At Mead & Hunt, we are focused on positively influencing the world around us while we reduce our negative impacts. The Ecological Conservation and Restoration impact area in the upcoming LEED v5 incorporates changes that aim to preserve and restore ecosystems. This topic pushes for buildings to harmoniously coexist with nature, which is something we strive for in our design work.
In this article, we’ll discuss new and updated credits and prerequisites within this impact area, including:
- Minimize Site Disturbance
- Accessible Outdoor Space
- Biodiverse Habitat
- Enhanced Resilient Site Design
Minimize Site Disturbance
This prerequisite builds on the LEED v4 Construction Activity Pollution credit and requires an Erosion and Sedimentation Control Plan and a Site Assessment, which was a credit in v4. The site assessment now takes a sharper focus on ecosystems by addressing the conservation of special-status vegetation, minimizing damage to healthy plant communities, and addressing the removal and control of invasive vegetation on the project site. Starting the project with an awareness of the types of vegetation on the site allows us to take steps in supporting and maintaining thriving ecosystems.
Accessible Outdoor Space
Accessible Outdoor Space revamps the previous Open Space credit, making it more inclusive for the local community. The credit requires a portion of outdoor space to be barrier-free and physically accessible for people with limited mobility. It also celebrates the local community by creating spaces that are open to all members of the community, including work from local artists, or providing soundscapes to reduce impacts of nearby significant noise sources.
Through Mead & Hunt’s work on an accessible pedestrian bridge and boardwalk at Silver Springs State Park, we prioritized preserving and protecting sensitive lands, Native American artifacts, and the habitats of threatened and endangered species. The project also incorporated educational panels that tell the story of life on the Silver River.
Biodiverse Habitat
Biodiverse Habitat enhances the previous Protect or Restore Habitat credit by including an additional option. The credit still focuses on conserving natural areas and restoring the soils and vegetation of previously disturbed sites. It also aims to boost bee and other pollinator populations by requiring a designated pollinator habitat.
New in LEED v5 is an option to install bird-friendly glass. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, more than a billion birds collide with glass each year in the U.S. Using bird-friendly glass on buildings helps reduce these collisions and protect bird populations. Mead & Hunt has analyzed bird collision potential on a variety of building types under the LEED Innovation credit Bird Collision Deterrence, which has led to the investigation of etching, frit, or film on glazing.
Enhanced Resilient Site Design
As we discussed in the last article in the series, LEED v5 has shifted toward a stronger focus on resilience. One of the new resilient credits is Enhanced Resilient Site Design. This credit encourages the use of information obtained through the Climate Resilience Assessment (prerequisite) to design project sites that are more resilient to observed, projected, and future climate and natural hazards. Prioritizing project-specific hazards and implementing best practices in the design process can reduce the risk of catastrophic impacts from natural and climate events on the project site.
Mead & Hunt incorporated performing hazard assessments for our projects as standard practice a few years ago. Based on what is discovered, we then provide recommended design strategies to minimize long-term risks and vulnerability. After we identified hail and tornadoes as the top hazards on a recent project, the design team incorporated more impact-resistant glass and skylights along with an extended roof warranty.
Resilient site design strategies like implementing stormwater management in areas prone to flooding and using native plant species where drought is a concern play a role in enhancing ecosystems. Design strategies can also be simple and low cost, like installing higher-rated MERV filters when wildfire or poor air quality are known hazards, or touch-free plumbing fixtures to reduce vulnerability during a pandemic. In many cases, project teams and owners aren’t aware of the climate-related hazards that affect a building or site, so presenting these early in the design process can foster lively conversations and generate creative solutions that have a positive impact on the project’s ability to withstand these hazards in the future.
The Ecological Conservation and Restoration impact area of LEED encourages a focus on minimizing ecological harm with our projects and taking a proactive approach to improve the health of the environment around us. Considering the plants and habitats on project sites, the communities in which they are built, and how to mitigate future climate risks will support healthier buildings, communities, and surrounding ecosystems. It is heartening to see the increased focus and sophistication of how LEED is approaching these issues. We look forward to the discussions and design strategies these new credits will generate.
Coming Next
LEED v5 will be released on April 28, 2025! Stay tuned for our final blog post on this LEED v5 series, which will outline more details on the release of the newest version of the LEED rating system.
