TheLEED for Homes Rating System (v4)includes theSustainable Sites (SS) Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, which ensures that landscaping does not introduce invasive species that could harm local ecosystems.
According to theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction (v4):
SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants
All site vegetation must be non-invasive, as verified by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or an equivalent authority (e.g., local native plant societies or university extension programs). Invasive species are those that are non-native and likely to cause environmental harm.
Source: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, p. 72.
TheLEED v4.1 Residential BD+Crating system confirms:
SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants
All plants must be verified as non-invasive by the USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent to ensure they do not disrupt local ecosystems.
Source: LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, Credit Library, accessed via USGBC LEED Online.
The correct answer isbe listed by USDA Cooperative Extension Service or equivalent(Option C), as this ensures that all site vegetation is non-invasive, meeting the prerequisite.
Why not the other options?
[Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, SS Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, p. 72., B. Be drought tolerant: This is relevant toWE Credit: Outdoor Water Use, not the No Invasive Plants prerequisite.Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, WE Credit: Outdoor Water Use, p. 98., D. Provide shading to 25% of hardscapes: This is related toSS Credit: Heat Island Reduction, not the No Invasive Plants prerequisite.Reference: LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, SS Credit: Heat Island Reduction, p. 80., TheLEED AP Homes Candidate Handbookemphasizes SS prerequisites, including invasive plant prevention, and references theLEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Constructionas a key resource. The exam is based onLEED v4, ensuring the relevance of USDA verification., References:, LEED Reference Guide for Homes Design and Construction, v4, USGBC, Sustainable Sites Prerequisite: No Invasive Plants, p. 72., LEED v4.1 Residential BD+C, USGBC LEED Credit Library, accessed via LEED Online (https://www.usgbc.org/credits)., LEED AP Homes Candidate Handbook, GBCI, October 2024, p. 12 (references study resources and exam scope based on LEED v4)., USGBC LEED for Homes Rating System (v4), available via USGBC website (https://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-homes-design-and-construction-v4)., LEED v4.1 for Homes, USGBC, accessed via LEED Online, confirming invasive plant verification., ]
