Neighbourhood LEED
The USGBC has developed a draft of the LEED for Neighbourhood Development (LEED ND) rating system to guide and assess sustainable community development. The system was created as partnership between the USGBC, Natural Resources Defense Council and the Congress of New Urbanism. The USGBC is moving into a pilot project phase to test the draft standard with actual community development projects before finalizing and releasing LEED ND in the US. The process is anticipated to take two years, and the market-ready version is expected to be launched in 2009.
The CaGBC has been approached by industry leaders and local governments across the country to introduce LEED ND in Canada as soon as possible. The Canadian projects below are taking part in the USGBC LEED ND pilot and will inform the adaptation of the rating system in Canada.
Source: Canadian Green Building Program
Benefits of Developing a LEED for Neighborhood Development Community
Reduce Urban Sprawl.
In order to reduce the impacts of urban sprawl, or unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas outside of the metropolitan region, and create more livable communities, LEED for Neighborhood Development communities are:
- locations that are closer to existing town and city centers
- areas with good transit access
- infill sites
- previously developed sites
- sites adjacent to existing development
Typical sprawl development, low-density housing and commercial uses located in automobile-dependent outlying area, can harm the natural environment in a number of ways. It can consume and fragment farmland, forests and wildlife habitat; degrade water quality through destruction of wetlands and increased stormwater runoff; and pollute the air with increased automobile travel.
Encourage healthy living.
LEED for Neighborhood Development emphasizes the creation of compact, walkable, vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods with good connections to nearby communities. Research has shown that living in a mixed-use environment within walking distance of shops and services results in increased walking and biking, which improve human cardiovascular and respiratory health and reduce the risk of hypertension and obesity.
Protect threatened species.
Fragmentation and loss of habitat are major threats to many imperiled species. LEED encourages compact development patterns and the selection of sites that are within or adjacent to existing development to minimize habitat fragmentation and also help preserve areas for recreation.
Increase transportation choice and decrease automobile dependence.
These two things go hand-in-hand; convenient transportation choices such as buses, trains, car pools, bicycle lanes and sidewalks, for example, are typically more available near downtowns, neighborhood centers and town centers, which are also the locations that produce shorter automobile trips.
Benefits to Project Developers of LEED for Neighborhood Development Communities
Potentially reduced fees or waiting periods.
Increasingly, municipalities are reducing fees or waiting periods associated with the approval process for community projects that can demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. Successfully completing the first stage of LEED for Neighborhood Development certification (pre-review approval) may assist projects that are still in the planning stages to gain the necessary approvals as expediently and cost-effectively as possible.
A good impression on your neighbors.
A LEED for Neighborhood Development certification can help projects explain the environmental and community benefits of a project to residents and businesses in nearby areas. The rating system also encourages projects to work collaboratively with the existing neighborhood to make sure their needs are taken into account.
Higher tenancy rates.
Rising demand for housing in highly walkable or transit-accessible areas can result in higher tenancy rates.
