners


10/44

I8


Neighborhood Pattern and Design:What to Build

Once planners or developers have decided where to build, it has to decide what to build. Should there behomes? Shops? Parks? Which activities will the neighborhood be designed or? What will it look like, andhow will it eel to walk through? The Neighborhood Pattern and Design section o LEED-ND addresses someo these topics. It encourages strategies like walkable streets, diverse and compact neighborhoods, high-quality public spaces, reduced dependence on automobiles, and community participation in design.

NEIGHBOrHOODS THAT USE LAND EICIENTLY

Neighborhoods that make ecient use o land help limit thespread o suburban sprawl, which consumes and ragments therural landscape along with watersheds, wildlie habitat, and

prime armland.

In addition, more ecient neighborhood design means that destinations like schools, shops, and parks canbe closer together, making walking and cycling more ecient. Public transit systems are also more likely tobe successul in compact neighborhoods because there are more potential riders near each station and, even

Key Cedits and Peeuisites

NPD Prerequisite 2: Compact Development

NPD Credit 2: Compact Development

The rendering shows the central square o a prototypical neighborhood oreast El Paso, Texas. Through changes in El Pasos zoning regulations, theinclusion o public spaces such as the one shown can again become a eatureo new neighborhoods.

Credit:Dover,Kohl & Partners.


11/44

I 9


when people do drive, they tend to drive less. Finally, compact development requires less inrastructuresuch as water, sewer, and electricity acilitiesto serve the same number o people, saving economicresources. Because o its underlying benets, compact neighborhood design is assigned a high number opoints in the LEED-ND rating system. A neighborhoods level o compactness is also known as its density.

DIvErSE AND CONvENIENTNEIGHBOrHOODS

Though it is still considered best practice to separatepolluting or heavy industrial land uses rom others,there are a number o benets to mixing residential,commercial, and live-work land uses. The diverse usesoblendedneighbrhds tend to support each otherand reinorce a sense o neighborhood character, whiledecreasing the need to travel long distances or goods,services, or work. Uses can be mixed within the sameneighborhoodsuch as when homes are located next toa corner storeor even within the same buildingsuch

as live-work spaces or ground-level shops with housingor oce space above them.

In addition, a neighborhood with a wide rnge f hsing ypes nd sizessuch as large and smalltownhouses, duplexes, single-amily homes, apartment buildings, or special needs housingcan supporta diverse population that includes students, amilies, seniors, group housing, young singles, or couples.This mix reinorces neighborhood stability by allowing people to stay in the same community throughoutdierent stages o their lives. It can also add a sense o texture and character to a place, encouraging socialand economic diversity, along with multiple levels o aordability. When housing is available at aordabilityrange o prices, people who earn less but are vital parts o any communitysuch as teachers, police ocersand public sector employees, or artistscan live and work in the same community as those with higherincomes. This encourages economic opportunity and social diversity, and can sometimes reduce commute

times by allowing people to live closer to work.

LEED-ND rewards neighborhoods that are designed fr riey f ges nd biliies. Key techniquesinclude designing some housing to have stepless entrances and other accessible eatures, making publicportions o buildings universally accessible, and including wheelchair access at trac intersections andbetween buildings.

Orenco StationHillsboro, Oregon

St. Louis, Missouri

Credit: Lisa Town

Denver, Colorado Credit: Charles Perry/Perry Rose LLC Credit: Sean Thomas/Old North St. LouisRestoration Group


12/44

I10


WALKABLE STrEETS

Walking has cross-cutting benets or public health,environmental sustainability, and neighborhood vitality,and urther unlocks the advantages o neighborhoodswith smart locations, a mix o uses, and compactdevelopment. A number o eatures working together canensure that a street is mfrble, sfe, nd iniingfr pedesrins. These include a connected pedestriannetwork and elements o high-quality urban design.

Too many poorly designed neighborhoods are uninviting to pedestrians. For example, buildings that are set

ar back rom the street, are separated rom the sidewalk by large parking lots, or are too low in comparisonto the width o streets oten lack a sense o place or undermine pedestrian comort. Excessive blank walls,a lack o requent building entrances onto public space, shuttered or inrequent windows, and unattractivebuilding acades can also deteriorate the pedestrian environment. Frequent garage doors and drivewayintrusions across the sidewalk can urther diminish the pedestrian experience.

By contrast, streets designed or walkability include buildingentrances that are easy to reach rom the sidewalk and includedoorways and window displays that create a sense o interestand architectural diversity along the path. Frequent, well-established street trees can make pedestrians more comortableby providing shade and contact with nature. Continuous

sidewalks, low-speed trac, and on-street parking that providesa buer between the sidewalk and the street can also increasepedestrian comort and saety.

rEDUCED PArKING AND

TrANSPOrTATION DEMAND

Large surace pring ls discourage pedestrian accessrom sidewalks and other nearby buildings, especiallywhen they are located between sidewalks and buildings.

Parking lots also diminish the quality o nearby public spaces like parks, plazas, or sidewalks. The pavementused to construct parking lots also leads to more polluted stormwater runo ater rainstorms. LEED-ND

calls or all o-street parking not to exceed a maximum size and to be located to the side or rear o orunderneath buildings.

In addition, parking and building design, and operation all aect how much people drive. Strategies likean on-site vehicle sharing program, providing shuttle service to jobs or transit, providing transit passes toproject occupants, or selling parking spots separately rom dwelling units can all rede he need frr nership. Other strategies that can reduce how many trips people take include ride sharing, fexibleworking hours, pedestrian and bicycle promotion, and reduced amounts o parking.

Key Credits

NPD Credit 5: Reduced Parking Footprint

NPD Credit 8: Transportation Demand Management

San Francisco, Caliornia Credit: Dan Burden/www.pedbikeimages.org

Key Credits and PrerequisitesNPD Prerequisite 1: Walkable Streets

NPD Credit 1: Walkable Streets


NPD Credit 14: Tree-Lined and Shaded Streets

Charlottesville, Virginia Credit:citydata.com


13/44

I 11


Portland, Oregon Credit: Laura Sandt/www.pedbikeimages.org

Portland, Oregon

MIxED USES ANDCOMMUNITY SPACES

In the same way that a mixed-use environment createsa sustainable and diverse neighborhood by integratingboth residential and commercial uses into one buildingor neighborhood, they also place a variety o shops,services, and amenities within walking distance oneighborhood residents and each other. This reducescar trips and acilitates walking, which contributes tohealth and tness. A sustainable neighborhood also oerspublic acilities and services or residents and visitors invarious stages o lie. These can include schools, libraries,

civic buildings, community centers, places o worship,recreation acilities, and community gardens. Amenitieslike these are critical to meeting a communitys cultural,social, spiritual, and physical needs.

Key CreditsNPD Credit 3: Mixed-Use Neighborhood Centers

NPD Credit 9: Access to Civic and Public Spaces

NPD Credit 10: Access to Recreation Facilities

NPD Credit 12: Community Outreach and Involvement

NPD Credit 13: Local Food Production

NPD Credit 15: Neighborhood Schools

Credit: Heather Bowden

Seattle, Washington Credit:VeloBusDriver

BICYCLE-rIENDLY DESIGN

Cycling is an ecient mode o transportation without thenegative environmental eects or high installation costs o manyother modes. It can improve public health by providing regularphysical activity. Like pedestrian acilities, successul bicycle

acilities should be arranged in a connected network, providing sae, comortable, and well-maintainedaccess to a variety o destinations while decreasing conficts with cars and transit vehicles. To be creditedin LEED-ND, a biyle ner must consist o continuous o-street paths (Class I bikeways), on-streetlanes (Class II bikeways), or bicycle-riendly low-speed streets. Sucient, secure, and well-placed bicycleparking or visitors and or building occupants also encourages cycling. Compared to car parking, bikeparking requires very little space: just one o-street car parking spot usually takes up about same amounto space as 10 to 12 bicycle parking spots.

Key CreditsSLL Credit 4: Bicycle Network and Storage

See Also: NPD Credit 5: Reduced

Parking Footprint


14/44

I12


Credit: Dan Burden/www.pedbikeimages.org

Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaNew York, New York Credit: Christopher Titzer

Prs, pen spes, grdens, nd elgil res are particularly important or urban environments

where green space and places o reuge can be in short supply. Proximity to parks is oten associated withincreased physical activity, more social interaction, and reduced stress. Likewise, physical and economicaccess to sources ohelhy fd such as community gardens, armers markets, ull-service grocerystores, or other sources o ruit and vegetables is associated with higher intakes o health oods and reducedrisk o chronic diseases.

Orenco Station

Hillsboro, OregonHolland, Michigan Credit: Dan Burden/

www.pedbikeimages.orgCredit: Lisa Town

Community members involved in planning or a neighborhoods uture are oten more likely to invest in it,

care or it, and maintain it. This sort o personal investment supports a neighborhoods long-term stabilityand sustainability. I new development or other major changes are proposed in a neighborhood, basicacets o community involvement should include meetings with surrounding property owners, residents,and businesses; modiying project designs to meet stated community needs; and maintaining open lineso communication throughout the project. A more advanced technique is the multi-day charrette,which is an intense period (anywhere rom a ew hours to a ew days) o design activity involving designproessionals and local stakeholders working in close collaboration.


15/44

I 13


Green Inrastructure and Buildings:How to Manage Environmental

ImpactsEven i your neighborhood has a great location and layout, it wont have excellent environmentalperormance without thoughtul and innovative green design. This includes strategies like incorporatingenergy and water eciency, reusing older buildings, recycling materials, reducing stormwater runo, andeliminating pollution sources.

GrEEN BUILDINGS

Green buildings emphasize environmental

excellence and sensitivity in their design,incorporating strategies like energy and watereciency, high indoor air quality, and sustainablysourced (or recycled) materials. LEED-ND contains

prerequisites and credits or energy eciency, water eciency, and certied green buildingsunderscoringtheir oundational role or a sustainable neighborhood.

In addition to water eciency inside buildings,ersed side bildings or landscaping and streettrees determines a neighborhoods overall water use.Planting native species is preerable as they are lessdisruptive to natural ecosystmes; in arid climates they

tend to be drought-tolerant and require less irrigation.For plants that require irrigation, using ecientirrigation equipment, capturing rainwater, or recyclingwastewater can reduce overall water consumption.

rEUSING OLDEr BUILDINGS

Reusing as much o a building as possiblewhetherit be the entire building, the building shell, or justsalvageable components o the buildingis aundamental green building strategy rewarded inmost LEED rating systems, including LEED-ND. In

Key Credits and PrerequisitesGIB Prerequisite 1 and Credit 1: Certifed Green Building(s)

GIB Prerequisite 2 and Credit 2: Building Energy EfciencyGIB Prerequisite 3 and Credit 3: Building Water Efciency

GIB Credit 4: Water-Efcient Landscaping

Hart Building

Dallas, Texas

Credit: Steve Minor

Solar Powered Aordable Housing

West Hollywood, Caliornia

Credit:limelightpower

Key CreditsGIB Credit 5: Existing Building Reuse

GIB Credit 6: Historic Resource Preservation and Adaptive Use


16/44

I14


addition to eliminating waste and reducingthe energy and resources needed to producebuilding material, reusing or adaptingbuildings reinorces a neighborhoodsexisting character. Neighborhood landmarks

and historic or architecturally signicantbuildings are particularly valuable becausethey can provide visible public gatheringplaces and generate interest and investment ina neighborhood.

rEDUCING POLLUTION

A neighborhoods design and manner oconstruction infuences the amount o airand water pollution it generates. Preening

pllin dring nsrin is considered soessential to good building practice that it is a prerequisite in LEED-ND (GIB Prerequisite 4: Construction ActivityPollution Prevention). It is also oten required to some extent by ederal, state, or local regulation. The maingoals are to prevent (1) on-site wind and water erosion, (2) air and dust pollution, and (3) pollution orsedimentationexcessive sand and gravelin downstream creeks, rivers, and lakes.

Contaminated srmer is one o the largest sources o water pollution in the United States, butneighborhoods can reduce stormwater pollution by keeping as much runo as possible rom fowing othe site. This reduces erosion, pollution, and fooding o downstream water bodies by naturally lteringand reabsorbing stormwater runo. It can also help recharge natural aquiers below the neighborhood.Green stormwater retention techniques include use o street-side swales (low-lying, and oten marshyareas), water-pervious paving materials, stormwater retention basins, green roos, open green space, and

landscaping, all o which can acilitate stormwater capture, absorption by trees and plants, or reuse.

Ligh pllin occurs when bright lighting or glare negatively aects neighboring homes, publicspaces, and natural areas. Light pollution can disturb nearby wildlie movement and lie cycles, decreasea neighborhoods livability, and limit views o the night sky. For human health, light pollution has been

Key Credits and PrerequisitesGIB Prerequisite 4: Construction Activity Pollution Prevention

GIB Credit 8: Stormwater Management

GIB Credit 17: Light Pollution Reduction

Rain Garden

Vastra Hamnen, Sweden

Bioswale Curb Extension

Portland, Oregon

Credit: La Citta Vita Credit: Greg Raisman

Old Town

Fort Collins, Colorado

Credit: Carol Jacobs Carre


17/44

I 15


linked to disruptions in natural circadian rhythms and depressed immune unction. Important strategies orreducing light pollution include directing articial light downward instead o upward and outward, andusing more requently spaced, lower intensity lights instead o only a ew very bright lights. Another basicstrategy is or non-essential lighting to automatically turn o when not needed.

KEEPING THINGS COOL He islndsare localized areas,usually withincities, wherethe ambient

temperature is signicantly warmer than the naturalenvironment or surrounding areas. Unshaded pavement,dark-colored rootops, and other building and inrastructuresuraces that absorb and then radiate heat rom the sun canall contribute to creating heat islands. A study by the LocalGovernment Commission ound wide streets without a tree

canopy to be 10 degrees warmer on hot days than nearbynarrow, shaded streets.3 In addition to creating discomort orpedestrians and health risks or vulnerable populations andmanual laborers, heat islands can also create dicult growingconditions or plants and increase irrigation demand. Proventechniques to counteract heat island eects include treeplanting, smaller and narrower streets and parking lots, light-colored solar-refective roong (which also reduces demandor air conditioning), vegetated roos or other landscaping,open-grid and solar-refective paving, and covering parkingwith solar-refective roong.

NEIGHBOrHOOD-WIDE ENErGY EICIENCY

An energy-ecient building is good. An entireneighborhood that is energy-ecient is better. The initial

ly nd rienin o a neighborhood can aectits ability to use solar energy both actively (such as orphotovoltaic cells) and passively (such as or natural

lighting or direct solar heating through windows and walls). In the United States, sunlight rom the southis stronger and more consistent than sunlight rom other directions, while northern light can provide aconsistent, glare-ree source o interior daylighting. For this reason, it is ideal when neighborhood blocks(or lower density buildings) can maximize their northern and southern exposure.

Similarly, installing reneble energy sres nd disribin sysems at a neighborhood scale,which serves multiple buildings or homes, is oten more cost- and energy-ecient than installing thembuilding-by-building. Examples include geothermal wells, photovoltaic (solar) or wind-powered electricalsystems, combined heat and power plants using biouels, hydroelectric power, and wave or tidal power.Heating and cooling multiple buildings through a centralized system requires less inrastructure andcapacity per individual building. This is true whether it harnesses renewable sources, conventional boilersand air-conditioning systems, or heat that is a by-product o industrial processes. Installing either shared

Key CreditsGIB Credit 9: Heat Island Reduction


NPD Credit 14: Tree-Lined and Shaded Streets

Key CreditsGIB Credit 10: Solar Orientation

GIB Credit 11: On-Site Renewable Energy Sources

GIB Credit 12: District Heating and Cooling

GIB Credit 13: Inrastructure Energy Efciency

Green Roo at Walter Reed

Community Center

Arlington, Virginia

Green Roo at Portland State

University, Portland, Oregon

Credit:Arlington

County

Credit:Alex Abboud


18/44

I16


renewable energy sources or shared heating and cooling usually requires close collaboration betweenmultiple buildings landowners.

Energy-ecient streetlights, trac lights, park lights,water pumps, and sewer systems can also signicantly

reduce a neighborhoods total level o energyconsumption. Common examples o energy-ecientinrastructure include light-emitting diode (LED) technologyor trac and other lights, ecient or adjustable-powerwater pumps, or solar-powered lights.

rEUSE AND rECYCLING

Reusing and recycling materials preserves natural resources while reducing waste and energy used inindustrial manuacturing. There are oten opportunities to use reyled meril or new inrastructureincluding streets, sidewalks, or water piping. Commonly available types o materials include reusedcement or asphalt, rubberized asphalt incorporating scrap tires, reabricated metal or piping, or industrialbyproducts such as coal fy ash mixed into concrete. LEED-ND also encourages recycling and reusing

construction debris and rewards neighborhood design that acilitates pick-up services or drop-o points orhousehold composting, recycling, and hazardous waste disposal.

Resing seer rom buildings reduces overall water use, demands on public inrastructure,energy use, and chemical inputs rom conventional wastewater treatment. Wastewater reuse can rangerom relatively simple graywater systems that harness non-sewer wastewater or irrigation, to complexconstructed wetlands or biological wastewater systems that completely treat all orms o wastewater onsite.

Key Credits

GIB Credit 14: Wastewater ManagementGIB Credit 15: Recycled Content in Inrastructure

GIB Credit 16: Solid Waste Management Inrastructure


19/44

I 17


How Can LEED-ND Help ImproveYour Community?

The goal o this Citizens Guide is to empower you to improve your own community or neighborhood,utilizing LEED-ND as a fexible tool and source o inormation. This section provides some suggestionsor how to get started. These suggestions are intended to spark the creativity and expertise o citizensand advocates, who will undoubtedly improve on them and come up with applications o their own. Asa helpul companion, see the Citizens Guides Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklist, whichallows you to quickly estimate the perormance o a project, plan, or policy. It can provide standards ora specic topic, or you can look directly at the LEED-ND Rating System or more detail. I you just need areresher on what is included in the Rating System, please reer to the LEED-ND Summary Appendix orthe Rating System itsel, available or ree at www.usgbc.org/neighborhoods.

1. Ealuate Deelopment PoposalsHave you ever wondered whether or not a proposal or new development was a good idea, whether it wasenvironmentally riendly, and whether or not you should support it? Have you wondered i there were keyareas where it could be improved? These are complicated questions that are not made any easier by thecompeting claims and messages o developers, neighborhood groups, government agencies, or other voices.LEED-ND oers one way to begin answering these questions impartially.

Perhaps the most basic use o the system is to promote and publicly support projects that obtain LEED-NDcertication, particularly i they do so at a high (gold or platinum) level. While LEED-ND is not a guaranteethat you will approve o every aspect o a project, it is a very good indication that a projects environmentalperormance will be superior to average development.

A Poject Ealuation Pogam: The Washington Smat Gowth Alliance

The Washington (DC) Smart Growth Alliance operates a Smart and Sustainable Growth Recognition

Program. Based on review by an independent jury, the Program provides recognition or development

projects that meet criteria or smart location, mixed land uses, environmental protection, walkability,

and community coordination. LEED-ND can be a good starting point or creating a similar recognition or

endorsement program in your own community, or updating one that already exists.

For projects that do not (or cannot) pursue LEED-ND certication, another approach is to perorm yourown internal LEED-ND audit using the checklist in this Citizens Guide to evaluate some or all o the categoriesand standards in the system. I a project meets the LEED-ND prerequisites and scores enough points to be

certiable at a high level, consider publicly supporting it. I the project is certiable at one o the lower(basic or silver) levels, it may well be an asset to the neighborhood but may require urther inquiry. I itdoes not appear to be certiable at any level, consider opposing it. (I you belong to an organization oragency that already maintains guidelines or which projects to support, it might be helpul to rene oraugment those guidelines with standards rom LEED-ND).


20/44

I18


Publicly supporting a project could include speaking at public hearings and community meetings, providingmarketing support, or writing letters o support. As talking points or this material, look at the projectsLEED-ND scorecard (the ocial U.S. Green Building Council scorecard i it is certied, or your own internalchecklist i it is not, but could have been) and see which credits it achieves. This is a good articulation o theprojects key strengths. I you are opposing a project, a list o which LEED-ND credits it doesnot achieve is a

helpul talking point.

2. Impoe Deelopment PoposalsYou may also nd opportunities to collaborate with private, public, or non-prot developers on a specicproposal. This is a great way to encourage sustainable neighborhoods and establish long-term workingrelationships with developers and other stakeholders in your community. LEED-ND can provide a helpulguide or this process.

LEED-ND as a Basis o inancial Assistance:

In 2010, the ederal Department o Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced that it would

consider LEED-NDs location criteria when awarding competitive housing grants, including its Sustainable

Communities Regional Planning Grants. This includes LEED-ND-based standards or such things astransit service, proximity to neighborhood shops and services, sensitivity to environmental eatures,

and the amount and character o nearby development. I you are part o a grant-giving organization

or agency, you can use LEED-ND in a similar way, incorporating standards or smart and sustainable

development into your project selection process.

As a rst step, you can encourage projects to become LEED-ND certied or insist that they pursuecertication to earn your support. In some cases, you may wish to ask that projects attain certication ata certain level such as silver, gold, or platinum. This will ensure that they meet basic location and designcriteria or sustainability, and enable you to ollow through on them when the project is built. But, whetheror not a project pursues certication, you can use LEED-ND to identiy a projects strengths and weaknesses

and generate some tangible design recommendationsabout walkable streets, cycling acilities, energyeciency, or any other topics that LEED-ND addresses.

While LEED-ND standards are not a substitute or good design, they can show developers, designers,community members, and advocacy groups where a project is doing well environmentally and where ithas room or improvement. The sooner you get involved in the design process, the better your chances ormaking a dierence.

3. Guide Impoements to Eisting NeighbohoodsLEED-NDs basic purpose is to assess or certiy new development. But you can also use it to guide planning andinvestment in existing neighborhoods. For most neighborhoods, this process will involve three main steps:

1. EvaLuatE tHE NEIGHBoRHooD. Work with local governments or other community

organizations to conduct an audit o a neighborhood using the LEED-ND categories, prerequisites andcredits. You can use the checklist at the end o the Citizens Guide to aid the evaluation.

2. FocuS oN StRENGtHS aND wEakNESSES. Identiy areas where the neighborhood or communityperorms well under LEED-ND. Where it does not, solicit stakeholder input on community needs.

3. RESPoND wItH a PLaN. Propose retrots, targeted redevelopment, inrastructure improvements,or other measures that build on the neighborhoods strengths and address its weaknesses. The level odetail and eort can vary widelyrom an inormal list o suggestions to a detailed design and policy


21/44

I 19


proposal that becomes the backbone o a neighborhood plan. I a neighborhood is already the ocus oa planning eort, participate in that process to ensure that it addresses the needs you have identied andprotects the neighborhoods strengths.

The Syacuse SALT DistictThe 156-acre Syracuse, Art, Lie, and Technology (SALT) District, in Syracuse, New York, is the ocus

o an ongoing neighborhood improvement and retroft eort by a broad variety o partnersincluding

the Syracuse Center o Excellence, Home Headquarters aordable housing development, Syracuse

University, the City o Syracuse, and multiple residents and community groups. These partners

coordinated their neighborhood improvement eorts through the lens o LEED-ND. Their frst step was

to assess the existing neighborhood using LEED-ND, identiying strengths and weaknesses by each

prerequisite and credit. Next, through a collaborative stakeholder process, the project team proposed

design and policy responses that would address those issues and improve neighborhood sustainability.

The result or the SALT District was a certifed LEED-ND Gold plan that provides policies and design

proposals or improving the street and pedestrian network, improving stormwater management,

adding parks and open space, increasing green building and energy efciency eorts, and targeted

redevelopment. The process applied in the SALT Districtassessing an existing neighborhood and

developing a retroft plan using LEED-NDis one that could be replicated in neighborhoods across thecountry, whether or not they pursue LEED-ND certifcation.

4. Inom Community Planning and zoningWhile LEED-ND is useul at the neighborhood scale, you can also apply it on a wider scale, inormingcommunity-wide plans, zoning codes, and other planning documents. Many local governments havecomprehensive, citywide plans that provide long-term policy guidance or land use and transportation. Somealso address the design o buildings and public space, economic development, public inrastructure, naturalresource protection, parks, housing, health, or a variety o other issues.These are typically updated periodically.

You can audit your communitys plan, assessing how well it promotes these topics and suggestingimprovements. Use the Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklist at the end o the Citizens Guide towalk yoursel through this process. You can also use the checklist as a source or policy language to adapt, orlook directly at the LEED-ND Rating System or more detail. All LEED-ND credits and prerequisites also havea general Intent statement (easily ound in the ocial Rating System) that can sometimes be adapted oruse in a community plan.

Most local governments have a zoning code that guides how and where development can happen. Zoning codescan regulate anything rom building heights and parking requirements to building uses, design, and pedestrianorientation. They are oten very detailed and technical. As a result, they can be intimidating to the layperson (oreven the proessional), but LEED-ND can suggest specic topics and standards to look or and encourage (see theCitizens Guides Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklist, or the LEED-ND Rating System).


22/44

I20


A Sustainable Deelopment Oelay zone

Zoning is the set o regulations that a city, town, or county uses to guide development within its own

borders. You can talk to your local government about creating areas o town where zoning specifcally

promotes sustainable development. This could include requiring development projects to meet some or

all o LEED-NDs standards, or it could include limiting development in areas that dont meet LEED-NDs

location criteria. Be careul that requirements or sustainability dont create a disincentive in the veryareas that are appropriate or development.

Topics to look or and assess in zoning codes include:n Density (NPD Credit 2: Compact Development);

n Building and sidewalk design orwalkable streets (NPD Credit 1: Walkable Streets; NPD Credit 14: Tree-Lined and Shaded Streets);

n Transit service and access (SLL Credit 3: Locations with Reduced Automobile Dependence, NPD Credit 7: TransitFacilities); parking standards or cars and bicycles (NPD Credit 5: Reduced Parking Footprint; NPD Credit8: Transportation Demand Management);

n Aordable and diverse housing (NPD Credit 4: Mixed-Income Diverse Communities); and

n Urban agriculture set-asides (NPD Credit 13: Local Food Production).

Incentie Eample: ee reductions

Kane County, Illinois oers discounts on road impact ees (Ordinance 07-232, 2007) or development

projects that meet certain minimum standards or density, location, and design, including:

n 40 percent discount or walkable transit; diverse uses; density; and small blocks.

n Additional 10 percent discount or infll or redevelopment.

n Additional 10 to 20 percent or higher densities.

LEED-ND can provide best practices and standards when designing incentives like these.

In addition, you can encourage local governments, redevelopment agencies, developers, land trusts,aordable housing organizations, or other decision-makers to require or provide benets to projects thatmeet LEED-ND standards. For instance, the City o East Lansing, Michigan requires private developmentthat receives city assistance and is over a certain size to attain LEED-ND or LEED-NC Silver-level certication(Resolution 2009-10, April 2009). The City o Nashvilles 2009 Zoning Ordinance (BL2009-586) providesa height bonus or LEED-ND certied projects. Other citiesincluding Oakland, Caliornia and Boston,Massachusettsrequire certain projects to submit a LEED-ND checklist demonstrating their level operormance.

Potential benets that might be provided include:

n Streamlined development approval process

n Fee reductions

n Tax credits

n Grants


23/44

I 21


n Allowing additional density or building height

n Sharing the cost o new inrastructure required by projects

n Marketing assistance

A Local Goenment Guide to LEED-ND

The U.S. Green Building Council has published a white paper ocusing on how local governments

can implement LEED-ND, outlining some constraints they may ace, and suggesting a variety o

approaches and examples. Its a helpul complement to the Citizens Guide.

5. Inom Specifc State, Local, and regional PolicyLocal governments oten maintain topic-specic ordinances, master plans, design standards, or operationsstandards. Examples o these could include a parking or water conservation ordinance, a bicycle orpedestrian master plan, streetscape design standards, inrastructure replacement standards, a climate actionplan, or an economic development plan. You can use the Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklistat the end o this Citizens Guide to assess these policies. It is organized by topic, so i needed you can consultjust the policy topics that match your interest.

Many regions and states also have plans, policies, and regulations that might either deter or promote LEED-ND implementation. You can again use the Checklist at the end o the Citizens Guide to review these state orregional policies and advocate reorm i necessary. In some cases, there may be opportunities to removebarriers to LEED-ND implementation. In other cases, you may be able to adapt LEED-ND standards directlyinto these policy documents. Examples may include:

n State or regional land use plans

n State building codes

n Regional transportation unding

n Development standards or guidelines rom air quality agenciesn Congestion management agency policies

n Regional water, wastewater, or stormwater regulations


24/44

I22


Supplementary Materials

So ar, we have looked at the key concepts o neighborhood sustainability and suggested some ways you

might use LEED-ND in your own community. Now what? First o all, we encourage you to come up withyour own ways o promoting smart and green neighborhoods, since you know your own community betterthan we do.

As discussed above, the Sustainable Neighborhood Development Checklist can help in your day-to-day work. It summarizes all credits and prerequisites in LEED-ND by topic and is designed to make thesystem more accessible, portable, and easy to adapt to a number o contexts. You can use it in all o thecircumstances we suggested in the previous section.

I you want, you can also estimate the score or a project i it were to pursue LEED-ND certication throughthe U.S. Green Building Councils ormal process. When you want to propose specic best practices or aproposal, plan, regulation, or policy document, you can use the checklist or go straight to the LEED-NDRating System or more detail. It can be a struggle or local citizens, designers, planners, and governmentsto create easible standards or sustainable development on their own. LEED-ND has the potential to ll thisgap with criteria that have been developed in a consensus process and eld-tested in various contexts.

Most importantly, we welcome you to be creative and bold in your use o LEED-ND and your importanteorts to improve where you live. As someone who knows your community well and cares about asustainable uture or it, you are doing important work or which you are uniquely qualied.


25/44

I 23


SUSTAINABL

ENEIGHBOrHOODDEvELOPMENTCHECKLIS

T

Thisinorma

lc

heck

listsummarizesa

llcre

ditsan

dprere

qu

isites

inthe

LEED

-NDRating

sSy

stems.

Youcanuse

ittoassessthest

rengthsan

d

wea

knesseso

a

deve

lopmentproposa

l,sitep

lan,

ex

istin

gne

ighborhoo

d,

orevenazon

ingco

deorne

ighborhoo

dp

lan.Y

oucan

alsouse

itas

asource

orstan

dard

san

dthresho

ldsto

inc

lude

inp

lans,regu

lations,

designs,ortop

ic-s

pec

ifcpo

licye

orts,a

lthoug

hthe

LEE

D-N

DRating

System

itse

lcanpro

videa

dditiona

ldeta

ilorth

istask.I

your

interest

isinaspec

ifctop

ic(

s)likecyc

lingorwa

lkab

lestreets,o

riyouare

assess

ingapo

licy

do

cument

likeawatere

fc

iencyordinanceorparksan

drecreationp

lan,youcanuse

justthepartso

thechec

klistthat

relatetothattop

ic.P

leasenotethatth

isc

hec

klist

isasim

plifcationan

disnot

LEED

-NDitse

l,

whichrequ

iressop

histicate

dver

ifcationo

comp

liancew

ithstan

dardsan

dprov

idesamuc

hmorea

uthoritativeeva

luation.T

hisc

heckli

stisorgan

ize

dintothe

ollow

ingto

pics:

SmatLocationand

Linkage

n

Loca

tion

n

Ecosys

temsand

Open

Spaces

n

Con

tam

ina

tedSites

n

Trans

it-Accessib

leLoca

tions

n

Cyc

ling

Fac

ilities

n

Jo

bsan

dHousing

Prox

imity

Neighbo

hoodPattenandDesign

n

Wal

ka

bleStree

ts

n

Com

pac

tDeve

lopmen

t

n

Neig

hborhoo

dConnec

tions

n

Mixe

dUses

n

Aorda

blean

dDiverse

Hous

ing

n

Park

ingan

dTransporta

tion

Deman

d

n

Parksan

dRecrea

tion

n

Univ

ersa

lDes

ign

n

Com

mun

ity

Part

icipa

tion

n

Loca

lFoo

d

n

Scho

olAccessan

dDes

ign

GeenInfastuctueandBuild

ings

n

Cons

truc

tion

Tec

hn

iques

n

Energy

Efc

iencyan

dConse

rva

tion

n

Energy

Pro

duc

tionan

dDistribu

tion

n

Wa

ter

Efc

iencyan

dConserva

tion

n

Stormwa

teran

dWas

tewater

n

Green

Bu

ilding

Process

n

Historican

dEx

isting

Bu

ilding

Reuse

n

Hea

tIslan

ds

n

Recyc

lingan

dReuse

n

LightPo

llution

Somepeop

lemaywanttospen

d30m

inutesoran

hour

toqu

icklymovethroug

hthec

heck

list,

est

imatingw

hennecessarytog

eta

ba

llpark

ideao

perormance.

Othersmaywanttospen

dmoretime

do

ingresearc

h,

ma

kingca

lcu

lations,orevenmapp

ingsitecon

ditio

nstogetamore

deta

ile

dan

daccurateassessment.

Ine

ithercase,

wereco

mmen

dyouta

kenotesasyoumovethroug

hthec

hec

klist,

part

icu

larly

asyou

have

ideas

or

how

theproposa

l,p

lan,

orne

ighborhoo

dcoul

dbe

improve

d.

Asanoptiona

lsecon

dstep,

youcanest

imateascoreun

derthe

LEED

-NDRating

System.


26/44

I24

PROJECTNAME:

______________________________

ADDRESS/LOCATION:_

_____________________________T

yPEOFPROJECT:

___________________

___________

STEP1:SstnleN

eooodDeelopmentCecklst

Step2:OptonlLEED-ND

SconEecse

TOPiC

DOESThEP

rOjECTDOThEOLLOwiNg?

YES

MaYb

E

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-ND

SOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE

SMarTLOCaTiONaNDLiNKagE(SLL)

LOCaTiON

Islocatedon

asitethatisnyotheollowing(onlonerequiredorscoring):

Required

Inll(75%surroundedbexistingdevelopment)

o

o

o

Well-connectedtoadjacentdevelopmentban

existingstreetnetwork

o

o

o

Well-servedbtransitorneighborhoodamenities

o

o

o

Islocatedon

asitethatisoneotheollowing(pickjustoneorscoring):

Credit1:Preerred

Locations

Inllandalsoapreviousldevelopedsite

o

o

o

5

Inllbutnotapreviousldevelopedsite

o

o

o

3

Ad

jacenttoexistingdevelopment,andalsoapreviousldevelopedsite

o

o

o

2

Apreviousldevelopedsite,b

utnotadjacentorinll

o

o

o

1

Issurrounded(withinmile)bawell-connectedexistingstreetnetwork.I

possible

,estimatetheexistingnumberointersectionspe

rsquaremilenearb(pick

justoneorscoring):

Credit1:Preerred

Locations

200to250intersectionspersquaremile

o

o

o

1


o

o

o

2


o

o

o

3


o

o

o

4

Morethan400intersectionspersquaremile

o

o

o

5

Islocatedinaneconomicalldistressedareawhilelsoproviding

aordableho

using.

o

o

o

3

Credit1:Preerred

Locations

ECOSYSTEMS

aNDOPEN

SPaCES

Doesnotbuildonhabitatwherespeciesarethreatened,endangered,o

rimperiled

ocreatesahabitatconservationplanundertheEndangeredSpeciesAct.

o

o

o

Required

Prereq2:Imperiled

Species

Doesnotbuildonwetlandsorwaterbodiesndleavesbuersoundevelopedland

aroundthem

oatleast50to100eet.

o

o

o

Required

Prereq3:Wetland/

WaterBod

Conservation

Doesnotbuildonprimeagriculturalland,nlesstheprojectisinll,transit-

served,o

rmakesuporsoillossbcreatingpermanentl

protectedsoileasements

elsewhere.

o

o

o

Required

Prereq4:

AgriculturalLand

Conservation

Prereq1:Smart

Location


27/44


28/44

I26

NEighbOrhOODPaTTErNaNDDESigN(NPD)

waLKabLE

STrEETS

Includesllo

theollowingatminimum:

Required

Prereq1:Walkable

Streets

Public-acingbuildingentries(ontoanpublicspaceexceptaparkinglot)

on9

0%obuildingrontage.

o

o

o

Aminimumbuilding-height-to-streetwidth-ratioo1to3(1ooto

buildingheightorever3eetostreetwidth)alongatleast15%ostreet

leng

th.

o

o

o

Side

walksalong90%ostreetlength(bothsidesothestreet).

o

o

o

Garagedoorsalongnomorethan20%ostreetlength.

o

o

o

Includessome

ollotheollowing(SeeRatingSstemorscoringthresholds):

1-12

Credit1:Walkable

Streets

Minimaldistancebetweenthesidewalkandmostbuildings,w

ithmixed-

use

andnonresidentialbuildingsparticularlclos

etothesidewalk.

o

o

o

Freq

uentbuildingentries(atleastever75eet).

o

o

o

Unshutteredwindowsalongthesidewalkornonresidentialbuildings.

o

o

o

Noblankwallsmorethan50eetalongsidewalks

.

o

o

o

Freq

uenton-streetparking(availablealongatleast70%ostreets).

o

o

o

Side

walksalong100%ostreetlength(bothsidesothestreet).

o

o

o

Elev

atedground-foorsoratleasthaloalldwe

llingunits(atleast24

inch

esabovesidewalkgrade).

o

o

o

Aminimumbuilding-height-to-streetwidth-ratioo1to3(1ooto

buildingheightorever3eetostreetwidth)along30%ostreetlength.

o

o

o

Low

designspeedsormoststreets(20mphorresidential,25mphor

non-residential).

o

o

o

Drivewacrossingsalongnomorethan10%os

idewalklength.

o

o

o

Lines60%os

treetlengthwithnon-invasivetrees(spaced

anaverageoatleast

ever40eetromtrunkcentertotrunkcenter).

o

o

o

1

Credit14:Tree-

LinedandShaded

Streets

Providesnoon-t

imeshadealongatleast40%osidewalks.

o

o

o

1

COMPaCT

DEvELOPMENT

Meetsminimumrequireddensities(Atleastsevendwellingunitsperacreor

residentialand

0.50foor-arearatioornon-residentialse

eRatingSstemor

calculationandscoringdetails).

o

o

o

Required

Prereq2:Compact

Development

Exceedsincrea

singdensitthresholds(Atleast10dwelling

unitsperacreor

residentialand

0.75foor-arearatioornon-residentialse

eRatingSstemor

calculationandscoringdetails).

o

o

o

1-6

Credit2:Compact

Development

TOPiC

DOESThEPrOjECTDOThEOLLOwiNg?

YES

MaYbE

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE


29/44

I 27

NEighbOrhOOD

CONNECTiONS

Doeseteotheollowing(onlonerequiredorscoring):

Required

Prereq3:

Connected

Communit

Includesastreetorpathwaintotheprojectatleastever800eet,a

nd

has

atleast140intersectionspersquaremilewithintheproject(estimate

ipo

ssible).

o

o

o

O,onlitheprojecthasnointernalstreets:iss

urrounded(withinmile)

ba

nexistingstreetnetworkoatleast90intersectionspersquaremile

(estimateipossible).

o

o

o

Doesllothe

ollowing:

Credit6:Street

Network

Doesnotincludecul-de-sacs.

o

o

o

Includesastreetorpathwaintotheprojectatleastever400eet.

o

o

o

Has

highintersectionspersquaremilewithintheproject(pickstoneo

theollowingorscoringthiscredit):


o

o

o

1

Hasmorethan400intersectionspersquare

o

o

o

2

MixEDuSES

Enableswalkin

gaccess(withinmile)totheollowingnumberoexistingornew

landuses,c

lus

teredwithinneighborhoodcenters(pickjust

oneotheollowingor

scoringthiscredit):

Credit3:Mixed-

UseNeighborhood

Centers

4to

6uses

o

o

o

1

7to

10uses

o

o

o

2

11to18uses

o

o

o

3

Mor

ethan19uses

o

o

o

4

Usescanincludecommercialorcivicacilitiessuchasrestaurants,schools,

pharmacies,su

permarkets,t

heatres,parks,libraries,o

rsho

ps.

aOrDabLE

aNDDivErSE

hOuSiNg

Providesmultiplehousingtpesodierentsizes,suchaslargeandsmall

apartments,du

plexes,t

ownhomes,a

nd/orsingle-amilhomes.(

SeeRatingSstem

ordetailedho

usingdiversitthresholds).

o

o

o

1-3

Credit4:Mixed-

IncomeDiverse

Communities

Providesapercentageonewrentaland/oror-salehousingathighlevelso

aordabilit,availableoratleast15ears(SeeRatingSs

temordetailed

aordabilitth

resholds).

o

o

o

1-3

Providesbothhighlevelsoaordabilitandmultiplehousingtpesodierentsizes.

o

o

o

1

TOPiC


YES

MaYbE

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE


30/44


31/44

I 29

LOCaLOOD

Providesot

otheollowing:

1

Credit13:Local

FoodProduction

Perm

anentlsetasidegardeningspace,reelocalproduceshares(rom

with

in150miles)orresidents,orproximittoaarmersmarket(on-siteor

with

inmilewalkdistance).

o

o

o

Allowsgrowingoproduce,includinginardsor

onbalconies,patios,o

r

rootops.

o

o

o

SChOOL

aCCESSaND

DESigN

Achievesot

otheollowing:

1

Credit15:

Neighborhood

Schools

Islo

catedwithinwalkingdistanceoaschool(

mileorelementarand

middleschools;1mileorhighschools).

o

o

o

New

schoolcampusesincludedintheprojectarenolargerthan5acres

(elementar),10acres(middleschools),o

r15acres(highschools).

o

o

o

44Ponts

Possle

_______

____

___

NPDSub-

TOTaLS

grEENiNraSTruCTurEa

NDbuiLDiNgS(gib)

CONSTruCTiON

TEChNiquES

Createsandimplementsanerosionandsedimentationcon

trolplanorconstruction

activities,red

ucingsoilerosionanddownstreampollution.

o

o

o

Required

Prereq4:

Construction

Pollution

Prevention

Doesoto

theollowing:

1

Credit7:Minimized

SiteDisturbance

inDesignand

Construction

Preservesallheritagetreesandmostothernoninvasivetrees,especiall

largerones.

o

o

o

Preservesaproportionopreviouslundevelope

dland(10%to20%)on

the

projectsite.

o

o

o

ENErgY

EiCiENCY

aND

CONSErvaTiON

Ninetpercen

tobuildingsquareootagemeetsminimum

energecienc

requirements.(

Minimum10%improvementoverASHRAE90

.1seeRatingSstem

ordetails).

o

o

o

Required

Prereq2:Minimum

BuildingEnerg

Ecienc

Ninetpercen

tobuildingsquareootageexceedsincreasingthresholdsorenerg

ecienc.(Minimum18%improvementoverASHRAE90.1

and/or75HERSScore

seeRatingSstemordetailsandincreasingthresholds).

o

o

o

1-2

Credit2:Building

EnergEcienc

Orients75%obuildingsordenseblockslength-w

isealongeast-westaxes(within

15degrees)tomaximizepassiveandactivesolaraccess.

o

o

o

1

Credit10:Solar

Orientation

TOPiC


YES

MaYbE

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE


32/44

I30

TOPiC

DOESThEPr

OjECTDOThEOLLOwiNg?

YES

MaYbE

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE

ENErgY

PrODuCTiON

aND

DiSTribuTiON

Generatesren

ewableenergon-s

ite,providingtheollowingpercentageothe

projectsannu

alelectricalthermalandenergcost(pickjustoneorscoring):

Credit11:On-Site

RenewableEnerg

Sources

5%

o

o

o

1

12.5%

o

o

o

2

20%

o

o

o

3

Providesatleast80%obuildingheatingandcoolingthroughashared

neighborhood-w

idesstem.

o

o

o

2

Credit12:District

Heating/Cooling

Providesenerg-e

cientnewneighborhoodinrastructure

suchastraclights,

streetlights,andwaterandwastewaterpumps(15%minimumimprovementovera

conventionalmodel).

o

o

o

1

Credit13:

Inrastructure

EnergEcienc

waTEr

EiCiENCY

aND

CONSErvaTiON

Meetsminimumrequirementsorwatereciencinbuildings(atleast20%

reductionoverabaseline-seeRatingSstemordetails).

o

o

o

Required

Prereq3:Minimum

BuildingWater

Ecienc

Exceedsincreasedthresholdorwatereciencinbuildings(atleast40%reduction

overbaselineseeRatingSstemordetails).

o

o

o

1

Credit3:Building

WaterEcienc

Reduceswate

rconsumptionoroutdoorlandscaping(atleast50%reductionover

baseline).

o

o

o

1

Credit4:

Water-E

cient

Landscaping

STOrMwaTEr

aND

waSTEwaTEr

Isabletoreta

inandtreatallstormwateron-s

iteromtheollowingsizeso

rainstorm(pickjustoneorscoring):

Credit8:

Stormwater

Management

80thpercentilerainstorm(morerainthan80%ostormsorthepast

20-40ears)

o

o

o

1

85thpercentilerainstorm

o

o

o

2


o

o

o

3


o

o

o

4

Treatsandreu

seswastewateron-s

ite(pickjustoneothe

ollowingorscoring):

Credit14:

Wastewater

Management

25%

owastewaterreused

o

o

o

1

50%

owastewaterreused

o

o

o

2


33/44

I 31

TOPiC

DOESThEPr

OjECTDOThEOLLOwiNg?

YES

MaYbE

NO

LEED-ND

POiNTS

POSSibLE

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE

grEEN

buiLDiNg

PrOCESS

UsesLEEDor

asimilargreenbuildingratingsstemtocertiatleastoneproject

building.

o

o

o

Required

Prereq1:Certied

GreenBuilding

UsesLEEDor

asimilargreenbuildingratingsstemtocertitheollowing

percentageso

theprojectsbuildingsquareootage(pickjustoneorscoring):

Credit1:Certied

GreenBuildings

Atleast10%

o

o

o

1

Atleast20%

o

o

o

2

Atleast30%

o

o

o

3

Atleast40%

o

o

o

4

Atleast50%

o

o

o

5

hiSTOriC

aNDExiSTiNg

buiLDiNg

rEuSE

Reusesandre

storesatleast20%otheexistingbuildingstock.

o

o

o

1

Credit5:Existing

BuildingUse

Includesahistoricbuilding(s),a

ndrehabilitatesinecessar.

o

o

o

1

Credit6:Historic

Resource

Preservation/Reuse

hEaT

iSLaNDS

Usesoneotheollowingstrategiesocomnton

otetotorefect

insteadoabsorbsolarheat:

1

Credit9:Heat

IslandReduction

Solar-refectiveroos(usualllight-colored)orvegetatedroos.

o

o

o

Shade,open-gridperviouspaving,o

rsolar-refectivepavingoratleast

50%

oroads,sidewalks

,parkingareas,andoth

erhardscape.

o

o

o

rEuSE

aND

rECYCLiNg

Usesreccled

contentinatleast50%othetotalmasso

publicinrastructure

materialssuchaspaving,r

oadbase,a

ndwater/sewerpiping.

o

o

o

1

Credit15:Reccled

Contentin

Inrastructure

Providestle

stootheollowingve:

1

Credit16:

SolidWaste

Management

Inrastructure

Recclingservicesorresidents

o

o

o

Hazardouswastedisposalservicesorresidents

o

o

o

Compostingservicesorresidents

o

o

o

Recclingreceptaclesonevermixed-useornonresidentialblock

o

o

o

Recclingorsalvagingoatleast50%oconstructionwaste

o

o

o

LighT

POLLuTiON

Providesot

otheollowing:

1

Credit17:Light

PollutionReduction

Mo

tionsensorsinsharedareas(publiclorpr

ivatelowned)toreduce

ligh

tingwhenunoccupiedandduringdalighthours.

o

o

o

Lim

itslighttrespasstosurroundingareasbd

irectingexteriorlighting

dow

nwardandreducingitsbrightness,e

speciallinruralareasand

residentialormixeduseneighborhoods.

o

o

o

2 9 P o n t s


34/44

I32

TOPiC

DOESThEPr

OjECTDOThEOLLOwiNg?

YES

MaYb

E

NO

PrOjECT

YES

POiNTS

PrOj

ECT

MaYbE

POiN

TS

LEED-NDSOurCE

CrEDiTOr

PrErEquiSiTE

iNNOvaTiONaNDDESigNPrOCESS(iD)

iNNOvaTiON

aND

ExEMPLarY

PErOrMaNCE

Exhibitsexem

plarenvironmentalperormanceinareasno

taddressedb

,orgreatl

exceeding,theLEED-N

Dratingsstem.W

riteinbelow(orscoring,adduptove):

Credit1:Innovation

andExemplar

Perormance

1.

o

o

o

1

2.

o

o

o

1

3.

o

o

o

1

4.

o

o

o

1

5.

o

o

o

1

Emplosapro

jectteammembercredentialedasaLEEDAccreditedProessional,i

n

smartgrowth

btheNaturalResourcesDeenseCouncilandSmartGrowthAmerica,

orinnewurbanismbtheCongressortheNewUrbanism

.

o

o

o

1

Credit2:LEED

Accredited

Proessional

6Ponts

Possle

_______

____

___

iDSub-TOTaLS

rEgiONaLPriOriTYCrEDiT(rP)

rEgiONaL

PriOriTY

Addressesgeographicall-specicenvironmental,socialequit,orpublichealth

priorities.W

riteinbelow(orscoring,addonepointperstrateguseduptoour,

evenithestrategisalreadaddressedinLEED-N

D.A

co

mpletelistoRegional

PrioritCreditsisavailableromU

.S.G

reenBuildingCouncil):

Credit1:Regional

PrioritCredit

1.

o

o

o

1

2.

o

o

o

1

3.

o

o

o

1

4.

o

o

o

14Ponts

Possle

_______

____

___

rPSub-TOTaLS

110POiNTSPOSSibLE

TOTaL

_______

____

___

PrOjECT

TOTaLS

(Cetfcton

Estmtes)

Cetfed: 4 0- 4

9 p o i n t s

S

le: 5 0- 5

9 p o i n t s

gold: 6 0- 7

9 p o i n t s

Pltnm: 8 0 + p o i n t s


35/44


36/44


37/44

I 35

Credit10

SolarOrientation

1

Increasepassiveandsolaraccessborientingbuildingsordenseblockstomaximizenorth-andsouth-

acingexposure.

Credit11

On-SiteRenewableEnergSources

1-3

Generaterenewableenergon-s

ite.

Credit12

DistrictHeatingandCooling

2

Providebuildingheatingandcoolingthroughasharedneighborhood-w

idesstem.

Credit13

InrastructureEnergE

cienc

1

Provideenerg-e

cientneighborhood

inrastructure.

Credit14

WastewaterManagem

ent

1-2

Reusetreatedwastewater.

Credit15

ReccledContentinInrastructure

1

Usereccledcontentinneighborhood

inrastructure.

Credit16

SolidWasteManagem

entInrastructure

1

Provideneighborhoodcomposting,reccling,andhazardouswastecollection.

Credit17

LightPollutionReduction

1

Limitexteriorilluminationanddirectitdownward.

innotonndDesnPocess

6PontsPossle

Credit1

InnovationandExemplarPerormance

1-5

ExhibitexemplarenvironmentalperormanceinareasnotaddressedbtheLEED-N

Dratingsstem.

Credit2

LEEDAccreditedProessional

1

Haveateammemberthatis:aLEEDA

ccreditedProessional,a

ndcredentialedins

martgrowthbthe

NaturalResourcesDeenseCouncila

ndSmartGrowthAmerica,orcredentialedinnewurbanismb

theCongressortheNewUrbanism.

reonlPotyCedt

4PontsPossle

Credit1

RegionalPrioritCredit

1-4

Addressgeographicallspecicenvironmental,socialequit,o

rpublichealthpriorities.

PoectTotls(Cetfctonestmtes)

110Ponts

Possle

Cetfed:40-4

9points

Sle:50-5

9points

gold:60-7

9points

P

ltnm:80+points


38/44

I36


LEED AND LEED-ND BASICS

LEED, an acronym or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, is a amily o green buildingrating systems developed by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED provides vericationo high environmental perormance in building and neighborhood design and construction. Since the rst

LEED pilot program in 1998, LEED has become the most widely-used green building certication system inthe United States. As o the beginning o 2011, there were more than 7,000 LEED-certied projects in theUnited States and around the world, with approximately 23,000 more registered or uture certication. 4Planning to construct a similar verication system or neighborhood location and design began in 2003and, ater a pilot program, LEED-ND was ully launched in 2010.

DIErENT LEED rATING SYSTEMS

Since LEEDs rst launch, USGBC has developed multiple LEED rating systems targeted towards specic typeso development. The LEED amily o rating systems now includes rating systems or New Construction,Schools, Building Core and Shell, Commercial Interiors, Existing Buildings, Homes, and NeighborhoodDevelopment. USGBC expects to launch LEED rating systems or Healthcare, Retail, and Retail Interiorsin 2011. Though topics and requirements o dierent LEED rating systems sometimes overlap, they are

designed to apply to the specic technological issues and building requirements o dierent developmenttypes.

PrErEqUISITES AND CrEDITS

All LEED rating systems contain a combination o required prerequisites and optional credits. Since 2009,all LEED rating systemsincluding LEED or Neighborhood Developmentevaluate projects based on a100-point base scale (not including up to 10 special innovation and regional priority bonus points,explained in the Rating System). Projects seeking certication must meet all prerequisites and earn at least40 points by achieving various credits. Beyond basic certication, projects may achieve Silver (50 points),Gold (60 points), or Platinum (80+ points) certication or increasingly high perormance.

LEED-ND Certification Levels


39/44

I 37


WHATS UNIqUE ABOUT LEED-ND?

LEED or Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) promotes best practices in location, design anddevelopment at the neighborhood scale. It is the rst LEED rating system to ocus beyond the building leveland evaluate whole neighborhoodsor multi-building projects that contribute to neighborhoodsandprioritize criteria such as site location, urban design, transportation, housing aordability, walkability,

socio-economics, and neighborhood-wide green inrastructure, in addition to green buildings.

LEED-ND CErTIICATION PrOCESSThe LEED-ND rating system is applicable to a broad variety o advocacy eorts and community projects.For some o these applications, LEED-ND certication is possible and desirable, while or others it is not.Certied projects can vary widely by project size and type, but certication is most appropriate or projectssmaller than 320 acres and larger than one building, being developed by a single developer or coordinateddevelopment group, and being constructed within a predictable timerame.

For all LEED rating systems except LEED-ND, certication occurs ater a project is ully constructed.However, due to the long time rame o large-scale planning and development projects, the LEED-ND RatingSystem has developed a three-stage certication process. This allows projects to be recognized by USGBC asthey move through the planning, entitlement, and construction process, and to receive eedback throughoutthe project development process. USGBCs three stages o LEED-ND certi

Documents

LEED Citizens Guide