LEED-AP-BD+C Exam Dumps : LEED AP Building Design + Construction (LEED AP BD+C)

Reducing the area planned for surface parking and replacing it with additional vegetated space can provide several benefits to the owner, such as:

Decreasing the amount of bicycle parking that must be provided, since there will be less demand for parking spaces for cyclists.

Increasing the overall SR (solar reflectance) of the hardscape area, which can reduce the cooling load and energy consumption of the building.

Decreasing the required amount of on-street parking that must be provided, since there will be less demand for parking spaces for cars.

However, one of the most significant benefits of this strategy is increasing the rainwater infiltration capacity, which can improve the water quality and quantity in the stormwater system. According to a study by Biondolilo1, integrating green space into parking lots can decrease stormwater runoff, mitigate the heat island effect, store carbon, improve air quality and may have social benefits as well. The study estimated that converting 30% of Manhattan’s parking into green space would decrease runoff and pollutants from parking lots1. Therefore, this strategy can help reduce water demand and environmental impact in arid climates.

This strategy could be submitted to earn an Innovation in Design credit because it addresses a green building topic not covered by any existing LEED credit. The air-purifying facade material is a novel and sustainable feature that can reduce the environmental impact of the building by removing pollutants from the air and improving the outdoor air quality1.

The system boundary that a building life cycle analysis must be defined to account for is the cradle-to-grave stage, which includes the production, construction, use, and end-of-life stages of the building. This stage covers all the inputs and outputs of the building system, such as materials, energy, water, emissions, waste, and maintenance.