Tuesday, November 8, 2011

2.3.4 Adding up to Green

1.    What types of professionals should be included on a project team and throughout the project in order to obtain a LEED ID credit?
Landscape, construction, design and engineering professionals.

2.    What specific solar orientation practices can earn LEED credit?
Ways to earn LEED credits through solar orientation practices are solar water heaters, the glazing area on the north and south facing wall of the buildings is at least 50% greater than the sum of the glazing area on the east and west facing walls, the east-west axis of the building is within 15 degrees of due east-west, the roof has a minimum of 450 square feet of south-facing area that is oriented appropriately for solar applications, and at least 90% of the glazing on the south-facing wall is completely shaded (using shading, overhangs, etc.) at noon on June 21 and unshaded at noon on December 21.

3.    What types of sites should be avoided in order to obtain LEED credit?
The types of sites that should be avoided are environmental sensitive areas, land withing 100 feet of water, land whose elevation is at or below the 100-year floodplain as defined by FEMA, and land that is specifically identified as habitat for and species on federal or state threatened or endangered list.


4.    What basic landscape design practices should be followed in order to obtain LEED credits?
In order to obtain LEED credits in landscape any turf must be drought-tolerant, do not use turf in densely shaded areas, do not use turd in areas with a slope of 25%, use mulch or soil amendments, and all compacted soil must be tilled to at least 6 inches.

5.    What are some ways that architects can obtain LEED credits concerning water efficiency?
They can obtan LEED credits by rainwater harvesting system, graywater reuse system, and municipal recycled water system.

6.    What building components or systems can be enhanced to contribute to LEED credits that promote energy efficiency?
By using components that are EnergyStar rated appliances (water heaters, furnaces, walls, insulation, doors, ect.). 


7.    How can the choices of (or use of) materials affect the LEED rating of a home?
The framing must be limited to an estimated waste factor to 10% or less, and environmentally preferable products.

8.    What is required to earn LEED credits with respect to moisture and indoor pollutants in kitchens and bathrooms?
Relative humidity at or below 60% through addition dehumidification systems or a central HVAC system equipped with additional contols to operate dehumidification mode.


9.    From a public relations perspective, why might a company want to have a high LEED score?
They gain bragging rights and tax breaks.  This can encourage others to do patronage with them.

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