Passive survivability means a building can maintain critical life-support conditions for occupants during utility interruptions, extreme weather, or emergencies. This concept relates to resilience and integrative planning because teams must consider climate risks, building envelope performance, passive heating and cooling, daylight, natural ventilation potential, water access, and occupant safety early in design. Backup generators can help maintain operations, but passive survivability specifically emphasizes building features that continue to function without active utilities or fuel-dependent systems. Emergency escape routes are important for life safety, but they do not define passive survivability. Earning LEED credits without mechanical systems is not the meaning of the term.
Resilient design supports the LEED goal of protecting human health and improving long-term building performance.