LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Frank advice from LEED experts
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LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
- Compliance with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4, and 10.4) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1). Projects outside the U.S. may use a USGBC approved equivalent standard2.
- Achieve the prescriptive requirements (Sections 5.5 or 5.6, 6.5, 7.5 and 9.5 or 9.6) or performance requirements (Section 11) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1) or USGBC approved equivalent.
- Reduce connected lighting power density 10% below that allowed by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1) or USGBC approved equivalent using either the Space-by-Space Method or by applying the whole building lighting power allowance to the entire tenant space.
- Install ENERGY STAR®–qualified equipment for 50% (by rated power) of ENERGY STAR–eligible equipment installed as part of the tenant’s scope of work. This requirement includes appliances, office equipment, electronics, and commercial food service equipment. Equipment that meets the same requirements as ENERGY STAR qualified products but does not bear the ENERGY STAR label is acceptable. Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to ENERGY STAR. Excluded are heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and building envelope products.
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.
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LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
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Frequently asked questions
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.
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LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
( does not provide premium access to LEEDuser)
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Get the inside scoop
Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.
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LEEDuser tip sheets, written by our team of LEED experts, fill gaps in knowledge we’ve observed between the LEED Reference Guide, LEED Online, and LEED Interpretations. We update them regularly so that our members get the most relevant guidance for current issues on their projects.
( does not provide premium access to LEEDuser)
Go premium for just $... » Go premium for just $... » Firm or campus members – click here »Your 15-day free trial expired on
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
- Compliance with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4, and 10.4) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1). Projects outside the U.S. may use a USGBC approved equivalent standard2.
- Achieve the prescriptive requirements (Sections 5.5 or 5.6, 6.5, 7.5 and 9.5 or 9.6) or performance requirements (Section 11) of ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1) or USGBC approved equivalent.
- Reduce connected lighting power density 10% below that allowed by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1–2007 (with errata but without addenda1) or USGBC approved equivalent using either the Space-by-Space Method or by applying the whole building lighting power allowance to the entire tenant space.
- Install ENERGY STAR®–qualified equipment for 50% (by rated power) of ENERGY STAR–eligible equipment installed as part of the tenant’s scope of work. This requirement includes appliances, office equipment, electronics, and commercial food service equipment. Equipment that meets the same requirements as ENERGY STAR qualified products but does not bear the ENERGY STAR label is acceptable. Projects outside the U.S. may use a local equivalent to ENERGY STAR. Excluded are heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC), lighting, and building envelope products.
