Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0, v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

In calculations required for demonstrating that 50% of the site that does not fall within the building footprint, we are looking to determine whether or not outside areas shadowed by canopies and building overhangs should be counted as footprint or not. Areas under canopies and building overhangs can typically not be restored with native vegetation, since no rain falls on the area. Yet the creation of building overhangs and canopies is a good thing in terms of LEED because of the shade created. Setting the first floor back from the stories above also allows for bigger outside spaces. We would suggest for the purpose of this credit that the site area be defined as the area not below any building parts, so that a project not be penalized by recessing first floor walls.