LID, LEED, and Alternative Rating Systems—Integrating Low Impact Development Techniques with Green Building Design

Abstract

The demand for developments that achieve green rating criteria continues to be strong despite the weakened economy. Many municipalities throughout the U.S. are adopting green development ordinances or policies with various environmental goals, often with an emphasis on addressing global climate change. At the same time, environmental advocates and state and federal stormwater regulators are increasingly emphasizing low impact development (LID) design techniques to reduce long-term water quality impacts from new development and significant redevelopment projects, replenish groundwater resources, and provide for rainwater capture and reuse. This paper explores opportunities for harnessing some of the momentum of the green building movement to further the implementation of LID strategies in new development and redevelopment projects. We examine the extent to which LID designs can earn green building credits under Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating systems for new construction (LEED-NC) and neighborhood development (LEED-ND), as well as alternative rating systems such as the Sustainable Sites Initiative (led by the American Society of Landscape Architects, Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and U.S. Botanic Society), and GreenPoint Rated (a program of Build It Green, a California non-profit organization). The paper features the results of a comparison of green building criteria in LEED and alternative rating systems with LID techniques that may earn green development credits. Gaps in credit availability for specific LID techniques are identified, along with opportunities to further integrate the LID approach and green building initiatives.