Page 096 - NEIGHBORHOOD PATTERN AND DESIGN. Neighborhoods should be compact, complete,
Source section: Section 5 - About USGBC and LEED PDF page: 96 Guide page: 89 OCR quality: high (450 words)
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- NEIGHBORHOOD PATTERN AND DESIGN. Neighborhoods should be compact, complete, connected, and convivial. The intent of credits in this category is to create environments that are walkable, vibrant with mixed-use establishments, and connected to the larger community.
- GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUILDINGS. This category focuses on measures that can reduce the environmental harms associated with the construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure within neighborhoods, with a goal of not just reducing the environmental consequences, but also enhancing the natural environment. Additionally, LEED emphasizes the critical role of the integrative process and ongoing performance monitoring across all phases and project types. LEED rating systems have 100 base points plus six Innovation points and four Regional Priority points, fora total of 110 points. The level of certification is determined according to the following scale:
- Certified, 40-49 points
- Silver, 50-59 points
- Gold, 60-79 points
- Platinum, 80+ points RATING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND EVOLUTION Since its launch in 2000, LEED has been evolving to address new markets and building types, advances in practice and technology, and greater understanding of the environmental and human health impacts of the built environment. These ongoing improvements to LEED are based on principles of transparency, openness, and inclusiveness involving volunteer committees and working groups, as well as USGBC staff, and are approved by a membership-wide vote. LEED is continually improved through the correction and clarification of credit language. These updates are published as quarterly addenda and include LEED interpretations. Additionally, the LEED Pilot Credit Library plays an important role in the evolution of LEED. Pilot credits are tested across all rating system types and credit categories and include credits proposed for the next version of LEED. Project teams may attempt any of these pilot credits under the Innovation categories and earn points by providing USGBC with feedback on the credits’ efficacy and achievability. USGBC collects and integrates this feedback to refine the pilot credits, and worthwhile credits are then added to the balloted LEED rating system. CREDIT WEIGHTINGS The LEED rating system has always been implicitly weighted by virtue of the different point values assigned to each credit and category. These weightings continue to evolve with the rating system as market conditions, user requirements, scientific understanding and public policy change. The weightings ensure that LEED assigns higher point values to the credits with the strongest relationship to the impact categories of greatest concern (See Figure 5.2, which shows the relative importance given to each environmental impact category. Credits are analyzed against these categories and awarded points accordingly). Thus a given credit’s point value reflects its potential both to mitigate the environmental harms ofa building and to af promote beneficial effects. 2 ) Ww For more information about credit weightings, see LEED v4 Impact Category and Point Allocation Process mn Overview: usgbc.org/resources/leed-v4-impact-category-and-point-allocation-process-overview 89