• Can your project achieve double the credit requirements, or the next incremental percentage threshold, for any existing LEED credits?
• Is your project undertaking sustainable design strategies that are above or beyond the intent of existing LEED credits? 
• What makes your project special? Are there opportunities for innovation uniquely suited to your climate, region, building or use type, or project team? 
• Is your building owner interested in pursuing sustainability goals through building operations and maintenance? If so, can your project adopt credits from the LEED-EBOM rating system?

Innovation credit submittal process

Innovation credits are often denied, but GBCI typically encourages project teams to try another strategy if one they have proposed is not feasible to meet the credit requirements. The credit may  be denied outright with instruction to submit an alternative strategy, or denied pending clarification with technical advice asking for more explanation of how the submitted strategy is viable or the option to submit an alternative. Project teams may attempt new strategies in the construction phase if a particular innovation credit was denied in the design phase.