A LEED for Homes project is located in an area heavily infested with termites. A project could earn Sustainable Sites Credit, Nontoxic Pest Control for employing which of the following design strategies?

The LEED for Homes v4 SS Credit: Nontoxic Pest Control aims to reduce pesticide use by implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. For termite control in heavily infested areas, the credit outlines several compliance paths. Installing a physical, code-approved termite barrier (such as steel mesh, a sand barrier, or specialized membrane) at the foundation is a primary, non-chemical strategy explicitly listed in the LEED v4 for Homes and Midrise Rating System. This method prevents termites from entering the structure without the use of toxic chemical termiticides, directly fulfilling the credit's intent.

B. This is insufficient. While using termite-resistant wood is a valid strategy, the credit requires it for all wood components of the building envelope, not just decking and stairs.
C. This is incomplete and potentially non-compliant. The credit requires treatment with a less-toxic substance (e.g., borates), which is not specified, and it must cover all structural wood, not just a limited area.
D. This is a recommended general IPM practice but is not one of the primary, robust strategies listed in the rating system to earn the specific point for termite control.

1. U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). LEED v4 for Homes and Midrise. Page 61, "SS Credit: Nontoxic Pest Control". The document lists "Install a physical termite barrier" as the first option for meeting the termite control requirement.

2. U.S. Green Building Council. (2021). LEED v4 for Homes and Midrise Rating System - Updated July 1, 2021. Page 61, "SS Credit Nontoxic Pest Control, Termites, Option 1. Physical Termite Barrier". This section details the requirement for a physical barrier system to be installed at the foundation of the home.

3. Hostetler, M. E., & Bond, C. (2017). Green Building: A Practice in Integrated Design and Construction. University of Florida IFAS Extension, EDIS Document FCS3298. This publication discusses IPM as a key component of green building, emphasizing physical barriers and less-toxic materials as foundational strategies, aligning with the LEED credit requirements. (Available at: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FY1049)