The easy access to alternative transportation is a high-ranking element in LEED certification. There are four levels of certification - basic, silver, gold and platinum. Each level is achieved by earning a certain number of points in six categories: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. The categories are further broken down into subcategories, each with its own point value.
"There's a LEED for homes checklist," says Kara Strong, senior project manager with Sustainable Design Consulting in Silver Spring. "It will tell you how many points you need to capture in order to get certified. The more points you get, the higher your certification level."
The sustainable site category begins the checklist. This category's stated objective is to reduce the need for cars and sprawl, reuse existing infrastructure and minimize the impact of development on surrounding areas. Yet even before points can be earned in this first category, a project must effectively address the ability to prevent pollution of the site and its surroundings during construction.
Once that prerequisite has been met, a project can go on to earn points for site selection, development density and community connectivity (proximity to basic services such as places of worship, medical care and banks), storm-water management, light pollution reduction and low-heat generating surfaces like roofing and paving that would otherwise jack up the ambient temperature known as "heat island effect."
The Clipper Mill development, occupied by a number of artists and artisans, is also close to shopping, restaurants and other services that fulfill the criteria. Nearly a third of points awarded in this category are related to alternative transportation. The proximity of various commuter options helped Clipper Mill earn its silver certification.
"Clipper Mill is within walking distance to light rail," says Taylor, who notes that it's also conveniently situated beside Interstate 83.
Another category, materials and resources, offers points for using recycled or rapidly renewable materials in fabrics or carpets and woods harvested from sustainable areas. More points can accrue for the reuse of an existing structure, which the Clipper Mill development achieved with condominiums in the historic mill. The energy and atmosphere category sets standards for the energy systems, including heat and refrigeration. The resulting energy-efficiency is a benefit owners can see in their electric bills.
