Ace the LEED Green Associate Exam 2026 – Go Green, Go Great!

Creating green roofs and terraces is a highly effective strategy for maximizing open space in site design. This approach not only allows for the utilization of roof surfaces for green spaces, which can offer recreational and ecological benefits, but it also helps in reducing the heat island effect in urban areas. By integrating vegetation on rooftops and terraces, the need for ground-level open space may be reduced, allowing for other land uses while still providing accessible green areas for occupants and the surrounding environment.

The other strategies listed do not contribute positively to maximizing open space. For instance, reducing foot traffic areas may inhibit access and discourage interaction with outdoor spaces, while building more concrete structures would actually increase impermeable surfaces and diminish open areas. Minimizing vegetation would lead to a lack of greenery, which does not promote the idea of open space in site design.