10 Common Site Development Strategies that will help earn LEED Certification

LEED Certification may not be as hard to achieve as you think! Many prerequisites and credits can be achieved simply based on your project location, or by following development rules already established in certain locations. Below are 10 common site development strategies you may already be doing that can help earn LEED Certification for your building.

1. SESC Measures – many local SESC Permit requirements are equal to or more stringent than LEED requirements. These strategies will help achieve Sustainable Sites Prerequisite “Construction Activity Pollution Prevention”.
2. Projects in dense or downtown areas may reduce their parking capacity.  This can lead towards Location and Transportation Credit “Reduced Parking Footprint” (1 point)
3. Developing/Redeveloping in downtown/dense areas will allow you to achieve Location and Transportation Credit “Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses” (up to 5 points)
4. Many existing sites involve contamination and remediation efforts prior to development. These efforts will lead towards Location and Transportation Credit “High-Priority Site” (up to 2 points).
5. Developing near public transportation such as bus stops, train stations or rideshare stops will help you achieve Location and Transportation Credit “Access to Quality Transit” (up to 5 points).
6. Prefer concrete pavement to asphalt? Selecting hardscape materials with high reflectance characteristics will lead towards Sustainable Sites Credit “Heat Island Reduction” (up to 2 points).
7. Does your project site consist of Sandy soils? High percolating soils will allow stormwater to be managed on site, leading to Sustainable Sites Credit “Rainwater Management” (up to 3 points).
8. If you assess site conditions prior to design, your efforts will lead towards Sustainable Sites Credit “Site Assessment” (1 point)
9. No irrigation for your site or landscape? This strategy will lead towards Water Efficiency Credit “Outdoor Water Use Reduction” (up to 2 points).
10. Using cut-off light fixtures for site lighting – leads to Sustainable Sites Credit “Light Pollution Reduction” (1 point)

Guest blog by: Ryan Musch from FTC&H