LEED in the Landscape
Jose Almiñana and Theodore Eisenman, Andropogon Associates, Ltd.
July 11, 2003
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| Storm water management, water quality treatment and landscape design for Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies, Oberlin College. Architect: William McDonough + Partners. Landscape architect: Andropogon Associates and John Lyle. LEED Gold/Platinum certification in progress.
Photo: Barney Taxel. Inset: Oberlin College
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Thinking Outside the Box
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) rating system is rapidly becoming the industry standard for evaluating and defining “green” design and construction. Since its inception in 2000, more than 54 projects have been LEED certified, and there are over 800 registered projects. The national building industry coalition that manages LEED (U.S. Green Building Council), estimates that by 2008, there will be over 1,200 LEED certified projects. By all measures, LEED represents the beginning of a fundamental shift in the way we design and build on the land. Through its open, voluntary framework, LEED is succeeding in establishing sustainable design practices in the marketplace and creating an important forum for advancing ecological design principles.
One of LEED’s great strengths is its ability to evolve. In its first iteration, LEED was conceived primarily for buildings with limited site-based credits to address environmental impacts beyond the building envelope. As a result, a building could earn a credit for being smoke-free while constructing on a wetland. The current rating system (2.1) has since expanded to address both buildings and sites, yet there is concern that LEED should go further in protecting and enhancing the ecological function of landscapes. As research in landscape ecology and associated disciplines evolves, the design and building industry will need to respond, and LEED provides an excellent forum for doing so. By addressing the underlying biophysical relationships and context of a site from the earliest phase, LEED projects can achieve certification while integrating intelligently with the surrounding land and natural systems – a goal worthy of any sustainable design initiative.
Integrating Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning
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| Site planning and wetland restoration for Cusano Environmental Center at the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. Architect: Susan Maxman & Partners, Architects. LEED certification in progress. Photo: Susan Maxman & Partners, Architects. |
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Landscape architects and environmental planners are uniquely equipped to facilitate this process of integration and should be incorporated from the beginning of a project. One of the early tasks of landscape architects and planners is to understand the biophysical interactions that impact the site and the experience of the user at a variety of scales. This analysis is informed by contemporary landscape ecology, and it addresses the interactions between geology, topography, hydrology, soils, plants, animals and humans. A thorough understanding and appreciation for these relationships can lead to a powerful, ecologically-grounded design.
Randy Croxton (FAIA) of Croxton Collaborative said, “In our practice, we seek the broadest possible collaboration between disciplines at the early conceptual and strategic design stage. This approach leads to a more deeply informed and integrated process. We consider this a necessity to address the complex demands, as well as the opportunities, inherent in an environmental/sustainable project.”
LEED was structured around quantifiable performance and outcome measures in order to promote innovation and not limit practitioners by prescribing specific methods. While this approach succeeds in maintaining the creative autonomy of design and construction professionals, it places the responsibility of design innovation squarely on our collective shoulders. A core principle of ecological design is that of interconnectedness. Experience has shown that the most innovative and successful sustainable design projects embrace a collaborative design process from the outset.
At both the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio), and the Cusano Environmental Center at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge (Philadelphia), Andropogon Associates of Philadelphia played an essential role in the project team by integrating site development, storm water management and ecological landscape strategies. Both of these projects are currently in the process of obtaining LEED certification.
Landscape’s Role in LEED
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| The Cusano Environmental Center incorporates landscape architecture, site planning and wetland restoration. Photo: Susan Maxman & Partners, Architects. |
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Currently, landscape-based decisions and interventions account for up to 27 credits, which exceeds the minimum for basic certification (26 credits) and represents nearly 40 percent of total possible LEED credits. This is not to suggest that a project pursue such a narrow agenda (LEED also requires fulfillment of prerequisites in all five categories). However, it does illustrate the prominent role that the landscape plays in the overall design process. These landscape-related credits fall under the categories of Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, and Materials & Resources (see sidebar). But it is important to remember that ecological design implies a broader approach than achieving a set of discrete credits.
The Critical Link
As an industry committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment, it behooves building and construction professionals to incorporate an integrated, collaborative strategy from the earliest conceptual stages of a project. Landscape architects and planners with an ecological foundation are instrumental in this process. We provide a critical link between design professionals and natural scientists, and our holistic analysis and interpretation of ecological systems integrates the built project intelligently with the local and regional landscape. As sustainable design continues to evolve, the trend will undoubtedly move towards increased collaboration. The building and construction industry, and the communities we serve, only stand to benefit from this approach.
Landscape architects can contribute to the following LEED (2.0) credits:
Sustainable Sites
Prerequisite 1.0: Develop an erosion and sediment control plan that conforms either to the EPA’s Storm Water Management for Construction Activities document OR local standards, whichever is more stringent.
Credit 1. Site Selection: One point can be achieved for avoiding development of inappropriate sites such as prime farmland, 100-year floodplains, endangered species habitat, wetlands and public parkland.
Credit 2. Urban Redevelopment: One point for building in urban areas with existing infrastructure, and a minimum density of 60,000 square feet per acre (two-story downtown development).
Credit 3. Brownfield Development: One point can be earned for developing on a site classified as a Brownfield and conforming to EPA remediation guidelines.
Credit 4. Alternative Transportation: Up to four credits can be achieved for locating the building near public transportation, providing bicycle parking, installing alternative refueling stations, minimizing parking lot size and offering preferred parking for carpools.
Credit 5. Reduced Site Disturbance: One to two points can be acquired for: A. limiting site disturbance beyond buildings, roads and utility trenches on greenfield sites OR restoring 50 percent of the remaining open area on previously developed sites by planting native or adapted vegetation. B. Reducing the development footprint to exceed local zoning’s open space requirement for the site by 25 percent.
Credit 6. Storm water Management: Up to two credits for installing a
storm water treatment plan that: A. Generates no net increase in the rate and quantity of storm water run-off OR a 25 percent decrease if existing imperviousness is greater than 50 percent. B. Conforms to EPA guidelines for reducing non-point source pollution.
Credit 7. Landscape and Exterior Design to Reduce Heat Islands: One or two credits for reducing heat island effect by: A. Increasing shade or using light-colored materials on 30 percent of non-roof impervious surfaces; or placing 50 percent of parking underground or using an open grid pavement system. B. Using ENERGY STAR Roof-compliant high reflectance and high emissivity roofing for at 75 percent of roofing surface OR installing a vegetated roof for at least 50 percent of roof area.
Credit 8. Light Pollution Reduction: One point for installing low outdoor lighting levels and ensuring that zero direct-beam illumination leaves the building site.
Water Efficiency
Credit 1. Water Efficient Landscaping: Up to two points can be earned for: A. Using high efficiency irrigation technology OR reducing irrigation with potable water by 50 percent by using captured rain or recycled site water. B. Using only captured rain or recycled site water for irrigation, OR not installing permanent landscape irrigation.
Credit 2. Innovative Wastewater Technologies: One point for reducing the use of municipally-provided potable water for building sewage conveyance by 50 percent OR treating 100 percent of wastewater on site to tertiary standards.
Materials & Resources
Credit 2. Construction Waste Management: Up to two points can be earned for developing and implementing a waste management plan that: A. Recycles and/or salvages at least 50 percent (by weight) or construction, demolition and land clearing waste. B. Recycling or salvaging an additional 25 percent (75 percent of total).
Credit 3. Resource Reuse: One point for specifying that 5 percent of building materials be salvaged and an additional point for specifying 10 percent salvaged materials.
Credit 4. Recycled Content: One point for reducing the extraction of new materials by specifying a minimum of 25 percent of building materials with post-consumer or industrial recycled content, and an additional credit for specifying 50 percent materials with recycled content.
Credit 5. Local/Regional Materials: Two points can be earned for reducing the environmental impact of transportation and supporting local economies by: A. Specifying that at least 20 percent of building materials be manufactured within 500 miles. B. Specifying that at least 50 percent of these materials be extracted, harvested or recovered within 500 miles.
Credit 6. Rapidly Renewable Materials: One point for reducing the depletion of raw and long-cycle renewable materials by specifying at least 5 percent rapidly renewable building materials.
Credit 7. Certified Wood: One point can be earned for encouraging sustainable forestry practices by using at least 50 percent certified wood, where wood is used.
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