Many aspects of sustainable site selection can be inherent in urban settings, including redevelopment of high priority site, such as those that are environmentally impacted or difficult to develop. Considerations also include, public transit access, proximity to bicycle networks, surrounding development density, and proximity to diverse uses. During design, exercise care to maintain and develop positive connections to these amenities. It is optimal to try to achieve as many of these factors as possible understanding that there are other considerations that may have bearing on the overall project scope.
Selection of the project site should be based on the following factors, which directly affect the ability to achieve a high-performance building:
- Ability to accommodate optimal building massing and orientation for energy efficiency
- Access to daylight to maximize daylight strategies
- Solar access to maximize potential for on-site renewable energy generation
- Viability for installation of geo-exchange wells, including soil conductivity properties
- Optimal wind patterns to enable natural ventilation
For building expansions, consider phasing to avoid unintended detrimental impacts on daylight, views, operable windows, and planned photo-voltaic panel locations.
Sustainable Sites
A site assessment of existing topography, hydrology, climate, vegetation, soils, human use, and human health effects will inform the design of rainwater management, site grading, building orientation and siting, and amenities. Although urban sites may be similar, an assessment will be useful in understanding sustainable design opportunities associated with the site. The LEED v4 Site Assessment Worksheet is a useful tool for this process and can be used to complete the assessment.
A Phase I Environmental Site Assessment is required on every project. All CPS schools found to have recognized environmental conditions through the requisite Phase I must undergo further investigation and must meet residential level of environmental conditions where remediation is required. Refer to Environmental section of standards for specific information.
Parking capacity is difficult to minimize, so site strategies often focus on rainwater management and on urban heat island mitigation. Potential site strategies include, but are not limited to:
- Vegetated roofs - NOT pursued by CPS. Alternate strategy developed with Department of Planning and Development for CPS to utilize stormwater management in lieu of vegetated roofs
- Cool roofs - in accordance with IECC 2018 requirements
- Limited pervious paving (and reduction of impervious surfaces at previously developed sites) or other strategies to manage rainwater at grade and minimize water detention
- Shade (trees, etc.)
- Light-colored pavement
- Bicycle paths
- Electric vehicle charging stations /preferred parking for low-emission vehicles
- Native/adapted plantings and low-maintenance landscaping
- Light pollution reduction
- Controlled rainwater management strategies that maintain or restore natural hydrology (these can symbolically benefit other areas of potential credits, such as habitat restoration, through native plantings in vegetated swales)