Known ways to achieve Innovation credit related to Green Labs?

Kelly, can you say more about what the green labs program entails and how it goes above and/or complements what LEED covers?I could see potential for this, but need more specifics.

Kelly, we have been awarded innovation credits for projects using part of what would be in a Green Labs program on science and/or lab projects, especially when the strategies also relate to credits in other LEED systems - such as as a green cleaning program. We have considered other aspects of Green Labs as innovation credits but have not yet attempted them. You would have more opportunity for multiple innovation credits applying Green Labs components as innovation credits one at a time (as long as they seem to have sufficient merit) rather than the entire Green Labs system as an innovation. The process to receive an innovation credit for Green Labs or components of Green Labs would be similar to receiving credit for other innovations.

We have received Innovation Credits several times based on a comprehensive green cleaning program. Following the EBOM prereq and IEQc3.1 are a solid path! We have also received ID credits by by pursuing an educational program. Your "energy awareness" component could be part of an educational program (think signage, brochures and/or web info, public and student tours, etc). I would think you may also find a way to qualify for another with a good "green chemical" program. I am not aware of specific case studies. You could check the ID library and as you suggested Labs21.

Use of the DOE/EPA Labs21 Environmental Performance Criteria (EPC) was an innovation credit in earlier versions of LEED. This was due to outstanding work of the then-LEED for Labs committee which evolved into LEED-Application Guide for Laboratories (LEED-AGL). The lab market sector was never seen as a large enough industry to garner scarce LEED resources at a time when warehouses, distribution centers, data centers and the like were rapidly being developed and needed attention and LEED guidance. The AGL was never released for public use.
That being said, the EPC is posted on the Labs21 website and still has terrific best management practices documented for lab designers. Might be useful to generate "innovation" credits in current and future versions of LEED.

Our experience has been that the EPC was used as a design guide and complete program. Using one EPC credit could be submitted as a conventional Innovation point, depending, of course, on whether it is an issue not already covered in a LEED credit. Over the course of a decade, the USGBC committee working on "LEED for Labs" found that all but four of the draft "LEED-AGL" prerequisites and credits are now covered in LEED 2009, proving LEED has evolved and does address even some specialized building types, like labs. We have had success using Commissioning of Fume Hoods to ASHRAE 110 standards (as installed) as an innovation credit. Note: it had to be ALL fume hoods in project.