Intent:
Conserve existing natural areas and restore damaged areas to provide habitat and promote biodiversity.

Requirements:
OPTION 2 - Use native or adapted vegetation over 50% of the previously developed site area, including vegetated roof surface area

Intent:
Provide a high ratio of open space to development footprint to promote biodiversity.

Requirements:
OPTION 1 - Reduce the development footprint—exceed local zoning open space requirement by 25% within project boundary
OPTION 2 - Provide vegetated open space adjacent to the building equal to the building footprint
OPTION 3 - Provide vegetated open space equal to 20% of the project's site area

All Options: For projects located in urban areas that earn SS Credit 2 (Development Density and Community Connectivity), vegetated roof areas can contribute to credit compliance.

Intent:
Reduce heat islands (thermal gradient differences between developed and undeveloped areas) to minimize impact on microclimate and human and wildlife habitat.

Requirements:
SSc7.1
OPTION 2 - Place a minimum of 50% of parking spaces under cover (defined as underground, under deck, under roof, or under a building); any roof used to shade or cover parking must have an SRI of at least 29.

SSc7.2
OPTION 1 - Use roofing materials with a Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) of 78 for low-sloped roofs and 29 for steep sloped roofs
OPTION 2 - Install a vegetated roof over 50% of the roof area
OPTION 3 - Install a combination of high albedo and vegetated roof surfaces with the above SRI rating requirements.