Overview

SITES v2 Reference Guide. This will be the definitive resource for project teams to use to thoroughly understand and navigate the Sustainable Sites Initiative's revised rating system.  Embedded within SITES v2, the rating system includes improved credits based on the experience from the SITES two-year pilot program, additional research and science, and input from technical advisors and staff.  SITES v2 will include additional information on how to achieve sustainability goals outlined in the credits.  It will feature credit examples, worksheets, documentation criteria, calculation guidelines and an improved user experience. Slated for release in fall 2013, SITES v2 will replace the Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009.

Guidelines and Performance Benchmarks 2009. This set of prerequisites and credits combines current research, technology, best practices and performance goals for the design, construction and maintenance of sustainable sites. Released on November 5, 2009, the document has incorporated public feedback from two interim reports released in 2007 and 2008.

Click here to learn more about the Rating System.

The Case for Sustainable Landscapes. This companion document provides a set of arguments—economic, environmental, and social—for the adoption of sustainable land practices; additional background on the science behind the performance criteria the guidelines and performance benchmarks; the purpose and principles of the Sustainable Sites Initiative; and a sampling of some of the case studies the Initiative has followed. Download The Case for Sustainables Landscapes here.