Challenge Your Exam Readiness With Our Free LEED Green Associate Practice Questions

The Site Assessment credit is a foundation for smarter, lower-impact design. A concise but comprehensive study examines climate (sun, wind, heat), soils (structure, fertility, contamination), hydrology (drainage patterns, flood potential), existing vegetation and habitat (species, edges, corridors), transport context (walk/bike/transit), and surrounding land uses. Mapping these factors and documenting them with photos yields a shared understanding of constraints (compacted soils, sensitive trees, downstream receptors) and opportunities (solar-oriented massing, LID siting, habitat links, pedestrian desire lines). The assessment should directly inform decisions—restoring soils, preserving quality vegetation, placing open space where it’s most usable, targeting shade where heat is worst, and aligning stormwater with natural flows. Skipping analysis or picking plantings prematurely bakes in rework and missed synergies. A clear Site Assessment saves money by reducing late changes and strengthens LEED documentation by connecting credit strategies to site realities.