What are the similarities/differences between LEED for Neighborhood Development and Sustainable Sites?
The LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System and Sustainable Sites are similar in that they both significantly extend the focus of green building beyond the single-building envelope. A distinguishing characteristic of LEED for Neighborhood Development is its focus on location and community pattern – where people live and work and how they move around. Sustainable Sites focuses on the site scale and the way people maintain, protect or restore ecosystem services such as clean air and water, climate protection and habitat. The Sustainable Sites Initiative is currently developing draft standards and guidelines and plans to be in its pilot project phase in 2010. Although the two systems are quite different, they are intended to be complementary to one another.
