Investigate the LEED v4 program using the resources listed above.

Note that detailed descriptions of

LEED v4 credit requirements are provided via links from the LEED v4 Homes and Multifamily
Workbook. Just click on the credit heading of interest.

1. Review the LEED v4 Building and Construction minimum program requirements. List the
requirements below and determine if the Affordable Home Project complies with the minimum
program requirements.

Must be in a permanent location on existing land

Must use reasonable LEED boundaries
Must comply with the project size requirements

2. Determine the rating system that should be used for design and construction of the Affordable
Home Project.

The rating system that should be used for the design and construction of the Affordable
Home Project is the LEEd BC+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise. This rating system is used
for single-family homes and multi-family residential buildings of 1-3 stories.

3. Because larger homes consume more energy and produce more greenhouse gas emissions,
LEED v4 credits provide a Home Size Adjustment to reward more compact living spaces. The
adjustment is provided in the Energy and Atmosphere credit category. The project can earn one
point for every 4% decrease in conditioned floor area compared with the ENERGY STAR for Homes,
version 3, reference home as shown in the table below.

Conditioned Floor Area of ENERGY STAR Reference Home

Number of Bedrooms 1 2 3 4

Conditioned space floor area 1,000 1,600 2,200 2,800

(square feet)

Conditioned space floor area 93 148 204 260

(square meters)

This is applied as a step function such that the home earns another point only after the conditioned
floor area exceeds the 4% threshold for the next point.

That is, if the home is 3.9% smaller than the reference home, it will not earn the point adjustment
(nor earn a partial point adjustment). If the home is 4% smaller, it will earn one point. If the home is
7.9% smaller, it will still earn only one point. But, if the home is 8% smaller, it will earn two points.

Home designs that include a conditioned floor area greater than the reference home lose one point
for every 4% increase in conditioned floor area. However, the allowable floor plan area for each
Habitat home insures that the conditioned floor area for the Affordable Home Project will be less than
the reference home. Follow the procedure below to mathematically model the home size adjustment
in a table, a graph, and using an equation. Then determine the LEED home size adjustment for your
Affordable Home design.
a. Calculate the threshold floor areas (in square feet) necessary in order to earn point adjustments.
The threshold floor areas for a one-bedroom home are shown in the table below. Fill in the missing
entries for a two-and three-bedroom home.

Point +5 +4 +3 +2 +1 point 0 points

adjustment
(20% (16% (12% (8% (4%
decrease) decrease) decrease) decrease) decrease)

1 800 ft2 840 ft2 880 ft2 920 ft2 960 ft2 1000 ft2

2 1700 ft2 1630 ft2 1570 ft2 1510 ft2 1450 ft2 1400 ft2

3 2300 ft2 2220 ft2 2130 ft2 2050 ft2 1970 ft2 1900
ft2

4 3150 ft2 3030 ft2 2920 ft2 1810 ft2 2700 ft2 2600
ft2

d. Determine the home size adjustment for your Affordable Home based on the conditioned square
footage shown on your current floor plan. Show your work or explain your solution process.

Point Adjustment 2- Bedroom Home

0 890 ft2

1 925 ft2

2 961 ft2

3 996 ft2

4 1032 ft2

5 1068 ft2

4. In pairs, obtain a design professional role assignment for this activity from your instructor. Based
on your role assignment, research the LEED v4 credit category (or categories) related to the design
and construction of your Affordable Home project as indicated in the table below.

Project Team Role LEED v4 Credit Category

 Residential builder Materials and Resources

Architect Integrative Process and

Water Efficiency

Energy engineer Energy and Atmosphere

Mechanical engineer Indoor Environmental Quality

Land use expert Location and Transportation

Civil engineer/landscape architect Sustainable Sites

Materials and Resources:

Activities to produce building materials may pollute air and water, destroy
natural habitats, and deplete natural resources. Construction and demolition wastes
constitute about 40% of the total solid waste stream in the U.S.
Reclaimed materials can be substituted for new materials, saving costs and
reducing resource use. Recycled-content products make use of material that would
otherwise be deposited in landfills. Use of local materials supports the local economy
and avoids the harmful effects of long-distance transport. Use of third-partycertified
wood promotes good stewardship of forests and related ecosystems
Good design decisions, particularly in the structural framing of homes, can
significantly reduce demand for lumber and other materials, as well as the associated
waste and embedded energy. Without changing the design, a builder can save framing
materials and reduce site waste by planning appropriately and communicating the
strategies to the framing contractor.

5. Explain how a home that meets the LEED v4 credit requirements within your assigned credit
category will promote the transformation of the mainstream homebuilding industry toward more
sustainable practices.

A home that meets the LEED v4 credit requirements within this category will help promote
the transformation of the mainstream homebuilding industry toward sustainable practices
because it will use reclaimed materials for the construction. This home will also reduce the
amount of waste that comes from construction and demolition

6. Review the LEED v4 Homes Design + Construction Guide and the LEED v4 Homes and
Multifamily Workbook (links are included in the Equipment and Resources list). Note that the
workbook provides links to webpages that describe each credit in detail. Research each of the
following for your credit category. Use the LEED v4 for Homes Design and Construction Checklist
spreadsheet to document your findings. Be prepared to share your research in a design charrette.

Prerequisites for obtaining any LEED v4 credits in your assigned category.

LEED v4 credits within your assigned credit category (or categories) that you
feel could be earned for the Affordable Home Project. Include an explanation as to how
you would implement and/or verify the conditions necessary (including the prerequisites)
to earn the credit for your Affordable Home Project. Be prepared to present these
potential credits during a design charrette for the project.
Materials and resources (MR)
Water Efficiency (WE)
Location and Transportation (LT)
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
LEED v4 credits within your assigned credit category (or categories) that you
feel should not (or cannot) be pursued for the Affordable Home Project and an
explanation as to why it is not appropriate to pursue the credit at this time.
Innovation (IN)
Regional priority
Sustainable Sites (SS)