Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - Schools 2007, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

The intent of Sustainable Sites credit 4.3 is to, "Reduce pollution and land development impacts from automobile use," while the intent of SSc4.4 is to, "Reduce pollution and land development impacts from single occupancy vehicle use." Both of these credits offer compliance paths (SSc4.3 Options 1-2 and SSc4.4 Options 1-3) that require providing "preferred parking" for low-emitting/fuel-efficient or carpool vehicles. "Preferred parking" is defined as, "...parking spots that are closest to the main entrance of the project...or parking passes provided at a discounted price." We believe that proximity is not the only characteristic for a preferred parking space and that the protection from the elements offered by covered surface parking is also a qualifier for preferred status. (Have you ever seen a car parked on a hot day in the shade of a tree, even though there are many parking spaces available between the shade of that tree and a building\'s entrance?) Parking consumers have shown an increased willingness-to-pay for covered surface parking in both hot and cold climates, as customers of off site parking lots (at an airport for instance) willingly pay more for covered parking than uncovered parking. In hot climates shade for parked vehicles is highly desirable, while in cold climates protection against snow and hail is also desirable. One study verified that in shading a vehicle\'s cabin, interior temperatures were reduced by an average of over 45