As sustainability and environmental consciousness become increasingly important in the design and construction of buildings, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification has become a widely recognized standard for sustainable building practices. One of the credits within the LEED v4 rating system is the Open Space credit, which aims to promote the creation of outdoor spaces that provide social, recreational, and ecological benefits. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step approach to comply with the Open Space credit in LEED v4, including sample calculations and guidance.

Step 1: Determine the Total Site Area The first step in complying with the Open Space credit is to determine the total site area, including the building footprint. This can be calculated by measuring the entire site, including any paved areas, and subtracting the building footprint. The building footprint is the area covered by the building and can be obtained from the architectural plans or site survey.

Step 2: Calculate the Minimum Outdoor Space Requirement According to LEED v4 requirements, the minimum outdoor space requirement is 30% of the total site area, including the building footprint. To calculate this, multiply the total site area (from step 1) by 0.3 (30%). The result is the minimum outdoor space requirement for the project.

Step 3: Determine the Vegetation Requirement Within the minimum outdoor space requirement, 25% must be planted with two or more types of vegetation or have overhead vegetated canopy. To determine the vegetation requirement, multiply the minimum outdoor space requirement (from step 2) by 0.25 (25%). The result is the minimum vegetation requirement for the project.

Step 4: Identify the Types of Vegetation The types of vegetation that can be used to meet the requirements of the Open Space credit include pedestrian-oriented paving or landscape areas that accommodate outdoor social activities, recreation-oriented paving or landscape areas that encourage physical activity, landscape areas with two or more vegetation types that provide opportunities for year-round visual interest, garden spaces dedicated to community gardens or urban food production, and preserved or created habitat that meets the criteria of the SS Credit Protect or Restore Habitat and also includes elements of human interaction.

Step 5: Calculate the Vegetated Area Next, calculate the vegetated area within the minimum vegetation requirement. This can be done by measuring the area of the outdoor space that is planted with two or more types of vegetation or has overhead vegetated canopy. This can include areas such as lawns, gardens, green roofs, and vegetated walls. Add up the area of all these vegetated spaces to determine the total vegetated area for the project.

Step 6: Check for Accessibility In order to comply with the Open Space credit, the outdoor space must be physically accessible. This means that it must be designed in a way that allows people of all abilities to access and use the space. This can include providing ramps, wide pathways, and accessible seating areas. Make sure that the outdoor space meets the accessibility requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable accessibility guidelines.

Step 7: Consider Roof-based Paving Areas In some cases, extensive or intensive vegetated roofs that are physically accessible can be used to meet the minimum vegetation requirement of the Open Space credit. Similarly, qualifying roof-based physically accessible paving areas can also be used toward credit compliance. This can be a useful strategy for projects with limited ground-level outdoor space, but ample roof space.

Step 8: Evaluate Wetlands or Ponds If your project includes wetlands or naturally designed ponds, they may count as open space if the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

Sample questions with answers for the LEED open space credit

1. Question: What is the minimum percentage of outdoor space required to comply with the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: The minimum percentage of outdoor space required to comply with the Open Space credit in LEED v4 is 30% of the total site area, including the building footprint.

2. Question: How much of the minimum 30% outdoor space requirement must be vegetated according to LEED v4?

Answer: 25% of the minimum 30% outdoor space requirement must be vegetated, either by planting two or more types of vegetation or by having overhead vegetated canopy.

3. Question: What are some examples of types of vegetation that can be used to meet the requirements of the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Examples of types of vegetation that can be used to meet the requirements of the Open Space credit in LEED v4 include pedestrian-oriented paving or landscape areas, recreation-oriented paving or landscape areas, landscape areas with two or more vegetation types, garden spaces dedicated to community gardens or urban food production, and preserved or created habitat that includes elements of human interaction.

4. Question: How can vegetated roofs be used to meet the requirements of the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Vegetated roofs that are physically accessible can be used to meet the minimum vegetation requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4. Extensive or intensive vegetated roofs can be counted towards the 25% vegetation requirement, and qualifying roof-based physically accessible paving areas can also be used towards credit compliance.

5. Question: What is the accessibility requirement for outdoor spaces to comply with the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Outdoor spaces must be physically accessible, meaning they must be designed to allow people of all abilities to access and use the space. This includes providing ramps, wide pathways, and accessible seating areas, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable accessibility guidelines.

6. Question: Can wetlands or ponds be counted as open space towards compliance with the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Yes, wetlands or naturally designed ponds may count as open space if the side slope gradients average 1:4 (vertical:horizontal) or less and are vegetated.

7. Question: Can hardscape areas, such as paved plazas or sidewalks, be counted towards the outdoor space requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: No, hardscape areas, such as paved plazas or sidewalks, do not count towards the outdoor space requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4. Only vegetated areas or areas with overhead vegetated canopy can be counted towards the 30% outdoor space requirement.

8. Question: How can a project provide opportunities for year-round visual interest in compliance with the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: A project can provide opportunities for year-round visual interest by incorporating two or more types of vegetation in the outdoor space, such as using a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees, shrubs, and perennials, to ensure that the space has visual interest throughout the year.

9. Question: Can green walls or living walls be used to meet the vegetated area requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Yes, green walls or living walls, which are vertical vegetated surfaces, can be used to meet the vegetated area requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4, as long as they meet the requirement of two or more types of vegetation and are physically accessible.

10. Question: Can community gardens or urban food production areas be counted towards the vegetated area requirement of the Open Space credit in LEED v4?

Answer: Yes,