Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, 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, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.2, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - Schools 2007, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2008, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

The intent of this credit is to reduce heat islands to minimize impact on microclimate and human and wildlife habitat. To meet the requirements of this credit we plan to use light-colored/high-albedo materials for a minimum of 30% of the site\'s non-roof impervious surfaces. We have approximately 62,000 SF of white colored gravel driveways on the site, 80,000 SF of asphalt and 38,000 SF of concrete. We have received documentation from the American Concrete Pavement Association stating that new gray portland cement concrete has a reflectivity between 0.35 and 0.40, which meets the requirements of this credit. Aged gray portland cement has a reflectivity between 0.20 and 0.30. Will we be able to use the documentation from the American Concrete Pavement Association as a sufficient source to show compliance with this credit? Also, will we be able to use the reflectivity ranges for new gray portland cement to fulfill the requirements of this credit? We know that black asphalt will not meet the requirements of this credit. We are unable to obtain documentation from the company supplying the gravel on its reflectivity value. We have tried to borrow or purchase a spectrophotometer to measure the reflectivity of the rocks on our own, but have not found an affordable option. We have also tried to find a federal standard on the reflectivity values of different colors and have been unsuccessful. If the rocks are essentially white, will that be enough of an explanation to factor the rocks into the calculation to comply with the requirements for this credit?