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LEED v4
Neighborhood Development
Innovation
Innovation

LEED CREDIT

ND-v4 INc1: Innovation 1-5 points

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SPECIAL REPORT

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

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Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.

Option 1. innovation (1 point)

Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system.

Identify the following:

  • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
  • proposed requirements for compliance;
  • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
  • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.

AND/OR

Option 2. pilot (1 point)

Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library

AND/OR

Option 3. additional strategies (3 points)
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
    Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
    Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary performance (1–2 points)
    Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.
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What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

Frequently asked questions

I’m confused about how many points I can earn for each strategy (innovation vs pilot credit vs exemplary performance). Is there a limit on each type of strategy if we want to earn all five Innovation points?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4 projects?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

7/8/2017 – Updated: 11/6/2020
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:

"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017 – Updated: 11/6/2020
Form Update
Description of change:
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:

"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017 – Updated: 1/8/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise all references to the online "Innovation database" to say "Innovation Catalog."
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the text below Step 2. to the following:
"Projects may earn up to 5 points through combination of the following:
• Innovation (up to 4 points). This option is appropriate for strategies that are not addressed by any existing credits in the LEED rating system under which the project will be certified.
• Pilot credits (up to 4 points). This option requires project teams to achieve, document, and provide feedback on pilot credit strategies developed by USGBC members and committees.
• Exemplary performance (up to 2 points). This option is achieved by demonstrating performance that greatly exceeds the level or scope required by existing LEED prerequisites or credits.
o One point is reserved for Pilot Credits and one for Innovation. To use all five points, projects must use at least one pilot credit and one innovation credit"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/5/2018
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

If a project pursues a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP), can it be exempted from the following pilot credit requirement for the Innovation credit?

“To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”

Ruling:

If projects achieve a pilot ACP, they are exempted from the requirement to achieve at least one pilot credit. To achieve all five points in the Innovation credit under this approach, projects may select one of the following point combinations:
• 4 innovation and 1 exemplary performance
• 3 innovation and 2 exemplary performance

***Updated 7.10.2020 to clarify that projects must achieve a pilot ACP to be exempted***
*** Updated 3.29.2023 to include applicability for v4.1 projects***

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.

Option 1. innovation (1 point)

Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system.

Identify the following:

  • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
  • proposed requirements for compliance;
  • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
  • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.

AND/OR

Option 2. pilot (1 point)

Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library

AND/OR

Option 3. additional strategies (3 points)
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
    Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
    Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary performance (1–2 points)
    Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

I’m confused about how many points I can earn for each strategy (innovation vs pilot credit vs exemplary performance). Is there a limit on each type of strategy if we want to earn all five Innovation points?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4 projects?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
7/8/2017 – Updated: 11/6/2020
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:

"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017 – Updated: 11/6/2020
Form Update
Description of change:
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:

"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017 – Updated: 1/8/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise all references to the online "Innovation database" to say "Innovation Catalog."
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/1/2014 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the text below Step 2. to the following:
"Projects may earn up to 5 points through combination of the following:
• Innovation (up to 4 points). This option is appropriate for strategies that are not addressed by any existing credits in the LEED rating system under which the project will be certified.
• Pilot credits (up to 4 points). This option requires project teams to achieve, document, and provide feedback on pilot credit strategies developed by USGBC members and committees.
• Exemplary performance (up to 2 points). This option is achieved by demonstrating performance that greatly exceeds the level or scope required by existing LEED prerequisites or credits.
o One point is reserved for Pilot Credits and one for Innovation. To use all five points, projects must use at least one pilot credit and one innovation credit"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
10/5/2018
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

If a project pursues a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP), can it be exempted from the following pilot credit requirement for the Innovation credit?

“To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”

Ruling:

If projects achieve a pilot ACP, they are exempted from the requirement to achieve at least one pilot credit. To achieve all five points in the Innovation credit under this approach, projects may select one of the following point combinations:
• 4 innovation and 1 exemplary performance
• 3 innovation and 2 exemplary performance

***Updated 7.10.2020 to clarify that projects must achieve a pilot ACP to be exempted***
*** Updated 3.29.2023 to include applicability for v4.1 projects***

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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