Hey all,
Starting our first SITES process that'll actually certify. I have not yet seen the SITES equivalent to LEED Online...can anyone advise as to what it's like? Are there credit forms/templates and other similar tools provided that must be used in the process, or is it more like WELL has historically been where the team is primarily on its own for generating the compliant documentation?
Any other easy insights? All feedback welcomed!
Cindy Quinn
PrincipalEcological Environments, LLC
16 thumbs up
June 26, 2023 - 5:04 pm
Here's how it was set up for my projects. They were a couple years ago, so it might have changed since then:
Once you register, your project will have a 'Project Resources' tab on sitesonline.usgbc.org where blank versions of all worksheets and sample letters will be, but that, and paying for reviews, is about all you'll use that website for. There are no credit forms. You'll be invited to a shared Dropbox folder for the project, which will have an instructions document. One person on your team can edit the files in the folder, and they can invite others to view what's in it. You will create a subfolder for preliminary review, and sub-subfolders for each credit you're pursuing. In that folder you'll upload a credit narrative (I created a blank narrative with a place for the credit name at the top, and copy/pasted it into all credit folders) and any backup documentation, including any worksheets or letters that you've completed. Once you're ready for the project to be reviewed, you'll email them. It's pretty simple and straightforward.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
June 26, 2023 - 5:14 pm
Excellent feedback, thanks!
Sound pretty similar to the setup they have going for the Guiding Principles certification, too.
Kara Strong
Project DirectorSustainable Design Consulting
LEEDuser Expert
31 thumbs up
June 27, 2023 - 11:39 am
FYI - I recently registered a SITES project, and the process hasn't changed.
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
July 1, 2023 - 3:04 pm
Any idea if there's a place that clearly identifies what SITES considers to be a design credit vs construction? I don't see that info in the Ref Guide, their version of the scorecard, or anywhere else...
Cindy Quinn
PrincipalEcological Environments, LLC
16 thumbs up
July 6, 2023 - 6:30 pm
If I remember correctly, they told us we can just use our best judgement to determine which credits to submit with design review.