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Green Cars: Does My Hybrid Vehicle Qualify for Preferred Parking for LEED?

 
Question:

Clyde asks: I am a resident at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport MS. I own a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I am told that since my car is not listed on a report put out by Re: Vision Architecture a (US. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL MEMBER) I am not allowed to park in a space designated for fuel efficient and low emitting parking spaces.

Answer:
Advice provided by: Claire Moloney, LEED Green Associate, Cornell University
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Hi Clyde, thanks for your great question.

Your question pertains to LEED New Construction Sustainable Sites Credit 4.3: Alternative Transportation – Low-Emitting and Fuel Efficient Vehicles. This credit has four options for achieving 3 points. It seems that the Armed Forces Retirement Home pursued Option 1, which requires preferred parking for low-emitting and fuel efficient vehicles for 5% of the total parking capacity on the site.

According to the LEED New Construction 2009 guide: “For the purposes of this credit, low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles are defined as vehicles that are either classified as Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEV) by the California Air Resources Board or have achieved a minimum green score of 40 on the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) annual vehicle rating guide”. The LEED guide does not reference the Re: Vision Architecture report that you mentioned, so it is not the primary source that you should use to determine whether or not you can park your car in the preferred parking spots.

California Air Resources Board and ZEV

The California Air Resources Board defines a Zero Emission Vehicle as a “battery electric or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle”. Since your car is a hybrid, it does not meet these requirements. Instead, the Air Resources Board would classify a hybrid vehicle as an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (AT PZEV). You can go to the Air Resources Board’s Frequently Asked Question page to learn more about how vehicles are classified.

ACEEE and Green Score

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy provides an annual listing of each vehicle and it’s “green score” each year on it’s website. In order to be considered a low-emitting or fuel efficient vehicle for LEED purposes, it must have a minimum score of a 40. The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with a higher score implying a greener car with a lower environmental impact. I looked up the 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, and it only had a 38 or 39, depending on the engine.

Unfortunately, your car does not meet either the California Air Resources Board ZEV standard or the ACEEE’s “green score” minimum of 40, so you car does not qualify for the preferred parking on the premises of your LEED certified residence.

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Expert Advice and Comments

Well, I guess it is true that

Sun, 10/23/2011 - 09:19 — Shannon.

Well, I guess it is true that if you are lucky enough to have the financial means, which most of us are not, to afford an energy efficient vehicle you do get special parking. I thought that was a joke when I first heard it.

 

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clairemolo's picture

Affordable Fuel Efficient Cars

Tue, 10/25/2011 - 15:42 — clairemolo

Hi Shannon,
I agree with you that many hybrids on the market are less affordable than your average cars. However, there are some fuel efficient vehicles that are relatively inexpensive! For example, the Ford Fiesta, which goes for about $15,500 new, would qualify for preferred parking under LEED. Check out "LEED MY 2000-2011 Low Emission Vehicles" on this webpage.

I am a recent graduate of Cornell University, where I studied Environmental Science and concentrated in Sustainable Development. My interest in green building and LEED stems from my project-based coursework at Cornell, where I proposed design strategies

I should have this in mind

Wed, 11/23/2011 - 20:10 — denny11

I should have this in mind the next time I get a car from Fox Car Rental, I prefer the efficient fuel cars there so I need to know everything about them to get the full benefits. I am glad I found your answer on the matter.

I had no idea there were

Mon, 12/12/2011 - 07:13 — Cheyanne

I had no idea there were special parking lots for fuel efficient and low emitting cars, it would seem I'm a bit ignorant. That's actually very funny, though, it's a bonus to make you buy a car that's environmentally friendly. I should have this in my mind before I go make my car insurance Ireland.

I understood this subject is

Thu, 04/26/2012 - 08:06 — EthanCorneille

I understood this subject is very disputed, because hybrid cars are also environmentally friendly, and although they don't get the greenest high scores, that doesn't mean that they're not better than the normal cars. I'm still new in this field, I'm trying to see if I can find ecological Ford truck parts, but I believe those who do have a hybrid should be rewarded, too.

I had no idea there were

Thu, 01/19/2012 - 05:58 — waterhouse friderichsen syndrome (not verified)

I had no idea there were special parking lots for fuel efficient and low emitting cars, it would seem I'm a bit ignorant. waterhouse friderichsen syndrome
That's actually very funny, though, it's a bonus to make you buy a car that's environmentally friendly

The concepts of green is

Sat, 02/11/2012 - 03:34 — stuartmithchel (not verified)

The concepts of green is become more popular among the public and brings a revolutionary change, these are also being adopted in many countries with huge amount of successive rate. These issues are also very much helpful for environment point of view.
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Parking issues are found in

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 04:28 — agasiandre10 (not verified)

Parking issues are found in most of the countries, which suits many troubles during the parking therefore these types of sustainable programs are introduced for avoiding the parking problems.
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From my point of view you

Sun, 03/25/2012 - 07:06 — ninamicu (not verified)

From my point of view you have two options. One is to give up and buy another green car that is registered on the report put out by Vision Architecture - US. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL MEMBER. With a NJ Chevy dealership you can close a good deal. Second option is to try harder and sue the Council. Good luck!

cars

Sat, 03/31/2012 - 15:50 — Andrew Richards (not verified)

This is a very interesting post.I've had a fuel efficient car and I was satisfied of it but my wife insisted to gave it to a car donations center and to buy an electric car instead.Even if they are expensive, electric vehicles are reliable and they have a powerful engine.

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