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NGBS: Points for Smart Location Practices

Published by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Sustainable Communities | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2018-11-07T00:00:00.000+00:00
These map layers present the number of National Green Building Standard points awarded for a project site or lot’s relative walkability, and accessibility to jobs via transit or within a 45-minute drive. This map presents information on the following criteria included in the 2020 National Green Building Standard: • Section 405.6(7) - Points for sites located in census block groups with above-average transit access to employment. (See variable D5b in Smart Location Database Technical Documentation and User Guide (2014) for background) • Section 405.6(8) - Points for sites located in census block groups with above-average access to employment within a 45-minute drive (See variable D5a in Smart Location Database Technical Documentation and User Guide (2014) for background on methods) • Section 501.2(4) - Points for lots located in census block groups with above-average neighborhood walkability (See National Walkability Index for background on methods) • Section 11.501.2(3) - Points for lots located in census block groups with above-average neighborhood walkability (See National Walkability Index for background on methods) Using data available through EPA’s Smart Location Database and National Walkability Index, relative walkability and accessibility to jobs via transit or within a 45-minute drive for census block groups were calculated and ranked into quartile groups. The regional comparison was made by considering the score of each individual census block group as a ratio of the average score of the county in which it is located. Those block groups with scores in the highest two quartiles nationally are eligible for NGBS points per the Sections noted above. Details on methodologies and datasets includes in the Smart Location Database and National Walkability Index can be found here: https://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/smart-location-mapping#SLD

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