What is SITES certification
The SITES Rating System, developed between 2006 and 2014 by the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) and acquired by GBCI in 2015, provides a comprehensive framework to evaluate and certify sustainable land development projects, from residential communities to commercial developments.
SITES goes beyond traditional sustainability standards by focusing on the entire site, including its natural features, water management, energy use, and ecological impact. By adopting a holistic approach, SITES promotes sustainable land development that generates positive outcomes for both the environment and human health.
Scope of application
The SITES v2 Rating System can be applied to projects located on sites with or without buildings, including:
- Open space: local, state, and national parks; botanical gardens; arboreta.
- Urban areas: streets and plazas.
- Commercial areas: commercial sites and office complexes; corporate campuses.
- Residential areas: neighborhoods or individual courtyards.
- Educational/institutional sites: public and private campuses; museums; hospitals.
- Infrastructure.
- Government sites.
- Military sites.
- Industrial sites.
The ASLA and GBCI team is already working on the development of the SITES v3 Rating System.
SITES sections
The SITES v2 Rating System consists of 18 mandatory prerequisites and 48 credits, for a total of 200 points used to measure project sustainability. Prerequisites and credits are organized into 10 sections:
- Site Context.
- Pre-Design Assessment + Planning.
- Site Design – Water.
- Site Design – Soil + Vegetation.
- Site Design – Materials Selection.
- Site Design – Human Health + Well-Being.
- Construction.
- Operations + Maintenance.
- Education + Performance Monitoring.
- Innovation or Exemplary Performance.
SITES certification levels
The SITES Rating System is based on four certification levels according to the number of points earned through pursued credits (assuming all prerequisites have been met):
- Certified | between 70 and 84 points.
- Silver | between 85 and 99 points.
- Gold | between 100 and 134 points.
- Platinum | 135 points and above.
The maximum number of points achievable is 200, while the minimum score required to earn certification is 70 points.
Synergies between SITES and LEED
The SITES and LEED rating systems are complementary and can be used independently or in synergy. LEED applies to buildings and the sites where they are located, whereas SITES applies to everything on your site except the building (with some exceptions). Click here to learn more about how SITES interacts with the LEED BD+C and LEED ND (v4/v2009) rating systems: https://www.usgbc.org/resources/synergies-between-sites-and-leed.
Macro Design Studio can guide you through the SITES certification process
Contact us for more information: info@macrodesignstudio.it.
