This credit is fairly straightforward: the existing building selected by your LEED-CI project will either have LEED certification or other green features in place, or it won’t. (If your project hasn’t yet selected a building, consider looking for a building that will perform well under this credit.) 

It’s worth considering this credit, because in the best case (Option 1), you can earn five points just for locating in a building certified under another LEED rating system.

If that’s not your situation, you can earn 1–5 points through Option 2 by targeting items on a menu of 12 “paths,” each of which approximates a key LEED credit not otherwise covered under LEED-CI (see the credit language and Checklists tabs for more detail). You can't combine options and earn more than five points.

The number of points you’re likely to earn can be determined early on by reviewing existing building components and characteristics. It’s likely that you can pick up a point or two, even if your base building wasn’t designed as a “green building.”

Select the right building—don’t count on changing it

Keep in mind that this credit is about encouraging tenants to locate in environmentally friendly buildings. The credit is not focused on redesigning the base building to fit the needs of the credit—that would be more likely to fall under another rating system, such as LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance. 

However, tenants can and should encourage building management to make environmental improvements over time, particularly if a good opportunity presents itself. (For example, if the roof is scheduled to be replaced, the owner could consider installing a reflective roof complying with Option 2, Path 5: Heat Island Effect—Roof.)

Your strategies or green building characteristics need to be in place before submittal of this credit.

Check the requirements carefully

For the most part, the credit requirements of this credit are consistent with corresponding LEED-NC credits. However, there are some variations, so be sure to understand the requirements of any paths you have chosen to pursue.

A note on LEEDuser’s guidance

The Checklists tab for this credit offers key considerations for each option and path of this credit. For more detail, however, you will be referred to the corresponding LEED-NC credit page within LEEDuser. When reading those LEED-NC pages, be aware of requirements and recommendations that may or may not be relevant to the LEED-CI project.