For a school project with a total site area of 475,000 sq. ft., what is the required area of native/adapted vegetation to earn exemplary performance?

To achieve exemplary performance in the context of LEED for the requirement to use native/adapted vegetation on a project, a specific percentage of the total site area must be dedicated to this type of landscaping. Generally, LEED requires that 50% of the total area be covered with native/adapted vegetation to meet the standard credit prerequisites. However, to attain exemplary performance, this requirement is typically exceeded.

In this case, the total site area is 475,000 sq. ft. To determine the area required for exemplary performance, we often see that 40% of the total site area is used for calculation. Therefore, the exemplary performance area is calculated as follows:

0.40 × 475,000 sq. ft = 190,000 sq. ft.

This calculation establishes that to earn exemplary performance credit, the project must include 190,000 sq. ft. of native or adapted vegetation, making this the correct answer. This level of vegetation contributes to biodiversity, helps in conserving water, and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, aligning with sustainable landscaping practices.