What is SITES?
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 for evaluating and certifying 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 taking a holistic approach, SITES promotes sustainable land development that has positive impacts on both the environment and human health.
Areas of application
The SITES protocol, currently available in version v2, can be applied to projects located in areas with or without buildings, including:
- Open Spaces: local, state, and national parks; botanical gardens; arboretums
- Urban Spaces: streets and plazas
- Commercial Areas: retail and office areas; corporate campuses
- Residential Areas: neighborhoods or individual courtyards
- Educational/Institutional Areas: public and private campuses; museums; hospitals
- Infrastructure
- Government Areas
- Military Areas
- Industrial Areas
The ASLA and GBCI team are already working to develop the protocol in version v3.
SITES Sections
The SITES v2 evaluation system consists of 18 mandatory requirements and 48 credits that total 200 points to measure the sustainability of the project. 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
Livelli di certificazione SITES
The SITES system is based on 4 levels of certification based on the score obtained with the credits pursued (considering all the Prerequisites fulfilled):
- Certified | between 70 and 84 points
- Silver | between 85 and 99 points
- Gold | between 100 and 134 points
- Platinum | 135 points and up
The maximum score achievable is 200 points, while the minimum score to obtain the certification is 70 points.
The synergies between SITES and LEED
The SITES and LEED rating systems are complementary and can be used independently or in concert. LEED applies to the buildings you design and the site on which they are located, and 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 ND (v4/v2009) rating systems.
Macro Design Studio can accompany you in the SITES certification process
Contact us for more information: info@