LEED Green Associate Test Preparation Chapter 2 PDF

< LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Chapter 2 About LEED In this section we will cover in detail what LEED is, how it is organized, project registration and c...

< LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Chapter 2 About LEED In this section we will cover in detail what LEED is, how it is organized, project registration and certification, and what resources are available for you to learn more about LEED and to help you implement a LEED project. 1. USGBC Before we can discuss LEED, we need to know where LEED comes from and how it was created. Founded in 1992, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. USGBC has more than 15,000 member organizations from every sector of the building industry and works to promote buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work. To achieve this it has developed a variety of programs and services and works closely with key industry and research organizations and federal, state and local government agencies. USGBC also offers a host of educational opportunities, including workshops and Webbased seminars to educate the public and industry professionals on different elements of the green building industry, from the basics to more technical information. 1) Mission USGBC’s mission is “to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built, and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life”. USGBC accomplishes this mission through several means: 1. Advocacy: USGBC provides tools, strategies and resources for policy makers and leaders on local, state and national levels. 2. Resources: USGBC provides tools and resources for project teams interested in executing green building plans. 3. Education: USGBC educates the industry and public about best practices in green building and about green building in general. USGBC tries to teach fact from fiction in regards to green building, so that people around the world have an accurate view of green building practices. 4. Committees, chapters, and conferences: The many avenues USGBC provides for people to participate from the local level to the national level gives everyone an opportunity to become ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 35 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- involved or just to listen and learn. 5. Committees are made of volunteers whose job is to listen to what the industry is demanding and respond accordingly. For more information about getting involved and signing up for a committee visit www.USGBC.org/committees 6. Chapters are present in most major cities, with new chapters forming all the time. Your local USGBC chapter is a great way for you to network with people involved in green building and for you to become involved in what’s going on in your area. For more information about USGBC chapters or to join USGBC chapter, visit www.USGBC.org/chapters 7. Conferences – “Greenbuild is the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building. Thousands of building professionals from all over the world come together at Greenbuild for three days of outstanding educational sessions, renowned speakers, green building tours, special seminars, and networking events. Buildings play a critical role in protecting and improving our environment and the health of the people who occupy them. USGBC’s Greenbuild Conference and Expo provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect with other green building peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they share innovations in the green building movement.”1 The 2013 Greenbuild expo had over 30,000 attendees. For more information about the annual Greenbuild conference visit www.greenbuildexpo.org 2) Principles USGBC has six guiding principles2 used for making the decisions that will guide the organization: 1. Promoting the Triple Bottom Line 2. Establishing leadership 3. Creating and restoring harmony between humans and nature 4. Maintaining integrity by using technical and scientific data to help guide decision making 5. Ensure inclusiveness by using a democratic process and giving everyone an opportunity to be heard 6. Exhibit transparency by having open standards 3) Members The USGBC is a tremendously diverse non-profit membership based organization. USGBC members and volunteer leaders come from leading organizations in the building and design industries. As mentioned previously, USGBC has over 20,000 member companies. The following are some of the types of professions and companies that have joined USGBC: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 36 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- - Building owners and end-users - Real estate developers - Facility managers - Interior designers - Architects - Designers - Engineers - Utility managers - Landscape planners - Contractors - Product and building system manufacturers - Government agencies - Nonprofits - College Students and Faculty As you can see that is a pretty diverse group and includes everyone and anyone that might ever be involved in a construction project. For more information about USGBC membership or to join USGBC, visit www.USGBC.org/membership 2. LEED LEED stands for LEADERSHIP in ENERGY and ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN. LEED is a leading-edge system for certifying high-performance buildings and sustainable neighborhoods. 1) History of LEED LEED was developed by USGBC, and the LEED Green Building Rating System is the USGBC's primary vehicle for promoting sustainable design and construction. The LEED standard was created through volunteer committees. From 1994 to 2013, LEED grew from one standard for new construction to a comprehensive system of interrelated standards covering all aspects of the development and construction process. LEED also has grown from six volunteers on one committee to more than 200 volunteers on nearly 20 committees and nearly 150 professional staff. 2) Why Was LEED Created? LEED was created to accomplish the following: - Define "green building" by establishing a common standard of measurement - Promote integrative, whole-building design practices ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 37 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- - Recognize environmental leadership in the building industry - Stimulate green competition - Raise consumer awareness of green building benefits - Transform the building market LEED helps to evaluate a building’s performance throughout the building’s life cycle. 3) LEED Certification Benefits LEED certification saves money over the life of the building. We looked at the financial benefits of green building earlier in the presentation: lower operating costs, increased building value, higher occupancy rates, and higher rents. Quite simply, LEED certified buildings use key resources more efficiently when compared to conventional buildings which are simply built to code or a strict budget. LEED certified buildings have healthier work and living environments, which contributes to higher productivity and improved employee health and comfort. The USGBC has also compiled a long list of benefits of implementing a LEED strategy which ranges from improving air and water quality to reducing solid waste, benefitting owners, occupiers, and society as a whole. Sometimes when LEED certification is pursued, the initial cost for design and construction will increase. One reason is that sustainable construction principles may not be well understood by the design professionals undertaking the project. This could require time to be spent on research. Some of the finer points of LEED certification (especially those which demand a higher-than-orthodox standard of service from the construction team) could possibly lead to misunderstandings between the design team, construction team, and client, which could result in delays. Also, there may be a lack of abundant availability of manufactured building components which meet LEED standards. Pursuing LEED certification for a project is an added cost in itself as well. This added cost comes in the form of USGBC correspondence, LEED consultants, and the hiring of the required Commissioning Authority (CxA) - all of which would not necessarily be included in an environmentally responsible project unless it were also seeking LEED certification. But keep in mind that when there are additional up front green premiums, the long term savings in the building operation costs is significant and payback periods are quick. Since tenants or residents desire these green buildings, it leads to higher rents or sales prices. This leads to a higher net present value for the project. Net present value is a calculation that takes into account future earnings and future expenses. By having a LEED certified project, an owner can expect higher earnings and lower expenses – meaning the building is worth more now. Some of the other benefits of LEED certification include: 1. State and local government incentives - many government agencies give tax breaks for green building. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 38 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 2. Projects may require it - many local, state, and federal government agencies, as well as developers are requiring LEED certification in order to win bids and award contracts. If your organization wants those contracts, you’re going to need to know about LEED in order to do business. The General Services Administration (GSA) has recently increased its minimum requirement for new construction and substantial renovation of Federallyowned facilities to LEED® Gold. Until 2010, GSA required LEED® Silver. 3. LEED facilitates the integrative process from start to finish - LEED encourages design teams to use a holistic approach and to measure progress. Using LEED ensures that your building will have a low impact on its occupants and the environment and a positive economic impact over the lifecycle of the building. Rather than attempting to follow local green building programs that may vary from city to city, or using bits and pieces of different green building approaches, LEED addresses a complete range of green building issues and does so on a national level for consistency. If you build a LEED certified building in Florida and build a LEED certified building in Washington, you will be using the same guidelines. That saves your project time and saves your project money. 4. Third party validation of achievement – LEED is the mechanism through which project teams certify the performance of their buildings through an independent third party certification. LEED certification has become accepted as the standard that distinguishes a building as green. 5. Cost Savings on Utilities - A study conducted by the New Buildings Institute titled ‘Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings’ analyzed 121 LEEDCertified office buildings in the U.S. and found that they use 24% less energy than similar buildings. Indoor and outdoor water use can also be reduced. 6. Good PR – Your project will receive marketing exposure through the USGBC Web site, case studies, media announcements, and a LEED certification plaque to mount on the building. 7. Increased Value – LEED certified buildings studies are able to charge higher rents for their optimal office environments, making the building itself more valuable for owners and stakeholders. 4) Why LEED? The wonderful thing about LEED is that you can participate – your voice can be heard. If you find something in the Rating System you don’t like or want added, then get involved in the process. USGBC member committees develop the LEED Rating System via a robust consensus process that has been refined since its inception. The key elements of the LEED Rating Systems are:  A consensus process that has a balanced and transparent committee structure  Technical Advisory Groups to ensure scientific consistency and rigor ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 39 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------  Opportunities for stakeholder comment and review  Member ballot of new rating systems and certain changes to existing rating systems  A fair and open appeals process LEED isn’t driven by product manufacturer’s trying to sell the latest technologies, politicians, or the finance industry. LEED comes from everyone that is involved. 3. LEED Rating Systems LEED is a flexible system – not a one-size-fits-all approach. LEED not only applies to different building types (commercial vs. residential), but also beyond the building footprint. Because of this flexibility, there are different versions of LEED depending on the project type. There are rating systems that address multiple project types: 1) Building Design + Construction (BD+C) Building Design + Construction applies to buildings that are being newly constructed or going through a major renovation. 1. LEED BD+C: New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings. This includes major HVAC improvements, significant building envelope modifications and major interior rehabilitation. 2. LEED BD+C: Core & Shell is for projects where the developer controls the design and construction of the entire mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection system -called the core and shell - but not the design and construction of the tenant fit-out. 3. LEED BD+C: Schools is for buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K- 12 school grounds. If can also be used for higher education and non-academic buildings on school campuses. 4. LEED BD+C: Retail addresses the unique needs of retailers - from banks, restaurants, apparel, electronics, big box and everything in between. 5. LEED BD+C: Hospitality is dedicated to hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food. 6. LEED BD+C: Data Centers is specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of high density computing equipment such as server racks, used for data storage and processing. 7. LEED BD+C: Warehouses & Distribution Centers is for buildings used to store goods, manufactured products, merchandise, raw materials, or personal belongings, like selfstorage. 8. LEED BD+C: Healthcare is hospitals that operate twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week and provide inpatient medical treatment, including acute and long-term care. 9. LEED BD+C: Homes and Multifamily Lowrise is for single-family homes and multifamily residential buildings of 1 to 3 stories. Projects 3 to 5 stories can choose the Homes rating system that corresponds to the ENERGY STAR program in which they are participating. 10. LEED BD+C Multifamily Midrise is for multi-family residential buildings of 4 to 8 occupiable stories above grade. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 40 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 2) Interior Design + Construction (ID+C) 1. LEED ID+C applies to projects that are a complete interior fit-out. 2. LEED ID+C Commercial Interiors is for interior spaces dedicated to functions other than retail or hospitality. 3. LEED ID+C Retail guides retailers interior spaces used to conduct the retail sale of consumer product goods. Includes both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer service. 4. LEED ID+C Hospitality is designed for interior spaces dedicated to hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food. 3) Building Operations + Maintenance (O+M) 1. LEED O+M applies to existing buildings that are undergoing improvement work or little to no construction. 2. LEED O+M Existing Buildings is specifically projects that do not primarily serve K-12 educational, retail, data centers, warehouses and distribution centers, or hospitality uses. 3. LEED O+M Retail guides existing retail spaces, both showrooms, and storage areas. 4. LEED O+M Schools is for existing buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K-12 school grounds. It can also be used for higher education and nonacademic buildings on school campuses. 5. LEED O+M Hospitality is for existing hotels, motels, inns, or other businesses within the service industry that provide transitional or short-term lodging with or without food. 6. LEED O+M Data Center is for existing buildings specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of high density computing equipment such as server racks, used for data storage and processing. 7. LEED O+M Warehouses and Distribution Centers is for existing buildings used to store goods, manufactured products, merchandise, raw materials, or personal belongings (such as self-storage). 4) Neighborhood Development (ND) 1. LEED ND applies to new land development projects or redevelopment projects containing residential uses, nonresidential uses, or a mix. Projects can be at any stage of the development process, from conceptual planning to construction. 2. LEED ND Plan certification is available to your neighborhood-scale project if it’s currently in any phase of planning and design and up to 75% constructed. USGBC designed this offering to help you or your developers market and fund your project among prospective tenants, financiers, public officials, etc. by affirming your intended sustainability strategies. 3. LEED ND Built Project is designed for neighborhood-scale projects that are near completion, or were completed within the last three years. 5) Multiple Certifications for the Same Building ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 41 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Projects are not limited to just one rating system. A building could earn LEED BD+C: Core & Shell, then earn LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, and finally move on to LEED O+M: Existing Buildings. A building can earn multiple certifications for the same building. The most common example is once a building has been built and earned a New Construction rating, the project team can start on the Operations & Maintenance certification. Other examples:  A Core & Shell project can move on to Commercial Interiors  A New Construction project can move on to Commercial Interiors  Commercial projects can move on to Operations & Maintenance 6) LEED Updates LEED is continuously updated as markets, technology, and the world changes. Since the first rating system was introduced, LEED has evolved rapidly through the LEED development process. The LEED rating system of today is not the LEED of a year ago, and the LEED two years from now will be different still. That should not worry you that what you’re planning on doing today will become obsolete or out of date in the near future. The first LEED certified buildings from eight years ago are still LEED certified – the award is never taken away. A project started under a specific version of the rating system can continue in that version or move to a newer version if the project team desires. 4. Rating System Structure LEED can be applied to any building at any point in the building’s lifecycle. In order to measure if a building has met the definition of a high-performance green building as defined by LEED, every LEED rating system (except LEED for Neighborhood Development) has performance criteria in these major areas:  Location and Transportation – does the location preserve environmentally sensitive places and take advantage of existing infrastructure, community resources, and public transit.  Sustainable Sites – is the selected site able to maximize sustainability?  Water Efficiency – what can you do to save on landscaping water use and interior water use?  Energy and Atmosphere – how can you save energy, cut energy costs and encourage green energy development and use?  Materials and Resources – are your building materials sustainable for the environment, and where does the waste go?  Indoor Environmental Quality – how can you increase the productivity, satisfaction, and health of the occupants?  Innovation – what can you discover that isn’t in the rating system to add even further value to the project?  Regional Priority – Are there regionally important issues such as water conservation in the Southwest?  Categories for LEED for Neighborhood Development ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 42 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- LEED for Neighborhood Development has different categories than the other rating systems:  Smart Location and Linkage  Neighborhood Pattern and Design  Green Infrastructure & Buildings 1) Prerequisites and Credits Within each credit category are credits and/or prerequisites. 2) Prerequisites A fundamental of every LEED Rating System are the prerequisites. Prerequisites do not earn your project any points because they are required for the project to be considered. The term “prerequisite” refers to a mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within the LEED rating system. Prerequisites represent the key criteria that define green building performance. Each project must satisfy all specified prerequisites outlined in the LEED rating system under which it is registered. Failure to meet any prerequisite will render a project ineligible for certification.  Example Here are the LEED BD+C New Construction Prerequisites:  Sustainable Sites Prerequisite Construction Activity Pollution Prevention  Water Efficiency Prerequisite – Outdoor Water Use Reduction  Water Efficiency Prerequisite – Indoor Water Use Reduction  Water Efficiency Prerequisite – Building-level Water Metering  Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite – Fundamental Commissioning and Verification  Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite – Minimum Energy Performance  Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite – Building-level Energy Metering  Energy and Atmosphere Prerequisite – Fundamental Refrigerant Management  Materials and Resources Prerequisite – Storage and Collection of Recyclables  Materials and Resources Prerequisite – Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning  Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite – Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance  Indoor Environmental Quality Prerequisite – Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control You don’t need to memorize these for the fundamentals of LEED - they are given for illustrative purposes only. Prerequisites are required to achieve certification. One of the first steps on any LEED project is to make sure the project can meet the prerequisites. If the project cannot meet the prerequisites, the building cannot earn LEED certification. Make sure your project can meet the prerequisites before you start down the path of certification. 3) Credits ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 43 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Each sustainable category has a group of credits that defines a particular sustainability goal. The sustainability goal is referred to as the ‘intent’ of the credit. In fact, in the reference guide just below every prerequisite/credit name is a section titled ‘intent’ where the credit intent is defined. For example, the credit for reducing the amount of water used for landscaping by 50% has the intent of reducing potable water use. If your project team can meet the intent of a credit in a different way than the credit requires, you can sometimes still be awarded the credit. This is rare but it points out that the requirements developed by LEED are there to meet the intent of the credit. Each LEED rating system has slightly different credits. Be sure you are using the correct rating system for your project, and do not confuse the requirements of one rating system for another. It is possible a credit for one rating system might have a different threshold for achievement than a different rating system. Your project does NOT have to achieve all credits. Credits are optional elements. Your project only needs to achieve enough credits for the certification level the project is aiming for - certified, silver, gold, or platinum. Your project is also not required to submit any documentation for credits the project is not attempting. Some credits will not apply whatsoever to your project. For example, one credit for Sustainable Sites under the New Construction Rating System is awarded for locating the building near public transportation. If a project is located in a suburban area or in a city where there is little or no public transportation, this credit would not apply. The phrase “Credit” means a non-mandatory project characteristic, measurement, quality, value or function as identified within a LEED rating system. Credits represent particular facets of sustainable design that contribute to overall green building performance. No single credit is mandatory; credits are selected and pursued at the option of a LEED project team. Just remember - all of the credits are optional. Project teams need to choose enough credits to achieve their desired certification level. Project teams can mix and match credits until they reach the desired number of points. 4) Satisfying Prerequisites and Earning Credits Each credit/prerequisite will have one or more requirements that must be met. By meeting these requirements for credits the project earns points. For example, a project might earn points for using less water for landscaping. Some credits have thresholds that must be met, such as ‘Use 50% less water for landscaping’. If you’re wondering ‘50% less than what?’, that level of detail would be covered in the requirements of that particular credit. Other credits are based on industry standards, such as HVAC standards set by ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air- Conditioning Engineers). Still other credits have requirements for policies that must be implemented over time. A team may have to develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) that regulate activities in a uniform manner over the life of the certification. LEED credits and prerequisites are developed over time by the volunteers on the different LEED committees. This allows input on the rating system by concerned parties. What you need to remember is a project must meet all prerequisites first, and points are awarded for ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 44 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- meeting the requirements of various credits within each credit category. Each credit for the rating system includes information on:  Intents Intents express for the prerequisite or credit what the environmental goal is. An example is that LEED has several credits related to carpooling, telecommuting, or locating near mass transit. All these credits are trying to meet the Intent of reducing automobile use.  Requirements The requirements section outlines what a project team must do to achieve a prerequisite or credit, based on the members and committees that write and vote on the requirements. The requirements may not be the only way you could think of to achieve the Intent of each credit or prerequisite, but they are the only way from the standpoint of the LEED Rating System.  Behind the Intent This section describes just what the name implies. It usually points out what environmental damage is being done by something that a LEED credit or prerequisite is trying to change. Back to our reduction in automobile use example: This section may outline the environmental effects of automobile use and how much it costs businesses, families or the country and then go on to describe the environmental and economic benefits of reducing automobile use.  Related Credit Tips This section will list other credits whose requirements may be influenced or affected by the current credit. For example, locating near mass transit will help reduce the needed size of a parking lot, which is also related to the intent of having more open space. It is important to understand these relationships because the more credits that can be done at once the more efficient a project will be with time and resources.  Referenced Standards Many credits will reference a standard – such as an EPA rule on water fixtures. These standards usually must be met as part of the requirements section. Sometimes project teams are allowed to meet local standards as long as they are equal to or more stringent than the referenced standard. Local, state, and federal rules ALWAYS take precedent over LEED requirements and referenced LEED standards. If a LEED Credit says ‘do X’, first review any relevant laws, codes, local ordinances, and statutes to make sure there isn’t a conflict.  Step-by-Step Guidance This section is extremely helpful as it will outline steps projects teams can take to achieve the requirements. Teams don’t have to use all the strategies or ideas or even any, but this section outlines common methods of achieving results. There is also a lot of explanation in this section that can help a person who does not understand the meaning of the requirements. In earlier versions of LEED the timeline and teams responsible for different credits was not as clearly laid out. This topic covers who should be involved at different times in the credit achievement process. For example, if an architect is designing a green roof, the general contractor would need to find and ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 45 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- verify appropriate roofing materials. This section is a reminder that even though one person on a team might make a decision, it usually takes many others to implement the decision  Exemplary Performance Not every credit will have this option, but if it does, this section will go over what is required to earn Innovation in Design (or Operations) credits using the exemplary performance option. We will go over this in much greater detail in the Innovation section.  Calculations If a credit has a calculation or equation, these will be listed and explained, often with examples.  Required Documentation This section outlines what paperwork, proof, and sign off authority is required for each credit. Review the documentation requirements so if something such as photos are required, the team makes a note to take them at the appropriate time. The details about the requirements for each credit are covered in the more advanced courses rather than this fundamental course on the LEED credits categories. The LEED Green Associate exam will not test knowledge on the specifics of particular credit requirements. If you want to learn more about a particular rating system please review the appropriate reference guide or take an in-person or online training class for the advanced courses. 5) LEED Pilot Credit Library Pilot credits are credits that are being tested for an updated version of LEED. Project teams can attempt these credits under the Innovation category. The USGBC uses project teams’ feedback on these credits to determine if the credits will actually be used in upcoming version of LEED. 5. Project Certification The ‘greenness’ of a LEED project is based on a 100 point scale with an additional 10 bonus points. There are four levels of LEED certification:  Certified: 40-49 points  Silver: 50-59 points  Gold: 60-79 points  Platinum: 80+ points No specific products or design strategies are credited. The entire project or building is credited and eventually certified, rather than specific products. The intent is that the building as a whole uses a variety of design strategies and products that together contribute to a “green” building. Two Gold rated buildings may use completely different systems and strategies. A project must satisfy three requirements for certification: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 46 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 1. Meet the Minimum Program Requirements 2. Satisfy all Prerequisites 3. Satisfy a combination of Credits that achieve a certain number of points for the desired certification level. These three requirements will be covered in more detail later in this section. 1) Credit Weightings Points are available in each of the LEED credit categories, and the points are weighted to best address the social, environmental, and economic outcomes identified by USGBC. LEED credits have different weightings depending on their ability to impact different environmental and human health concerns. More points are awarded for those credits that have a greater impact. The LEED impact categories answer the question: “What should a LEED project accomplish?”  Reverse Contribution to Global Climate Change  Enhance Individual Human Health and Well-Being  Protect and Restore Water Resources  Protect, Enhance and Restore Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services  Promote Sustainable and Regenerative Material Resources Cycles  Build a Greener Economy  Enhance Social Equity, Environmental Justice, and Community Quality of Life For more information about credit weightings, see the LEED v4 Impact Category and Point Allocation Process Overview.  Example: New Construction Under the LEED BD+C New Construction rating system, the available points in each category are as follows: Category Points Location and Transportation 16 Sustainable Sites 10 Water Efficiency 11 Energy and Atmosphere 33 Materials and Resources 13 Indoor Environmental Quality 16 Total 100 Bonus Points Innovation 6 Regional Credit 4 Total 110 As you can see, more points are awarded towards certification for having a really energy efficient building vs. having a really water efficient building. Generally, increased energy consumption will ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 47 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- have a much more negative impact on the environment than excessive water use, thus a project can earn more points in the Energy and Atmosphere category compared to the Water Efficiency category. The 10 bonus points are available for innovation credits. Four of the ten points address specific regional issues. Now let’s look at an LEED O+M: Existing Buildings rating system example:  Example: Operations & Maintenance Category Points Location and Transportation 15 Sustainable Sites 10 Water Efficiency 12 Energy and Atmosphere 38 Materials and Resources 8 Indoor Environmental Quality 17 Total 100 Bonus Points Innovation 6 Regional Credit 4 Total 110 Compared to the LEED BD+C: New Construction rating system, the differences are considerable – for Operations & Maintenance, the Materials and Resources category has fewer points while the Energy and Atmosphere category has more points. This makes sense because a building that is in the operations and maintenance part of the life-cycle, the environmental impact from the materials and resources is not as great (since the building is already complete) compared to the energy usage of the building over a period of decades. 2) Minimum Program Requirements Projects must comply with the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs). MPRs help define what types of buildings the rating systems are used to evaluate. For example, a 10’ x 10’ shed can’t be LEED certified because it wouldn’t meet the MPRs. The purpose of MPRs are to:  Provide guidance on what types of projects are eligible for certification  Protect the integrity of the LEED program  Reduce the number of issues that come from the certification process There are specific MPRs to some of the rating systems, so make sure you check out the reference document for details. All projects must: 1. Must be in a permanent location on existing land The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, and neighborhoods in the ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 48 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- context of their surroundings. A significant portion of LEED requirements are dependent on the project’s location, therefore it is important that LEED projects are evaluated as permanent structures. Locating projects on existing land is important to avoid artificial land masses that have the potential to displace and disrupt ecosystems. The structure can’t be a modular home or be moved to another location in the future 2. Must use a reasonable LEED boundaries The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, or neighborhoods, and all environmental impacts associated with those projects. Defining a reasonable LEED boundary ensures that project is accurately evaluated. The project can’t exclude some project areas or include extra project areas for the purposes of skewing calculations to achieve more points (gerrymandering). 3. Must comply with project size requirements The LEED rating system is designed to evaluate buildings, spaces, or neighborhoods of a certain size. The LEED requirements do not accurately assess the performance of projects outside of these size requirements. All LEED projects must meet the size requirements listed: - LEED BD+C and LEED O+M Rating Systems: The LEED project must include a minimum of 1,000 square feet (93 square meters) of gross floor area. - LEED ID+C Rating Systems: The LEED project must include a minimum of 250 square feet (22 square meters) of gross floor area. - LEED Neighborhood Development Rating Systems: The LEED project should contain at least two habitable buildings and be no larger than 1500 acres. - LEED for Homes Rating Systems: The LEED project must be defined as a “dwelling unit” by all applicable codes. This requirement includes, but is not limited to, the International Residential Code stipulation that a dwelling unit must include “permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.” 4. Projects that do not comply with the MPRs may have their certification revoked. For full details and up-to-date information on the MPRs of the rating systems visit: usgbc.org/credits 6. Phases of the Certification Process Now let’s look at the certification process for commercial projects. The certification steps are generally the same as the ones here. More information can be found at usgbc.org/leed/certification ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 49 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 1. Registration 2. Application 3. Preliminary review 4. Preliminary review response (clarifications) 5. Final review 6. Accept or appeal 7. Appeal review (if applicable) 8. Certification or denial Let’s look at these steps in more detail. 1) Planning – Charrette The LEED process begins with holding a Charrette. A Charrette is a type of workshop where participants combine brainstorming, discussion, and strategy development to create a shared vision, goals and understanding of the next steps for a project, organization or community. During the Charrette, LEED goals are communicated to all team members, and LEED credit feasibility is evaluated. The integrative process is discussed as well as credit synergies (see Synergies section) and how the team plans to communicate during the building and design process. Participants in the Charrette usually include the owner, architects, engineers, consultants, contractors, landscape architect, commissioning agent, etc. Basically anyone involved with the construction or use of the building is a candidate for participation. One of the goals of these meetings is to get everyone’s buy-in. If the owner, building tenants, or anyone involved on the project team is not really interested in green building, the project will face additional hurdles. The outcome of the Charrette should include a first draft of the LEED scorecard (which will be covered in more detail later), a preliminary rating, and defining the roles of each member of the project team. As was mentioned in the introduction to green building – if a project team doesn’t have experience developing high-performance buildings – find someone who does. Consultants are available to guide first-timers through the process including leading the Charrette. Classes are also available to learn more about the LEED process. Take advantage of these resources to ensure project success the first time. The LEED reviewers are very proactive in helping teams with trouble and heading projects in the right direction. Success is the key and it’s not just a pass / fail, and then say goodbye. There is that impetus to help projects move along. A lot of trepidation and fear goes into getting ready to put that registration in and get that process started, but go with the flow. Really develop the team and talk to the stakeholders to get everyone excited. That’s the process that’s really the key to the success of the building. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 50 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- 2) Registration The next step towards LEED certification is registering your project. Projects are registered online at leedonline.com. After project registration the project team will receive additional tools and communications to guide the team through the certification process. There are some eligibility restrictions for registration. All single family homes and lowrise residential construction must use the LEED for Homes Rating System. Multi-family projects between 4 and 6 stories may use either LEED for Homes or LEED BD+C New Construction.  Registration Fees You can register your project at leedonline.com The registration fees are:  $900 for members  $1,200 for non-members Registration during the pre-design phase is highly recommended. The earlier you register, the more time the project team has to design and implement the credits required for certification. Registering early also allows the project team to do a split design & construction review, which we will describe shortly.  Certification Fees Keep in mind the $900/$1,200 initial fee is just a flat registration fee that is paid up front at the time of registration. The certification fee is based on the size of the project and the rating system that the project was registered under. Certification fees are paid at the time a project team submits their application for review. For up-to-date information on certification fees visit the USGBC website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 51 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------  Example Fees Notice that fees depend upon membership status and the square footage of the building.  Multi Building Projects Some projects may involve several buildings being constructed or planned at once. These projects might be in a corporate campus or a college campus. LEED has a Volume Program or Campus Guidance to help project teams in this scenario. The Volume program is for organizations planning to certify an entire portfolio of building projects (25 or more) using the BD+C and O+M rating systems. LEED Volume is a simplified, speedier process. It is best for projects designed for uniformity - prototypes that are identical in design or ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 52 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- operations such as franchises or bank branches. The Campus Program is for organizations planning to certify multiple buildings on a single campus site and under the control of a single entity (like a corporate or educational campus, or a commercial development).  Project Administrator At the time a project is registered, the project team will need to identify the LEED Project Administrator. The project administrator has several responsibilities, including:  Setup of the project team members  Entering team member assignments for credits  Submitting the application for review The project team is responsible for selecting who will administer the project. The project administrator does not have to be a LEED AP. Team members are responsible for the documentation of the credits they have been assigned in LEED Online. 3) Application After project registration, the project team and project administrator can collect the information needed for the credit submittals. Each rating system will have its own set of forms that must be completed and submitted for documentation and verification. These forms are filled out online using LEED Online. The credit forms are also referred to as letter templates, credit templates, submittal templates, or submittal documentation. Sample forms are available on the USGBC website. Please take a moment to review them to familiarize yourself with how they appear and are used.  LEED Online After project registration, the project administrator will have access to LEED Online. The project administrator then gives access to other team members, assigning them to various credits. LEED Online is a central repository for all project information. This tool allows team members to:  Submit all documentation online, including documents and pictures. USGBC requires an overall project narrative along with drawings and photographs of the site plan, floor plan, building section, primary elevation, and rendering of the project, all of which can be uploaded using LEED Online.  Update credit templates  View and submit Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs)  Contact customer service  View and respond to reviewer comments ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 53 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Each project is associated with a particular building system which can receive credits. Supportive documentation can also be uploaded to LEED Online. All team members submit project documentation using LEED Online only. Via LEED Online, project members, USGBC staff, and other invited individuals can review the documentation forms and express concerns or issues. After the application has been reviewed, team members with access can visit the project to see if the application has been approved or needs additional documentation. 4) Project Review Once a project’s payment has been received, the review process can begin. With the exception of the LEED for Operations & Maintenance rating system, project teams have the option of a combined design & construction review or a split design & construction review.  Split vs. Combined Reviews The combined design & construction review is just that – all documentation for the LEED project is submitted and reviewed at one time. There is no advantage to this type of review. When a project decides to pursue LEED certification after the project has started, sometimes this option works best. A split review allows project teams to submit some of the project documentation during the design phase. The design phase review is a review of those credits USGBC can reasonably adjust based on design phase documentation. This gives project teams insight into what credits can be anticipated for certification. Example: Consider a project site located in an urban area such as San Francisco where 53% of people take public transportation. Even before the project breaks ground, you can anticipate your project would earn points for selecting a site that has accessibility to public transportation, just based on the location of the property. This and several other sustainable designs can be determined in the design phase. The split design and construction review is preferable because it gives project teams advance notice of some of the LEED credits that may be awarded, and insight to see if the project is on track to achieve the desired level of certification. If the LEED review committee denied some of the credits submitted during the design phase, the project team has ample time to meet the requirements of the credits or submit alternative credits to make up the difference. Another advantage of a split review is that it forces project teams to document early and document often. If a project takes two years to complete, how likely is it team members are going to remember how all the requirements were met over the past two years on the project? Are you going to be able to find those receipts or that data sheet from a certain product that was purchased nine months ago? That’s a lot of information to keep track of and why you need to: document early, document often  Credit/Prerequisite Statuses ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 54 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- During the project review process credits/prerequisites are updated with one of the following statuses:  Anticipated – the project team can reasonably assume the credit will be achieved (Note that only during the design phase of a split review are credits marked as anticipated.)  Clarify – more information is needed  Awarded – the credit/prerequisite requirements have been met and points are earned  Denied – the credit/prerequisite has not met the requirements No credits are earned and no points are awarded during the design phase. Points can only be earned AFTER the construction phase.  Review Process Here are the steps for each type of review. The steps listed in bold are done by the project team while the other steps are done by USGBC. Under the combined review, the review phases are as follows. 1. Preliminary review 2. Preliminary review response (clarifications) 3. Final review 4. Accept or appeal 5. Appeal When a split design & construction review is done the review phases are: 1. Preliminary design phase review 2. Preliminary design phase response (clarifications) 3. Final design-phase review 4. Accept or Appeal 5. Design-phase appeal 6. Preliminary construction-phase review 7. Preliminary construction-phase response (clarifications) 8. Final construction-phase review 9. Accept or Appeal 10. Construction-phase Appeal Make sure you review the following website for in-depth coverage of the Certification Process and Review Timeline 5) Certification or Denial Once USGBC has received the completed application and fee, the LEED reviewer will do a final review and will formally rule on the full application. USGBC awards the appropriate certification level based on the number of credits achieved.  Appeals If a project team feels that sufficient grounds exist to appeal a credit or prerequisite denied in the final ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 55 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- LEED review, the project team may submit an appeal. TIP: Don’t get caught with too few credits for your application. If your project is aiming for silver certification (50 points), you want to aim for earning around 55 points while the project is in the design phase. Why? Because if the project is aiming for exactly 50 points and one point is denied, the project would earn 49 points and not earn Silver certification. If the project tries for 55 points the project could be denied up to 5 points and still earn Silver certification.  Award Once the results are accepted, LEED certification is awarded to the building. A plaque for the building is issued, usually for mounting on the building itself.  Updates and errata LEED is constantly evolving. The time of registration determines what requirements a project must meet. When a project is registered for certification, the prerequisites, credits, errata, and credit rulings current at the time of project registration will continue to guide the project throughout its certification process. For example, if a project is registered in 2014 with an expected completion date of 2016 the LEED Rating System has some minor updates made in 2015, the project would continue to use the rating system established in 2014. Often the project has the option of migrating to the updated rating system if they choose. Occasionally errors end up in printed documentation such as the reference guides. Make sure you do the following before your pre-design meetings: 1. Review USGBC’s website for any updates or errata 2. Have the latest reference guide at the start of a project 6) LEED for Neighborhood Development USGBC understands that neighborhoods take much longer to build than a single project building or home. USGBC has split the application process for ND into three stages. Essentially these stages are review of design, review of approved plan, final certification. In more detail they are: Stage 1: Conditional Approval of a LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan – This “enables project teams to assess the likelihood of achievement of the SLL prerequisites.” Stage 2: Pre-Certified LEED for Neighborhood Development Plan – USGBC’s determination that…the completed project should satisfy all prerequisites and a minimum number of points outlined in the LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System such that it should be eligible to receive LEED certification at a particular level” Stage 3: LEED Certified Neighborhood Development – “USGBC’s determination that a Completed Project, as represented in the LEED certification application submitted to USGBC, satisfies all prerequisites and has achieved a minimum number of points outlined in the LEED for Neighborhood ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 56 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Development rating system to achieve a particular level of LEED certification”  Extra Categories LEED for Neighborhood Development has extra categories.  Smart Location and Linkage - Location, transportation alternatives, and preservation of sensitive lands while also discouraging sprawl  Neighborhood Pattern and Design - The creation of vibrant, equitable communities that are healthy, walkable and mixed use  Green Infrastructure & Buildings – Building green buildings that are water and energy efficient. 7. Project Resources There are many resources available to further your knowledge of LEED and the green building industry in general. Many of these resources will be critical to implementing a successful LEED project. 1) Reference Guides Each LEED rating system has its own reference guide. These guides are an essential resource for anyone working on a LEED project or preparing for one of the LEED credentialing exams. The reference guide is the detailed “User’s Manual” that explains the LEED credits in sufficient detail and is available for purchase on USGBC’s website. Reference guides will contain valuable information about the LEED process specific to the rating system, the credit categories as they relate to the rating system, and terms and definitions as they apply to LEED. Make sure the latest version of the reference guide is used. Out-of-date versions could have variations in credit thresholds from the latest rating systems. To avoid this you can use the web-version of the reference guide which is always up-to-date. 2) Case Studies Case studies are a great way to learn from what other project teams have done. USGBC provides a searchable database of case studies to learn from. Case studies can be searched for by region, by rating system, and by certification level. Case study details include:  Project overview describing the benefits from the green building strategies  Process  Financing  Land use  Site description ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 57 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------  Energy  Materials  Indoor environment  Green strategies  Images  Ratings &awards Consider searching for projects similar to your own, and you might find some design strategies to consider. Visit USGBC’s website and check out some of the available case studies Note that after your search for projects, you need to click on Detail to display the case study. Home / LEED / Project Certification / LEED Projects Directory 3) Customer Support USGBC has customer support for LEED projects. If you have any questions about your LEED registered project you can contact USGBC via LEED Online. 4) LEED Online LEED Online was reviewed earlier in this section. LEED Online is the repository for all LEED project documentation. Using LEED Online, team members and the project administrator can access the credit templates used for submission through their web browser. USGBC’s staff and project members have access to the project documents. 5) LEED Scorecard The LEED score card is a critical component early on in the LEED integrative process. The score card (also called the LEED checklist) lists all of the credits for the specific rating system and helps the project team track which ones are ideal for the project to attempt and those that are ‘maybes’ and need to be further investigated. Establishing a viable, realistic LEED credit strategy is the first step towards a successful low-cost LEED certified project. The credit strategy is usually developed during the ‘charrette’ we discussed earlier. The design and construction team, future building occupants, and facility management staff should attend this session. The checklist should be utilized early on to identify which LEED points make the most sense for your project. The credit checklist is the basic tool that can be used to develop your credit strategy, and it can serve as an outline for the team throughout the project during the design and construction process. In the charrette, project teams will begin by focusing on those credits that are low hanging fruit. Low hanging fruit = low cost fruits = easy and low-cost credits. These are the design choices that are easy to take off of the tree. Some of these credits are just going to be no-brainers and easy to implement. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 58 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- Others that are higher on the tree might take more time and energy. The typical LEED scorecard has a yes column, maybe column and no column. In the charrette the project team walks through each credit. Once completed the preliminary rating, or targeted LEED certification, is known. You can find a credit checklist for each rating system online, free of charge to both members and non-members. Go download a scorecard to see what is in it. You will need Microsoft Excel to open the file up. Visit: www.usgbc.org/resources/list/checklists. 6) Credit Templates and Calculators The LEED credit templates are online webpages that help streamline the certification process. The templates are used for documenting compliance with the credit and prerequisite requirements through LEED Online. The credit templates explain all of the necessary submittal documentation required and make it easy for all members of the project team to fill them out correctly. Each template lists the requirements for the credit, as well as listing any supporting files or documentation that will be needed to achieve the credit. The templates:  Streamline preparation of LEED applications  Provide declaration of credit achievements  Function as a project management tool, and help allocate responsibility  Include calculators when needed The templates prompt team members for data and declarations of performance and indicate when the documentation requirements for credits are filled. For some credits, all that is required is a signature indicating compliance with the credit requirements. Other credits may require filling in detailed forms or providing additional documentation. Be sure the credit templates are accurate and information is gathered and updated throughout the certification process. Don’t wait until construction is almost complete to get started. For example, the declarant is the person with the technical knowledge and authority to sign off on a credit template. This person must have had significant responsibility for what is required in the credit and is sometimes limited to a certain person or persons on the project team. If you wait until completion of the project before working on the paperwork, the appropriate declarants may no longer be available. For the credits that require calculations, the templates have built in calculators to indicate if specific requirements have been met. For example, a credit may have requirements for having a certain amount of the roof to be a green roof. The template would have inputs for the total roof area in square feet and the area of the green roof in square feet. The template would then calculate the percentage of the roof that is a green roof based on the given areas. It is in this way the templates also serve as a repository for collecting data. Every team member has access to their respective credit templates. Each team member completes and provides documentation, while the project administrator submits completed templates and documents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 59 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- to USGBC. Team members and the project administer can access the templates for their project via a web browser. One template is provided for each credit/prerequisite. If a particular credit is not attempted, no documentation needs to be completed for that credit. 7) Credit Interpretation Rulings (CIR) What do you do if you have a question about a credit? One feature that is available through LEED Online is Credit Interpretation Requests and Rulings (referred to as “CIRs”). CIRs are used to clarify a single question the project team may have and can be submitted any time after project registration. Often the reference guide will not specifically address the issue at hand and more information is needed. To address these issues, USGBC has created the Credit Interpretation Ruling process. Depending on the kind of question being asked, either USGBC staff or various technical committees will respond to the question and make an official Credit Interpretation Ruling. Only LEED project team members have access to view CIRs for the project’s they are assigned to.  When to Submit a CIR The CIR and ruling process is used for technical and administrative guidance on how LEED credits apply to their projects and vice versa. If a project team is unsure about particular requirements or if a particular strategy will help earn the credit, a CIR should be researched and submitted when the question comes up.  CIR Process If a question on a credit does come up, follow these steps: 1. Consult the reference guide for a detailed description of the credit intent, requirements, and calculations. Evaluate whether the project meets the intent of the credit. The project contact reviews the intent of the credit or prerequisite in question to self-evaluate whether the project meets this intent. 2. Contact LEED customer service to see if the question can be answered. 3. Submit a formal CIR. There is a fee of to submit each CIR.  Submissions There are fees for submitting a CIR, so only submit a CIR if you have trouble determining the approach for a credit requirement. Only project teams with registered projects have access to submit CIRs. When submitting a CIR, only one credit should be referenced in the request. Supplemental attachments to the request such as project drawings, photos, or cut sheets are not allowed.  Rulings Within two to five weeks the Credit Ruling Committee posts its decision on the Credit Rulings Page. If the committee is concerned that the decision may have broader implications, the CIR may be passed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 60 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- on to the LEED Steering Committee for additional review. CIR rulings do not affect the existing requirements of credits within the rating system, including adding/removing requirements or changing credit thresholds. Requirement changes occur during revisions to the rating system not through the CIR process. Just remember: CIRs are for clarification, not for changes No credits or points are awarded by the CIR process. The CIR process is used for clarification of a single issue only and to provide feedback on the request. The project team must still demonstrate credit compliance in order to achieve the credit.  Example CIR A team wants to meet the requirement of individual temperature/comfort control with air diffusers. These are not mentioned in the requirement. So the team goes through Step1, checks the reference guide, Step 2, searches for a previous CIR that fits, Step 3 contacts customer service for an answer, and then finally submits the question of whether the air diffusers would be accepted. They are, and the team is able to achieve that point. 8) LEED Interpretations Slightly different from the CIR process is the new formal LEED Interpretations process. LEED interpretations differ from CIRs because they can be precedent setting and applied to many projects over multiple rating systems. Project teams must opt into the LEED Interpretations process, which can take longer than the CIR process. Here is a comparison table from the USGBC’s FAQ file on LEED Interpretations: CIRs compared to LEED Interpretations CIR LEED Interpretation Longer, due to setting Length of time Shorter precedents Higher due to more stringent Cost Lower review process Other buildings, rating systems, Applies to Project only and/or projects 8. USGBC Policies To prevent misuse of the LEED and USGBC brands, and to make sure their message is spread accurately, USGBC has an extensive set of guidelines for logo and language usage. It’s common (and incorrect) for people new to the industry to ask ‘What is the LEEDS certification?’ or ‘How do I get certified?’ LEEDS with an S is an incorrect use of the LEED name. Also, people do not get certified, buildings do. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 61 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- These guidelines also prevent manufacturers from making erroneous claims about products. Here are a few do’s and don’ts: 1) LEED Certification and LEED Registered Projects "LEED certification" with lowercase "c" is used to describe the certification process. "LEED-certified" with lowercase "c" is used to describe a project that has been certified. "LEED Certified" with capital "C" (and no hyphen) is used to describe a project that has been certified to the base level: Certified. When a project is certified, the correct wording is "project ‘A’ is LEED Silver" or "project ‘A’ is LEED certified to the Silver level" or "project ‘A’ is LEED Silver certified." Due to repetition, the wording "project ‘A’ is LEED Certified certified" is not recommended. "Certified" to reference both certification and level is sufficient. 2) USGBC Naming USGBC Name: The official organization name is the U.S. Green Building Council. “USGBC” is the official acronym. Use the complete name on any first reference. Subsequent references in copy may use USGBC. NOTE: When using “USGBC” as a noun, do not precede with “the.” For example: Contact USGBC for more information. There are many USGBC brands and naming conventions. To read about them check out the Public Relations Guidelines for LEED-certified Projects. 9. Professional Credentials There are three levels of LEED accreditation for people. Buildings are certified, people are accredited. LEED Green Associate: “For professionals who support green building design, construction, and operations, the LEED Green Associate credential denotes basic knowledge of green building principles and practices and LEED.” LEED AP: The LEED Professional Credential that signifies an advanced depth of knowledge in green building practices and specialization in a particular LEED Rating System: Building Design + Construction, Operations + Maintenance, Interior Design + Construction, Homes, or Neighborhood Development. LEED Fellow: The LEED Fellow designates the most exceptional professionals in the green building industry, and it is the most prestigious designation awarded. LEED APs who have demonstrated exceptional achievement in key mastery elements related to technical knowledge and skill are eligible ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 62 - College of Engineering  < LEED GREEN ASSOCIATE TEST PREPARATION > ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------- for the honor of becoming a LEED Fellow. They have also made significant contributions in teaching, mentoring, or research with proven outcomes. LEED Fellows have a history of exemplary leadership, impactful commitment, service, and advocacy in green building and sustainability. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PRINCE SULTAN UNIVERSITY - 63 - College of Engineering