Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

This credit connects the real-world application of the LEED rating systems to the evolving field of life-cycle assessment (LCA).

The goal of the LCA pilot credit is to take the first step in an iterative process for developing a tool that allows for more holistic approaches and consideration for the major assemblies and structural materials in buildings. It is the start of a publically available resource that uses a life-cycle approach to measure the impacts of building assemblies.

There will be challenges associated with utilizing this or similar tools at this early point in the evolution of LCA, but there are considerable long-term benefits for project teams and for the development of LEED.

Increased reporting of data

In addition to discovering new ways to integrate life-cycle thinking into LEED, USGBC hopes that this pilot credit will lead to increased reporting of life-cycle data on materials, products, and assemblies to publicly available databases. With further research and data, new strategies will emerge to better target reductions in the major environmental impact categories.

Is your project right for this credit?

The ideal projects using this pilot credit will have assemblies most directly related to those currently available in the Athena database, although projects shouldn't be limited by this. USGBC hopes to assess a diverse and representative sample of projects, to better recognize the many challenges associated with this credit and its application.

This credit is only open via IDc1 for LEED-NC 2009 projects.

Credit Submittals

General:

1. Register for Pilot Credit(s) here. 
2. Register a username at LEEDuser.com, and participate in online forum
3. Submit the feedback survey using the link on the USGBC.org credit page; supply PDF of your survey/confirmation of completion with credit documentation

Credit Specific:

• Athena username and password
• A general statement about the project team’s relative understanding of LCA and why that was or was not important in this Pilot
• A screen shot of the LEED point results page from the LCA Credit Calculator. Add username and password for access to the online data file.
• A description of the specified assembly in each of the assembly groups (columns and beams, floors, exterior walls, windows, interior walls, and roofs).
• When claiming credit for in-situ assembly reuse within an existing building, provide a summary describing the reuse.

Additional Questions

• Did the Athena and USGBC web sites function easily and intuitively?
• Does this credit replace MR Credit 1.1, MR Credit 4, and MR Credit 5?
• In what ways will participation in this Pilot influence future design decisions?
• How would you improve the LCA Pilot process and why?
• In what ways are teams likely to apply life-cycle analysis or life-cycle type thinking to project decisions beyond this Pilot?