LEED Credits for
Green Roof Construction
Green Roofs & LEED Green Building Standards
Full Credits 3 possible points
SS 7.2 Heat Island Effect, Roof (1)
Intent: Reduce heat island to minimize impact on microclimate and human and wildlife habitat
Design Strategies:
- Plants lower heat island effect through evaporative cooling and reduction of heat absorbing surfaces
- High vegetation coverage maximizes benefits
- Sufficient moisture available for cooling effects
SS Credit 6.1 Stormwater Design, Quantity Control (1)
Intent: Limit disruption of natural water hydrology by reducing impervious cover and increasing on-site infiltration
Design Strategies:
- Maximize medium depth within structural limit
- Use high-performance water retention layers
- Work in conjunction with other stormwater management measures
SS Credit 6.2 Stormwater Design, Quality Control (1)
Intent: Limit disruption and pollution of natural water flow by managing runoff stormwater
Design Strategies:
- Water retention layer to retain runoff and filter fabric to capture its suspended solids
- Specialized “soil-less” substrate
Contributing Credits 8 possible points
EA 1 Optimize Energy Performance (1-2)
Intent: Increase energy performance above the baseline in the prerequisite standard to reduce impacts associated with excessive energy use.
Design Strategy:
- Green roofs (and other measures) reduce energy use for space conditioning of buildings; Increase energy efficiency of roofing system and reduce building energy use
SS Credit 5.1 Site Development, Protect or Restore Habitat (1)
Intent: Conserve natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity. Restore or protect a minimum of 50% of the site area with native or adapted vegetation.
Contributions from green roofs:
- Use plants that are suitable for harsh rooftop conditions
- Quick and high coverage maximizes biodiversity and habitat value
Design Strategy:
- Use plants that are suitable for harsh rooftop conditions
- Quick and high coverage maximizes biodiversity and habitat value
SS Credit 5.2 Site Development, Maximize Open Space (1)
Intent: Provide a high ratio of open space to development footprint to promote biodiversity. For project earning SS2 credit, green roofs contribute to the required open space ratio.
Contributions from green roofs:
- Rooftop can be used to meet open space ratio when space is limited on the ground
WE 1.1& 1.2 Water Efficient Landscaping, Reduce by 50% (1) and No Potable Water Use or No Irrigation (1)
Intent: Limit or eliminate the use of potable water or other natural water resources for landscape irrigation. Reduce irrigation using potable water by 50% from mid-summer baseline; no permanent irrigation from mid-summer baseline; no permanent irrigation systems; temporary for plant establishment only.
Design strategies:
- Drought tolerant plants (sedums & succulents) and vegetation mats to reduce irrigation needs
- Use high performance water retention layers
MR 4.1 Recycled Content, 10% (post- consumer + pre-consumer) (1)
Intent: Increase demand for products that incorporate recycled materials, thus reducing impacts from extraction & processing of virgin materials. At least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials comes from recycled source.
Design strategies:
Use components that come from recycled source:
- Compost in engineered growing medium
- Trays, mats, plastic components
MR 5.1Regional Content, 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally (1)
Intent: Increase use of locally manufactured products & reduce environmental impacts from transportation. Use building materials that are extracted, processed and manufactured within 500 miles of project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost).
Design strategy:
- Source materials locally to reduce transportation distance and cost
