Sustainable site design strategies: Site assessment

- [Instructor] Advancement of site design…starts with understanding the environmental,…social and historical context surrounding the building.…The LEED rating system rewards projects…that conduct a site assessment,…ideally before or during the conceptual design phase,…prior to finalizing design decisions.…The Site Assessment Credit calls for a site survey…that includes detailed information on a site's topography,…hydrology, climate, vegetation, soils,…human use including views,…adjacent transportation infrastructure and properties,…and human health effects, such as…proximity to major sources of air pollution,…and physical activity opportunities…in the surrounding areas.…

Findings from a site assessment inform…more than a dozen other LEED credits and decisions…such as landscape design…with plants that reduce irrigation,…good solar access that may result in a decision…to pursue the renewable energy credit,…poor outdoor quality that may require additional filters…than bringing in fresh outdoor air,…and existing transportation infrastructure…