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This credit is your project’s opportunity to demonstrate leadership in the green building industry and to let your team contribute creative approaches to the field of sustainable design. It’s also a great way for your project to achieve up to four additional points. 

Two options 


There are two different ways to achieve points under this credit:

  • Innovation in Design: Use an innovative approach to something not already covered in the LEED rating system. This approach must represent an innovative design approach to a problem, must be comprehensive in scope, and must have a quantifiable environmental benefit. Approach this path as if you were creating a new LEED “ID credit” from scratch.
  • Exemplary Performance: Go well beyond the performance thresholds of existing LEED credits. As a general rule, you go to the next threshold level over the credit requirement. For example, in WEc3.1: Water Use Reduction, you receive one point for a 20% reduction in water use and in WEc3.2 you receive an additional point for a 30% reduction, therefore  the ID point is for a 40% reduction; and for MRc5: Regional Materials, you receive points for sourcing 10% and 20% of materials (by cost) locally, while the ID point is for 30% locally sourced materials. 

“Creative” doesn’t have to mean “costly”


There are plenty of opportunities to earn ID credits through no- and low-cost strategies. A great example is green cleaning, which requires the use of low-toxicity cleaning agents, cleaning machines that reduce impact on indoor air quality, and training maintenance staff in hazard reduction. 
Take a close look at all the sustainability practices that your project is already planning or participating in and examine the possibilities of applying them to an ID credit. Some opportunities include recycling, composting, procurement and cleaning policies, landscape management, education initiatives, and many more.


Use LEED-EBOM as a resource


There is a consistent source of ID credit opportunities for all rating systems to be found in the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (EBOM) rating system (see LEEDuser's guide to EBOM for more information). Implementing operational practices and policies—for example, site management plans, purchasing programs, and green cleaning—can help you achieve ID credits and set the stage for successful, sustainable operation of your project building. 
Operational credits fall outside the realm of design and construction, and the creation of a plan is easy with the available templates, but the commitment to implement the plan is just as important, if not more so.

Consider these questions when approaching this credit


  • 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?
Credits
IDc1