Sustainable Urbanism

and
LEED Neighborhood Development

Farr Associates/Sustainable Urbanism

Congressional Briefing
September 24, 2009
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design® /LEED

“LEED” coined 1996

Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, Copyright 2008 Doug Farr, This material is used by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New “Green” Drive-to Schools
West Brazos Junior High
Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature, Copyright 2008 Doug Farr, This material is used by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
 LEED® for
Neighborhood Developments
What is LEED-ND?

•  Joint venture of USGBC, CNU, NRDC (SG)

•  National certification for “smart” development
•  Useful for Development teams and State and Local Government
 How does LEED-ND apply?

•  Developments of multiple buildings and developer-

supplied infrastructure (minimum one green building)

•  ND rewards mixed-use or single use projects if they add

diversity to the surrounding area

•  Will influence the land-use component of LEED

Registered LEED-ND Pilot Projects (208)
How does LEED-ND actually work?
12 Prerequisites – all must be met

40 Credits Minimum out of 100 base plus 10 bonus

The Certification Level is determined by the # of credits earned

Certified 40 Credits Minimum

Silver 50
Gold 60
Platinum 80
LEED-ND asks three big questions:

•  Where? Smart Location and Linkage

•  What? Neighborhood Pattern and Design

•  How? Green Infrastructure and Buildings

 LEED-ND
Pre-Requisites
Where: Smart Location and Linkage

SLL Prerequisites

#1 Smart Location
#2 Imperiled species and habitats
#3 Wetland and water body conservation
#4 Farmland preservation
#5 Floodplain avoidance
 Where: SLL Pre-Requisite #1

Infill or Redevelopment
Existing transit service
Planned Transit Service
Existing Amenities and Services
Connect to Existing Grid
What:
Neighborhood Pattern and Design

NPD Prerequisites
#1 Open and Connected Community
#2 Compact Development: Base and TOD
#3 Walkable Streets
How:
Green Infrastructure and Buildings - Prerequisites

#1 Erosion control (Non-enforcement & International)

#2 Certified Green Building(s)
#3 Energy Efficiency
#4 Water Efficiency
LEED-ND
Credits
Where: Land Stewardship
Smart Location and Linkage Credits (27 of 100)
Credits – Human Systems
•  Brownfields Redevelopment
•  Preferred Locations
•  Locations w/ reduced automobile dependence
•  Bicycle Network
•  Jobs and Housing Proximity

Credits – Human Systems

•  Steep Slope Protection
•  Off-site Land Conservation
•  Site Design for Habitat or Wetlands Conservation
•  Restoration of Habitats or Wetlands
•  Conservation Management of Habitat or Wetlands
What: A Place with a High Quality of Life
Neighborhood Pattern & Design Credits (44 of 100)
•  Compact Development
•  Diversity of Uses
•  Diversity of Housing Types
•  Affordable Rental and For-Sale Housing
•  Reduced Parking Footprint
•  Walkable Streets
•  Street Network
•  Transit Facilities
•  Transportation Demand Management
•  Access to Surrounding Vicinity
•  Access to Passive and Active Public Spaces
•  Universal Accessibility
•  Community Outreach and Involvement
•  Local Food Production
How: Sustainably and Efficiently
Green Construction & Technology Credits (29 of 100)
•  Certified Green Building
•  Energy Efficient and Water Conserving Buildings
•  Building Reuse: Adaptive and Historic
•  Minimize Site Disturbance: During Construction and After
•  Contaminant Reduction in Brownfield Remediation
•  Stormwater Management
•  Heat Island Reduction
•  Solar Orientation
•  On-Site Power Generation and Renewables
•  District Heating, Cooling and Power
•  Infrastructure Energy Efficiency
•  Wastewater Management
•  Recycled Content in Infrastructure
•  Comprehensive Construction and Solid Waste Management
•  Light Pollution Reduction
 LEED-ND
Process and Endorsements
Climate Change and Public Health Benefits

55% of Pre-Requisites
and Credits deliver CO2
and GHG reduction

CDC-sponsored public
health expert panel
concluded that 57% of
reviewed ND criteria
supported or consistent
w/ data
LEED-ND Schedule

•  2003Core Committee Seated – Writing Begins

•  2007Pilot Draft Complete - Pilot program starts

•  2007/8/9 Initial project certifications complete

•  2008Pilot complete, standards revised

•  2009 ND criteria finalized and adopted by
CNU/Smart Growth/USGBC

•  2010LEED-ND Exam and AP (Accredited Professional)

•  2012LEED-ND version 2010

•  201X Zoning code version of LEED-ND

•  20
 LEED-ND
Case Study
The New Normal/Uptown
The New Normal/Uptown
The New Normal/Uptown
The New Normal/Uptown