LEED CoreConcepts&Strategies_3rd edition - Page 059
Extracted Content
LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION
The location of a building is as important as how it is built. Through its location, a
building can meet the needs of the local community, support active street life, and
promote healthy lifestyles. Building location also plays an important role in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions.
If people can take public transportation, ride bicycles, or walk to the building, the
project helps reduce the carbon emissions associated with commuting. A project that
is connected to the community by pedestrian paths and bicycle lanes encourages
people to walk or bike instead of drive, not only helping to reduce air pollution, but
also promoting physical activity.
In ideal cases, sustainable design projects start in one of two ways—either the team starts with a site and considers the best functions and uses for that particular location, or the team starts with a function and determines the best location for that land use. In either case, by understanding the goals of the project as well as the opportunities and constraints of a particular location, the team will be able to arrive at an optimal set of solutions.
When selecting a location, the team must consider many attributes of the overall system:
•• Has the site been previously developed?
•• Is it connected to local infrastructure and public transportation?
•• What is the nature of the street life in the area, and how can the project contribute to the community?
•• Where do people in the area live and work, and how do they travel?
LEED RATING SYSTEMS ADDRESS PROJECT LOCATION AND DESIGN THROUGH THE FOLLOWING TOPICS:
•• Location
•• Transportation
•• Neighborhood pattern and design
LOCATION
A good project site channels development into places where it will improve, rather than degrade, the triple bottom line. The best locations are those that promote smart growth, an approach that protects open space and farmland by emphasizing development with housing, jobs, and services near each other.
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