mcpbeat

Sustainability Scoring

abhinavbwj/sustainability-scoring

>- Score urban designs against LEED-ND, BREEAM Communities, WELL Community Standard, Green Star Communities, CASBEE Urban Development, and Estidama Pearl Community Rating System. Generates detailed scoring reports with credit-by-credit analysis, achievability assessment, and optimization recommendations. Use when the user asks to score a design for sustainability, assess LEED-ND credits, evaluate BREEAM compliance, check WELL community criteria, calculate a sustainability rating, or optimize a design for green certification.

31k tokens
context cost
the whole folder, loaded on every use
4
files
instructions only
0
copies elsewhere
how many repositories repackaged it
123
stars on the repo
on the repository, not the skill itself

Install

one command, takes just this skill from the repository
npx skills add https://github.com/Abhinavbwj/Urban-Design-Skills-Claude --skill sustainability-scoring

What comes with it

92 721 bytes besides the instruction
references/breeam-communities.md
references/leed-nd.md
references/well-community.md

The instruction itself

33 sections, as written by the author

Sustainability Scoring Skill

This skill provides comprehensive sustainability certification scoring for urban designs and masterplans. It covers the six major neighborhood/community-scale rating systems used globally: LEED-ND (US), BREEAM Communities (UK/Europe), WELL Community Standard (global, health-focused), Green Star Communities (Australia/NZ), CASBEE Urban Development (Japan), and Estidama Pearl Community Rating System (Middle East). The skill generates credit-by-credit scoring analyses, identifies optimization opportunities, and produces professional scorecard reports.


1. Certification System Selector

Use the following decision tree to select the appropriate certification system(s) for a given project. Geography is the primary driver, but project focus and client preference may override.

Decision Tree

START
  |
  |--> Where is the project located?
  |      |
  |      |--> North America (US, Canada) --> LEED-ND v4.1
  |      |      |--> Also health-focused? --> Add WELL Community Standard
  |      |
  |      |--> United Kingdom --> BREEAM Communities
  |      |      |--> Also health-focused? --> Add WELL Community Standard
  |      |
  |      |--> Europe (non-UK) --> BREEAM Communities (or local adaptation)
  |      |      |--> Also health-focused? --> Add WELL Community Standard
  |      |
  |      |--> Australia or New Zealand --> Green Star Communities
  |      |      |--> Also health-focused? --> Add WELL Community Standard
  |      |
  |      |--> Japan --> CASBEE for Urban Development
  |      |
  |      |--> Middle East (esp. Abu Dhabi, UAE) --> Estidama Pearl Community
  |      |      |--> Abu Dhabi specifically? --> Estidama Pearl is MANDATORY
  |      |
  |      |--> Other regions --> LEED-ND (most globally recognized)
  |             |--> Or BREEAM International New Construction (building scale)
  |
  |--> Does the client have a specific certification preference?
  |      |--> Yes --> Use client's preferred system
  |      |--> No --> Use geography-based recommendation above
  |
  |--> Does the project seek multiple certifications?
         |--> Yes --> Use Cross-Certification Comparison Matrix (Section 3) to
         |           identify strategies that earn credits across multiple systems
         |--> No --> Focus on single system for maximum point optimization

System Overview Comparison

| System | Origin | Scale | Points/Score | Certification Levels | Typical Cost | Timeline |

|--------|--------|-------|-------------|---------------------|-------------|----------|

| LEED-ND v4.1 | USA (USGBC) | Neighborhood (multiple buildings + infrastructure) | 110 points | Certified (40), Silver (50), Gold (60), Platinum (80) | $30,000-100,000+ | 12-36 months |

| BREEAM Communities | UK (BRE) | Community / masterplan | % weighted score | Pass (30%), Good (45%), Very Good (55%), Excellent (70%), Outstanding (85%) | $25,000-80,000 | 12-24 months |

| WELL Community | USA (IWBI) | Community (public realm + buildings) | Points per concept | WELL Community (pass/fail prerequisites + optimization points) | $30,000-80,000 | 12-24 months |

| Green Star Communities | Australia (GBCA) | Community / precinct | 100+ points weighted | 1 Star to 6 Stars (World Leadership) | AUD 40,000-120,000 | 12-24 months |

| CASBEE Urban Dev. | Japan (JSBC) | Urban development area | BEE score (ratio) | C, B-, B+, A, S (Superior) | Varies | 6-18 months |

| Estidama Pearl | Abu Dhabi (UPC) | Community | Credit points | 1 Pearl to 5 Pearls | Included in permitting | Ongoing |


2. LEED-ND v4.1 Quick Scoring

LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) v4.1 is the most widely used neighborhood-scale sustainability rating system. It evaluates the location, design, and construction of new or redeveloped neighborhoods.

Prerequisites (Mandatory -- all must be met)

| Category | Prerequisite | Key Requirement |

|----------|-------------|-----------------|

| SLL | Smart Location | Site must not be on prime farmland, floodplain (100-yr), habitat for listed species, public parkland, or within setback of water body. Must be on previously developed land OR adjacent to existing development on at least 75% of boundary |

| SLL | Imperiled Species and Ecological Communities | Assessment of site for listed species; if present, habitat conservation plan required |

| SLL | Wetland and Water Body Conservation | No disturbance to wetlands or water bodies; 15m (50 ft) buffer required; 30m (100 ft) for areas with slopes >15% |

| SLL | Agricultural Land Conservation | Avoid converting prime or unique farmland |

| SLL | Floodplain Avoidance | No development in 100-year floodplain (FEMA or equivalent); if floodplain present, development must be outside floodplain or meet FEMA requirements |

| NPD | Walkable Streets | Continuous sidewalks on both sides of 90%+ of new streets; building entries face street; no blank walls >12m; functional entries at ground floor every 23m on retail streets |

| NPD | Compact Development | Minimum 17 DU/ha (7 DU/acre) for residential; minimum FAR 0.50 for non-residential; mixed-use projects must meet both thresholds for their respective components |

| NPD | Connected and Open Community | No gated streets; connectivity index of 54+ internal street intersections per sq km (140/sq mi); at least one connection to adjacent development every 240m (800 ft) |

| GIB | Certified Green Building | Minimum one building in project certified under LEED or equivalent green building rating system |

| GIB | Minimum Building Energy Performance | All residential buildings meet ENERGY STAR or equivalent; non-residential buildings meet ASHRAE 90.1 minus 10% |

| GIB | Indoor Water Use Reduction | 20% indoor water use reduction below baseline for all buildings |

| GIB | Construction Activity Pollution Prevention | Erosion and sedimentation control plan per EPA Construction General Permit or equivalent |

Credits and Points

Smart Location and Linkage (SLL): 27 Points

| Credit | Points | Key Requirements | Achievability |

|--------|--------|-----------------|---------------|

| SLL-1: Preferred Locations | 10 | Location in an infill site (2 pts), previously developed site (1 pt), near transit (1-5 pts based on service level), near bicycle network (1 pt) | Moderate - site selection dependent |

| SLL-2: Brownfield Remediation | 2 | Site is a brownfield with remediation plan | Easy if applicable, N/A otherwise |

| SLL-3: Housing and Jobs Proximity | 3 | Jobs-housing balance within 800m (0.5 mi): 50%+ employment within 800m of residential | Moderate - context dependent |

| SLL-4: Access to Quality Transit | 5 | Bus stop within 400m (0.25 mi) with 60+ weekday trips AND 40+ weekend trips; OR rail/BRT station within 800m (0.5 mi) with 72+ weekday trips | Moderate to Difficult - requires existing or committed transit |

| SLL-5: Bicycle Facilities | 2 | Bicycle network connects to 10+ diverse uses within 4.8km (3 mi) biking distance; short-term and long-term bicycle parking | Easy if bicycle network exists |

| SLL-6: Steep Slope Protection | 1 | Avoid development on slopes >15%; no disturbance on slopes >25% | Easy for flat sites, N/A otherwise |

| SLL-7: Site Design for Habitat or Wetland Conservation | 1 | Conserve 100% of significant habitat; 30m (100 ft) buffer from water bodies and wetlands | Easy if habitat present and preserved |

| SLL-8: Restoration of Habitat or Wetlands | 1 | Restore degraded habitat on 10%+ of site using native species | Moderate - requires ecological restoration |

| SLL-9: Long-Term Conservation Management | 2 | 10-year management plan for conserved and restored habitat areas; dedicated funding mechanism | Moderate - requires ongoing commitment |

Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD): 44 Points

| Credit | Points | Key Requirements | Achievability |

|--------|--------|-----------------|---------------|

| NPD-1: Walkable Streets | 9 (12 with exemplary) | Beyond prerequisite: building entries every 23m on 80%+ of mixed-use and retail streets (3), continuous sidewalks with tree canopy on 60%+ of streets (3), ground-floor retail transparency 60%+ on designated streets (3) | Moderate - requires intentional design |

| NPD-2: Compact Development | 6 | Higher density than prerequisite: 17-31 DU/ha = 1 pt, 31-54 = 2 pts, 54-100 = 3 pts, 100-155 = 4 pts, 155-230 = 5 pts, 230+ = 6 pts (residential); FAR thresholds for non-residential | Easy to Moderate - density is a design choice |

| NPD-3: Mixed-Use Neighborhoods | 4 | Diverse uses within 400m walking distance: 4-6 uses = 1 pt, 7-11 = 2 pts, 12-18 = 3 pts, 19+ = 4 pts. Uses include: grocery, restaurant, retail, bank, salon, gym, hardware, pharmacy, medical, civic, religious, entertainment, daycare, laundry, post office, school | Easy to Moderate - requires diverse programming |

| NPD-4: Housing Types and Affordability | 7 | Diversity of housing types (3+ types = 1-3 pts based on count and Simpson Diversity Index); affordable housing (10% at 80% AMI = 1 pt, 15% = 2 pts, 20% = 3 pts); senior housing (1 pt) | Moderate to Difficult - affordability is costly |

| NPD-5: Reduced Parking Footprint | 1 | Parking spaces do not exceed local zoning minimum; no more than 20% of development footprint is surface parking; parking structures have 2+ levels | Easy if parking is structured/reduced |

| NPD-6: Connected and Open Community | 2 | Beyond prerequisite: connectivity index 77+ intersections/sq km = 1 pt, 100+ = 2 pts | Moderate - requires fine-grained street grid |

| NPD-7: Transit Facilities | 1 | Transit stops with shelter, lighting, seating, and route information within 400m of 50%+ of dwelling units | Easy if transit is included |

| NPD-8: Transportation Demand Management | 2 | TDM program including 3+ of: transit subsidy, carshare, bikeshare, carpool matching, parking cash-out, unbundled parking, telework program | Moderate - requires programmatic commitment |

| NPD-9: Access to Civic and Public Space | 1 | Park or plaza (min 0.07 ha / 750 sq ft) within 400m (0.25 mi) of 90%+ of dwelling units | Easy - typical of good masterplan design |

| NPD-10: Access to Recreation Facilities | 1 | Recreation facilities (indoor or outdoor) within 800m (0.5 mi) of 90%+ of dwelling units | Easy to Moderate |

| NPD-11: Visitability and Universal Design | 1 | 20%+ of dwelling units are visitable (zero-step entrance, 815mm (32 in) clear doorways, accessible bathroom on entry level) | Moderate - requires specific unit design |

| NPD-12: Community Outreach and Involvement | 2 | Public design charrette with 2+ days of community engagement; community involvement in ongoing governance | Easy - process-based credit |

| NPD-13: Local Food Production | 1 | Community garden with 1 garden plot per 10 dwelling units; OR food production area (0.2 ha per 100 DU); OR proximity to farmers market | Easy - low cost, high impact |

| NPD-14: Tree-Lined and Shaded Streetscapes | 2 | 60%+ of streets with street trees on both sides at 12m (40 ft) spacing or less; tree canopy provides shade on 40%+ of sidewalks at 10 years | Easy to Moderate |

| NPD-15: Neighborhood Schools | 1 | Elementary school within 800m (0.5 mi) of 50%+ of dwelling units; OR middle/high school within 1600m (1 mi) | Easy if schools are planned or existing |

Green Infrastructure and Buildings (GIB): 29 Points

| Credit | Points | Key Requirements | Achievability |

|--------|--------|-----------------|---------------|

| GIB-1: Certified Green Buildings | 5 | Beyond prerequisite: 10% of building floor area LEED Silver = 1 pt, 20% Gold = 2 pts, 30% Gold = 3 pts, 40% Platinum = 4 pts, 50% Platinum = 5 pts | Moderate to Difficult - building-level certification |

| GIB-2: Optimize Building Energy Performance | 2 | 18%+ energy cost reduction below ASHRAE 90.1 baseline for 90%+ of building floor area | Moderate - requires energy modeling |

| GIB-3: Indoor Water Use Reduction | 1 | 40%+ indoor water reduction below baseline for 90%+ of building floor area | Easy to Moderate |

| GIB-4: Outdoor Water Use Reduction | 1 | 50%+ reduction in landscape irrigation through native/adapted species, efficient irrigation, and rainwater harvesting | Easy - landscape design choice |

| GIB-5: Building Reuse | 1 | Reuse 50%+ of existing building structure (by floor area) if existing buildings on site | Easy if applicable, N/A otherwise |

| GIB-6: Historic Resource Preservation | 1 | Preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings per Secretary of Interior's Standards | Easy if applicable |

| GIB-7: Minimized Site Disturbance | 1 | Limit site disturbance to 12m (40 ft) beyond building perimeter, 3m beyond surface walkways, 4.5m beyond roadways; restore 60%+ of previously developed non-building areas with native vegetation | Moderate |

| GIB-8: Rainwater Management | 4 | Manage rainwater from 80th percentile storm (1 pt), 85th (2 pts), 90th (3 pts), 95th (4 pts) using green infrastructure (bioswales, rain gardens, permeable pavement, green roofs, cisterns) | Moderate - requires stormwater engineering |

| GIB-9: Heat Island Reduction | 1 | 50%+ of site hardscape uses high-albedo materials (SRI 29+), open-grid pavers, shade trees, or covered parking; 75%+ of roof area has SRI 82+ (low-slope) or SRI 39+ (steep-slope) or green roof | Easy to Moderate |

| GIB-10: Solar Orientation | 1 | 75%+ of blocks oriented within 15 degrees of east-west axis (long dimension E-W for passive solar) | Easy - masterplan design choice |

| GIB-11: Renewable Energy Production | 3 | On-site renewable energy meeting 5% = 1 pt, 12.5% = 2 pts, 20% = 3 pts of project annual energy consumption | Moderate to Difficult - depends on climate and scale |

| GIB-12: District Heating and Cooling | 2 | District energy system serving 2+ buildings with 10%+ annual energy reduction vs. baseline | Moderate to Difficult - infrastructure cost |

| GIB-13: Infrastructure Energy Efficiency | 1 | 15%+ reduction in energy use for infrastructure (street lighting, traffic signals, water pumping, wastewater treatment) through LED, smart controls, efficient equipment | Easy - LED lighting is standard practice |

| GIB-14: Wastewater Management | 2 | 25% reduction in wastewater generation (1 pt) through water-efficient fixtures; on-site wastewater treatment to tertiary standards for reuse (1 pt) | Moderate |

| GIB-15: Recycled and Reused Infrastructure | 1 | 50%+ of infrastructure materials (roads, sidewalks, utilities) use recycled content or reused materials | Moderate |

| GIB-16: Solid Waste Management | 1 | Recycling and composting stations within 400m of all buildings; 50%+ diversion target; construction waste management plan (75%+ diversion) | Easy |

| GIB-17: Light Pollution Reduction | 1 | All outdoor lighting meets MLO (Model Lighting Ordinance) requirements; no direct uplight; full cutoff fixtures; 3000K or lower color temperature | Easy - good lighting design practice |

Innovation and Design Process (ID): 6 Points

| Credit | Points | Key Requirements |

|--------|--------|-----------------|

| ID-1: Innovation | 5 (1 per innovation) | Exemplary performance in existing credits (exceeding thresholds), pilot credits, or innovative strategies not addressed by LEED-ND |

| ID-2: LEED Accredited Professional | 1 | At least one LEED AP ND on the project team |

Regional Priority (RP): 4 Points

| Credit | Points | Key Requirements |

|--------|--------|-----------------|

| RP-1: Regional Priority Credits | 4 (1 per credit) | Achieve credits identified as regional priorities by the USGBC regional council for the project's geographic area (selected from existing credits) |

LEED-ND Score Summary

| Category | Available Points |

|----------|-----------------|

| Smart Location and Linkage (SLL) | 27 |

| Neighborhood Pattern and Design (NPD) | 44 |

| Green Infrastructure and Buildings (GIB) | 29 |

| Innovation and Design Process (ID) | 6 |

| Regional Priority (RP) | 4 |

| TOTAL | 110 |

Certification Levels: Certified: 40-49, Silver: 50-59, Gold: 60-79, Platinum: 80+


3. Cross-Certification Comparison Matrix

The following matrix identifies design strategies that earn credits across multiple certification systems. Pursuing these "cross-cutting" strategies maximizes certification value for projects targeting more than one system.

| Design Strategy | LEED-ND | BREEAM Communities | WELL Community | Green Star Communities | CASBEE Urban | Estidama Pearl |

|----------------|---------|-------------------|---------------|----------------------|-------------|---------------|

| Walkable streets (sidewalks, short blocks, active frontage) | NPD-1 (9 pts) | TM-01, TM-03 | Movement M01-M06 | Livability (walkability) | QUD2 (walkability) | LC-R1 (walkability) |

| High density / compact development | NPD-2 (6 pts) | SE-12, LE-01 | -- | Livability (density) | QUD1 (density) | LC-R2 (density) |

| Mixed-use programming | NPD-3 (4 pts) | SE-03, SE-12 | Nourishment N01 | Livability (land use) | QUD2 (diversity) | LC-2 (mixed use) |

| Quality transit access | SLL-4 (5 pts) | TM-01, TM-02 | Movement M04 | Connectivity (transit) | QUD3 (transit) | LC-R3 (transit) |

| Bicycle infrastructure | SLL-5 (2 pts) | TM-03 | Movement M03 | Connectivity (cycling) | QUD3 (cycling) | LC-3 (cycling) |

| Green space / parks | NPD-9 (1 pt) | LE-04, LE-05 | Mind D01 | Environment (ecology) | QUD4 (green space) | LP-R2 (open space) |

| Stormwater management | GIB-8 (4 pts) | RE-06 | Water W06 | Environment (water) | QUD4 (water) | PW-2 (stormwater) |

| Energy efficiency | GIB-2 (2 pts) | RE-01, RE-02 | -- | Energy (efficiency) | LRE1 (energy) | RE-R2 (energy) |

| Renewable energy | GIB-11 (3 pts) | RE-03 | -- | Energy (renewables) | LRE2 (renewable) | RE-4 (renewable) |

| Water efficiency | GIB-3, GIB-4 (2 pts) | RE-05 | Water W01-W03 | Environment (water) | LRE3 (water) | PW-R1, PW-2 (water) |

| Urban heat island mitigation | GIB-9 (1 pt) | LE-06 | Thermal T05 | Environment (heat island) | -- | LP-2 (heat island) |

| Housing diversity and affordability | NPD-4 (7 pts) | SE-01, SE-02 | Community C08 | Livability (housing) | -- | -- |

| Community engagement | NPD-12 (2 pts) | GO-01, GO-02 | Community C01-C03 | Governance | -- | -- |

| Construction waste management | GIB-16 (1 pt) | RE-07 | Materials M01 | Resources (waste) | LRE4 (waste) | SM-R1 (waste) |

| Light pollution reduction | GIB-17 (1 pt) | -- | Light L06 | -- | -- | LP-3 (light) |

Key Insight

A project pursuing both LEED-ND Gold (60 pts) and WELL Community Standard can achieve significant overlap by focusing on: walkability, mixed-use, transit, green space, stormwater, water efficiency, and community engagement. These strategies contribute to both certifications simultaneously, reducing the incremental effort and cost of dual certification.


4. Scoring Workflow

Follow this six-step process to score any urban design project against a sustainability certification system.

Step 1: Project Characterization

Gather the following information about the project:

  • Location (city, state/province, country, climate zone)
  • Site area (hectares)
  • Gross floor area (sqm) by use (residential, commercial, institutional)
  • Number of dwelling units and unit types
  • Density (DU/ha and FAR)
  • Transit access (type, frequency, distance to station/stop)
  • Surrounding context (urban/suburban/rural, adjacent land uses)
  • Client certification goals (system, target level, timeline)

Step 2: Prerequisites Check

For the selected certification system, evaluate every prerequisite requirement against the project design. Prerequisites are mandatory -- failure to meet any single prerequisite disqualifies the project from certification.

  • Create a checklist of all prerequisites
  • For each prerequisite: assess compliance (met / not met / needs modification)
  • If any prerequisite is not met: identify what design changes are needed to achieve compliance
  • Prerequisites are non-negotiable -- resolve all prerequisite issues before proceeding to credit scoring

Step 3: Credit-by-Credit Scoring

For each credit in the selected system:

  • Determine if the credit is applicable to the project (some credits are site-specific or use-specific)
  • Assess the project's current compliance level (points achievable under current design)
  • Identify the gap between current design and maximum points
  • Classify the credit achievability: Easy (high certainty, low cost), Moderate (achievable with design modifications), Difficult (requires significant investment or is context-dependent), N/A (not applicable to this project)
  • Calculate a preliminary score

Step 4: Gap Analysis

Compare the preliminary score to the target certification level:

  • Calculate the point gap (target score minus preliminary score)
  • Identify the most cost-effective credits to close the gap (see Section 5: Optimization Strategy)
  • Prioritize credits by: achievability, cost, synergy with other credits, alignment with design vision

Step 5: Optimization Recommendations

For each credit in the gap:

  • Specify the design modification needed to achieve the credit
  • Estimate the relative cost impact (low / moderate / high)
  • Identify synergies (does this modification help achieve other credits?)
  • Identify trade-offs (does this modification conflict with any design goals?)

Step 6: Final Scorecard Production

Produce the scorecard in the format specified in Section 6, with:

  • Credit-by-credit breakdown with point values
  • Achievability assessment (Easy / Moderate / Difficult / N/A)
  • Current compliance status (Achieved / Partial / Not Achieved / N/A)
  • Optimization recommendations
  • Total score and projected certification level

5. Optimization Strategy

Tier 1: Low-Hanging Fruit (High Points, Low Cost)

These credits should be pursued first as they require minimal additional investment beyond good design practice.

LEED-ND Low-Hanging Fruit:

| Credit | Points | Why It Is Easy |

|--------|--------|---------------|

| NPD-2 Compact Development | 3-6 | Density is a design choice, not a cost item; higher density often improves project economics |

| NPD-3 Mixed-Use | 2-4 | Programming diverse uses adds value and earns points |

| NPD-9 Civic and Public Space | 1 | Parks and plazas are already part of good masterplan design |

| NPD-12 Community Outreach | 2 | Process-based: hold a charrette, document engagement |

| NPD-13 Local Food Production | 1 | Community garden is low cost and popular |

| NPD-14 Tree-Lined Streets | 2 | Street trees are standard good practice |

| GIB-4 Outdoor Water Reduction | 1 | Use native/adapted plants, reduce irrigation |

| GIB-9 Heat Island Reduction | 1 | Light-colored paving, street trees, green roofs |

| GIB-10 Solar Orientation | 1 | Orient blocks E-W during masterplanning, zero cost |

| GIB-13 Infrastructure Energy | 1 | LED street lighting is already standard |

| GIB-16 Solid Waste Management | 1 | Recycling stations and construction waste management |

| GIB-17 Light Pollution Reduction | 1 | Full-cutoff fixtures, 3000K color temperature |

| ID-2 LEED AP | 1 | Hire one LEED AP ND team member |

| Subtotal | 18-27 | Achievable with design intent and minimal cost premium |

Tier 2: Medium-Effort Credits (Moderate Points, Moderate Cost)

These credits require intentional design effort or moderate additional investment.

| Credit | Points | What Is Needed |

|--------|--------|---------------|

| SLL-1 Preferred Locations | 5-10 | Site selection near transit and in infill areas |

| NPD-1 Walkable Streets | 6-9 | Continuous sidewalks, active ground floors, transparency |

| NPD-4 Housing Types | 3-5 | Diverse unit types, some affordable housing |

| NPD-6 Connected Community | 1-2 | Fine-grained street grid |

| GIB-8 Rainwater Management | 2-4 | Green infrastructure (bioswales, rain gardens, permeable paving) |

| GIB-1 Certified Green Buildings | 2-3 | Certify 20-30% of floor area to LEED Silver/Gold |

| GIB-2 Energy Performance | 1-2 | Enhanced building energy performance |

| GIB-11 Renewable Energy | 1-2 | Solar PV on rooftops, community solar garden |

| Subtotal | 21-37 | Achievable with dedicated design effort |

Tier 3: Stretch Credits (High Points, High Cost or Difficulty)

These credits require significant investment or face external constraints.

| Credit | Points | Challenge |

|--------|--------|-----------|

| SLL-4 Quality Transit | 5 | Requires existing or committed transit service |

| NPD-4 Housing Affordability | 3-4 | Deep affordability is expensive (subsidy needed) |

| GIB-1 Certified Green Buildings | 4-5 | Certifying 40-50% of floor area to LEED Platinum |

| GIB-11 Renewable Energy | 3 | 20% on-site renewable energy is substantial |

| GIB-12 District Heating/Cooling | 2 | Infrastructure cost is high |

| GIB-14 Wastewater Management | 2 | On-site treatment to tertiary standards |

| Subtotal | 19-21 | Stretch goals for Platinum aspiration |

LEED-ND Scoring Targets by Certification Level

| Level | Target | Recommended Strategy |

|-------|--------|---------------------|

| Certified (40) | Low-hanging fruit only | Tier 1 credits (18-27 pts) + a few Tier 2 credits |

| Silver (50) | Tier 1 + partial Tier 2 | All Tier 1 + 6-10 Tier 2 credits |

| Gold (60) | Tier 1 + most of Tier 2 | All Tier 1 + most Tier 2 credits |

| Platinum (80) | All tiers | All Tier 1 + all Tier 2 + most Tier 3 + Innovation credits |


6. Output Template

Sustainability Scorecard Report

PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY SCORECARD
==================================

PROJECT: [Project Name]
LOCATION: [City, State/Province, Country]
SITE AREA: [X.X ha]
GROSS FLOOR AREA: [X sqm]
DWELLING UNITS: [N units]
DENSITY: [X DU/ha]
FAR: [X.X]

CERTIFICATION SYSTEM: [LEED-ND v4.1 / BREEAM Communities / etc.]
TARGET LEVEL: [Gold / Excellent / etc.]
TARGET SCORE: [XX points / XX%]

DATE OF ASSESSMENT: [YYYY-MM-DD]
ASSESSOR: [Name / Team]

==================================

PREREQUISITE COMPLIANCE
-----------------------
| Prerequisite | Status | Notes |
|-------------|--------|-------|
| [Name]      | MET / NOT MET / PENDING | [Description] |
| ...         | ...    | ...   |

All prerequisites: [XX/XX MET]

==================================

CREDIT-BY-CREDIT SCORING
-------------------------
CATEGORY: [Category Name] ([XX] points available)

| Credit | Max Pts | Achieved | Status | Achievability | Notes |
|--------|---------|----------|--------|---------------|-------|
| [ID]   | [X]     | [X]      | [status] | [Easy/Mod/Diff] | [notes] |
| ...    | ...     | ...      | ...    | ...           | ...   |

Category Subtotal: [XX / XX]

[Repeat for each category]

==================================

SCORE SUMMARY
-------------
| Category | Available | Achieved | Pending | Not Pursued |
|----------|-----------|----------|---------|-------------|
| [Cat 1]  | [XX]      | [XX]     | [XX]    | [XX]        |
| [Cat 2]  | [XX]      | [XX]     | [XX]    | [XX]        |
| ...      | ...       | ...      | ...     | ...         |
| TOTAL    | [110]     | [XX]     | [XX]    | [XX]        |

PROJECTED SCORE: [XX] points
PROJECTED LEVEL: [Level]
TARGET SCORE: [XX] points
GAP: [+/- XX] points

==================================

OPTIMIZATION RECOMMENDATIONS
-----------------------------
Priority credits to close gap (ranked by cost-effectiveness):

1. [Credit ID]: [Description of what to do] (+X pts, [Low/Mod/High] cost)
2. [Credit ID]: [Description] (+X pts, [cost])
3. ...

TOTAL POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL POINTS: [XX]
OPTIMIZED PROJECTED SCORE: [XX] points
OPTIMIZED PROJECTED LEVEL: [Level]

==================================

KEY DESIGN METRICS
------------------
| Metric | Value | LEED-ND Threshold | Status |
|--------|-------|------------------|--------|
| Density (DU/ha) | [X] | 17 (prereq), 31-230+ (credit) | [status] |
| Connectivity Index | [X] | 54 (prereq), 77-100+ (credit) | [status] |
| Transit Frequency | [X trips/day] | 60+ weekday (credit) | [status] |
| Mixed Uses within 400m | [X uses] | 4-19+ (credit) | [status] |
| Street Tree Coverage | [X%] | 60%+ streets (credit) | [status] |
| Green Building Certified | [X%] | 1 bldg (prereq), 10-50% (credit) | [status] |
| Renewable Energy | [X%] | 5-20% (credit) | [status] |
| Rainwater Managed | [Xth %ile storm] | 80-95th (credit) | [status] |

==================================

Primary Certification Systems

  • LEED-ND v4.1 (USGBC): https://www.usgbc.org/leed/v41#nd
  • BREEAM Communities (BRE): https://bregroup.com/products/breeam/breeam-solutions/breeam-communities/
  • WELL Community Standard (IWBI): https://www.wellcertified.com/community
  • Green Star Communities (GBCA): https://new.gbca.org.au/green-star/rating-system/communities/
  • CASBEE for Urban Development (JSBC): https://www.ibec.or.jp/CASBEE/english/
  • Estidama Pearl Community Rating System (Abu Dhabi UPC): https://www.dmt.gov.ae/en/Urban-Planning/Estidama-Program

Supplementary Resources

  • USGBC LEED-ND Reference Guide: https://www.usgbc.org/resources
  • USGBC Project Directory: https://www.usgbc.org/projects
  • IWBI WELL Standard v2: https://v2.wellcertified.com/
  • BRE BREEAM International: https://bregroup.com/products/breeam/
  • Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB): https://www.gresb.com/
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): https://sdgs.un.org/goals
  • C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group: https://www.c40.org/
  • World Green Building Council: https://worldgbc.org/
  • Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU): https://www.cnu.org/

Foundational References

  • Farr, Douglas. *Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature*. Wiley, 2008.
  • Lehmann, Steffen. *The Principles of Green Urbanism*. Earthscan, 2010.
  • Beatley, Timothy. *Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities*. Island Press, 2000.
  • Newman, Peter, and Jeffrey Kenworthy. *Sustainability and Cities: Overcoming Automobile Dependence*. Island Press, 1999.
  • International Living Future Institute. *Living Community Challenge*. https://living-future.org/lcc/

How to use it

Copy the folder

Take abhinavbwj/sustainability-scoring from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.

Check the name does not clash

The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.