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Sustainable Sites 5.2 – Site Development – Maximize Open Space

Maximize Open Space

Intention:

  1. A high open space to footprint ratio
  2. Promote biodiversity

Implementation:

  1. Case 1: there IS a local code for open space restriction
    • open space should exceed local code by 25%
  2. Case 2: there is NO code (campuses or military bases)
    • open space is to be same size as building footprint
  3. Case 3: there IS a local code, but ZERO open space requirement:
    • open space should be 20% of site area
  • For all options:
    1. urban area projects that earn SS2
      • vegetated roof areas can count toward credit compliance
      • pedestrian oriented hardscape areas can count toward credit compliance (min. 25% open space must be vegetated)
      • Wetlands or naturally design ponds count if side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or less and are vegetated

Codes or Standards Applied:

  1. none

Extra Credit:

  • case 1: open space to exceed local codes by 50% (instead of 25%)
  • case 2: open space to double building footprint (instead of match)
  • case 3: open space to be 40% of site area (instead of 20%)

Submittal Phase:

  • design

Links from Reference Guide:

  1. Soil and Water Conservation Society
  2. Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

Other Sustainable Sites Credits

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30 Comments On This Post

  1. Pat,
    My exam is on coming sat. 7th June. Anything new I should know of?
    I am not doing very good in my practice exam. Should I reschedule it?
    I am very confused.
    Thanks!

    Reply
  2. Hi Shanu,

    Which practice exams are you taking? If you are referencing the greenexamprep.com ones, just keep doing those over and over again and it will help you. Those tests are super hard, harder than the actual test, in my opinion, so If you can just keep doing better each time, no matter what your percentage is now, that’s an improvement.

    Just to give you a gauge, when I first took those exams, my average percentage on each of the four given tests were about 45-50%.

    If you are speaking of another practice test, i.e. the PPI2Pass or colorado study guide practice tests, I would recommend making sure you get above 85% on those before you take the exam. I rescheduled my exam once, knowing that going in there with little confidence would not be beneficial to my test taking abilities.

    Its really up to you and how comfortable you feel. Good luck Shanu.

    Reply
  3. How does LEED distinguish between Construction Submittal and Design Submittal? I get confused when I look at the Reference Guide v 2.2 descriptions of what to submit for SS credit 5.1 and credit 5.2. They look almost identical. Does the exam ask questions about submittal? If so, what are they like?

    Thanks,

    Gary

    Reply
  4. Another question about 5.2:

    In the first case, in the Ref. Guide 2.2 there is an “and/or.” This would imply that you can get this piont merely by reducing the development footprint, but what is the standard LEED uses to measure this reduction against? How do you know you’ve reduced the development footprint enough to earn the point?

    Thanks,

    Gary

    Reply
  5. It’s not very well worded, but I think they mean that you MUST provide vegetated open space 25% greater than the local zoning requirement, and that one of the ways you might do this is by reducing the development footprint. The actual open space requirement is clear.

    Reply
  6. That makes sense.

    Gary

    Reply
  7. Pat can u help me with question?
    Thanks again

    A biomedical research facility will be constructed on a 300-acre site in the Florida panhandle, but as part of an effort to minimize the impact of the project, the building, access roads, parking, and other developed aspects of the site will be limited to approximately 12 acres. The rest of the site has been set aside as a conservation area. For which of the following points would this project be eligible? (Choose 1.)

    a. SSc5.1: Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat
    b. SSc5.2: Site Development, Maximize Open Space
    c. SSc5.1: Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat; SSc5.2: Site Development: Maximize Open Space
    d. SSc5.2: Site Development, Maximize Open Space; IDc1.1: Innovation & Design Process
    e. SSc5.1: Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat; IDc1.1: Innovation & Design Process

    Reply
  8. Well, immediately you can assume that the question is either answer D or E. This is because they are the only ones that have the ID credit, which would be used for the conservation area.

    From there then you know it’s either one or the other (SSc5.1 or SSc5.2), not both. So which one fits the best?

    I would say the best answer is D.

    I may be wrong in my initial assessment about the conservation area, but you can see that if you look at the exemplary performance options for each, the one for SSc5.2 fits as well.

    Hope this helps!

    The reason I didn’t choose E is because I can assume that we’re building on a greenfield, based on the information in the question (trying to minimize impact & the conservation area). Based on the requirements of SSc5.1 in a greenfield, we have to be at certain distances of disturbance with various items, such as roadways, constructed areas etc. Since we are not given any of this information, answer E isn’t so good.

    Answer D is good because we are a really high open space to building footprint ratio, and can assume that no matter what the codes are, we definitely be exceeding the requirements.

    Reply
  9. I would argue that we could reasonably exclude all options with SSc5.2 as we aren’t given any zoning requirements or ordinances specifying open space requirements.
    It doesnt say if the site is a green field or previously developed so you will assume 1 or the other. Since no info was given on limiting site disturbance, you might assume its a previously developed site- in which you have protected more than 75% of the site- qualifying it for ID credit.
    My answer is E
    Does anybody have the correct answer?

    Reply
  10. I am not familiar with the concept of side slope gradient. Is there a place that pictures it? What is an example of less than 1:4? 1:3?

    Reply
  11. Met Fan,
    Rise over run (vertical over horizontal). the greater the run, second number, the less the slope. 1:5 would be less than 1:4, not 1:3.

    Reply
  12. Hi Pat
    your site is a wonderful resource for preparing for the LEED exam.

    Also please can you indicate what are the resources to study, only to pass the test, coz the number of references is kind of intimidating…esp. with the deadline for the v2.2 just around the corner.

    Thanks
    Sabreena

    Reply
  13. Hi Pat,
    Great Site. Very informative & helpful. Just one suggestion; Can you have a thread or topic on all the calculations required SS4.2,WE3.1, MR etc.? Thanks.

    Reply
  14. Hi Pat,
    I just purchased your study guide and audio files and they have helped a lot. I’m wondering if you could clarify something for me regarding SS credit 5.2. The requirements states that “open space should exceed local code by 25%” Does the 25% measurement include or exclude the building footprint?

    Reply
  15. EQ Credit 2, Increased Ventilation, requires 30% increased ventilation above the
    minimum required rates for which ventilation system(s)? (Choose one)
    A) ___ Any ventilation system
    B) ___ Passive systems using some mechanical ventilation
    C) ___ Naturally ventilated systems
    D) ___ Active systems only

    The answer guide says the amnswer is B but in the manual this threshold is for the Mecahnically ventilated systems that means Active systems so therefore the answer should be D. Am I missing something here?

    Reply
  16. Baloch:

    It is very confusing!! In the manual it firstly indicates this requirement for mechanical systems and then later in the chapter it adds the same requirement for mixed -mode ventilation (mechanical + natural)…Its very confusing indeed.

    Reply
  17. oh I got it…wow!! a good catch though!!:)
    It says that “Active systems ONLY”. Since this criteria is applicable to mixed ventilated systems. Therefore D is NOT a correct answer and the ans is B. Guys correct me if I am wrong.

    Reply
  18. Thanks Reenu! I think that might be the only reason.

    Reply
  19. Julia:

    Open space does not include the building footprint.

    Reenu

    Reply
  20. Option 3: “… provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project’s site area.”
    does the “Project’s site area” include building footprint?
    (in C5.1 the reference guide said excluding the building footprint)

    Reply
  21. achir-
    in option 3, project site refers to the total project site and thus includes the building footprint.

    Reply
  22. i have a question regarding a mixed use, residential and school. it has a lot coverage of 70% max and FAR of 6.5…which option would i be able to use in this situation?

    Reply
  23. can you explain the difference in logic between options 2 and 3 for SSc5.2? That is, why does the open space area = the building footprint area when there is no zoning, but it is >= 20% of the project site when there is zoning but no open space requirement, and not vice versa?

    Reply
  24. Jonathan,

    if there is a 70% max lot coverage, does that mean there is a 30% min. open space requirement?

    Reply
  25. Julia,

    “I’m wondering if you could clarify something for me regarding SS credit 5.2. The requirements states that “open space should exceed local code by 25%” Does the 25% measurement include or exclude the building footprint?”

    I believe that the 25% will EXCLUDE the building footprint, as open space (if not clearly defined in the local zoning code) is defined by LEED as the property area minus the development area (note that the development area is greater than the building footprint).

    Reply
  26. This is as much an in-practice question as an exam question:
    SS5.1 is pretty clear in the definition of “Native or Adapted” vegetation. Basically that means lawn does not count (as most species are not native and are planted as a monoculture). 5.2 just states “vegetated open space” with no definition of what qualifies except “vegetated” and “pervious”. “Native or adapted” shows up in the definitions, but not in the credit language. Anyone know if lawn qualifies here?

    Reply
  27. The answer for Greenair is C not D or E. I enven do not know why and I just saw the very similar one in a practice eaxm.

    Reply
  28. I have a question about the 25% of opening space.. Is there any local or international standard that tells us about how much the opening space should be in the campus or even how much opening space should be for ever m2 for buildings … am trying to study a campus area so i need to know how much opening space or percentage should be there for every m2 of buildings ?? thx

    Reply
  29. how you could develop site plan to maximize open space? please helppppp

    Reply
  30. how you could develop site plan to perform quantity conrtol for stormwater , perform quality control for stormwater runoff and minimize light trespass on adjacent properties?????

    Reply

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Hi! My name is Pat and I’m the guy behind GreenExamAcademy.com. I graduated with a B.A. in Architecture from the University of California Berkeley, and was working in an Architecture firm for the last few years in Southern California...

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