** Incoming! v3 Revisions are on the way! **

In response to your feedback, we will be providing the following clarification: Clarifying the difference between outdoor surface area and building surface area.

Please note, the below requirements and compliance documentation will be updated soon to reflect v3 changes. You can find more information on these revisions in a Change Log that will be available on the Help Center on December 10, 2024. ________________________________________________________________________

Implement practices to reduce the heat island effect

Rationale: Implementing practices to reduce the heat island effect, such as installing high albedo pavement and integrating vegetation on roofs, building walls, and across the surrounding area , cools on-site air temperature, which has been shown to reduce heat-related mortality, incidence of heat stroke, and heat-related hospitalization rates, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Heat Island Mitigation on Outdoor Surface Area and Building Surfaces (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

1. Implement a qualifying heat island mitigation practice(s) on the building(s) surfaces.

Qualifying heat island mitigation practices on the building(s) surfaces include but are not limited to the following:

• green roofs
• green walls
• high albedo surfaces on roofs, including white roofs and light-colored concrete.

Note that high albedo surfaces are those with an SRI above 39.

2. Implement qualifying heat island mitigation practices on a minimum of 51% of the total outdoor surface area on-site, including open spaces, paved infrastructure and outdoor parking areas.

Qualifying heat island mitigation practices include but are not limited to the following:

• non-paved natural surfaces on pathways and walkways, such as wood, dirt, grass, etc.
• white and light-colored concrete or pavement on paved pathways, roadways, and parking areas
• shading devices over paved areas such surface parking areas, sidewalks, or pedestrian plazas
• vegetation coverage on paved pathways, roadways, and surface parking areas
• green open space, such as parks.

Option 2 - Heat Island Mitigation on Outdoor Surface Area (Partial Credit):

The project may achieve partial credit by demonstrating compliance with the following requirement:

1. Implement qualifying heat island mitigation practices on a minimum of 51% of the total outdoor surface area on-site, including open spaces, and paved infrastructure.

Qualifying heat island mitigation practices include but are not limited to the following:

• non-paved natural surfaces on pathways and walkways, such as wood, dirt, grass, etc.
• white and light-colored concrete or pavement on paved pathways, roadways, and parking areas
• shading devices over paved areas such surface parking areas, sidewalks, or pedestrian plazas
• vegetation coverage on paved pathways, roadways, and surface parking areas
• green open space, such as parks.

Compliance Documentation

Types of compliance documentation required:

• Annotated maps
• Annotated plans
• Annotated photographs