Innovation Credit Inquiry for Educational Program. Intent: To educate a broad audience about sustainable design, especially the sustainable solutions integrated into the MEF project. Target audience will include Pentagon occupants, Pentagon Renovation Program staff, Federal Facilities Division staff, users of the Pentagon Metro stop, and the general public. Description: The Pentagon Renovation Program has developed an extensive educational program to educate building occupants, about 25,000 people, as well as the 30,000 people who use the Pentagon Metro stop daily about the principles and benefits of sustainable design. The following have been developed and/or implemented for the MEF project: 1. Signage. Signage in the building showing sustainable solutions. 2. Pamphlets. The development of pamphlets about the project that can be distributed at conferences and during Pentagon tours. 3. Display Boards. The production of movable permanent display boards that are used to describe the incorporation of sustainable solutions and LEED on this project. 4. ISDC Committee. The formation of an Integrated Sustainable Design and Constructability team that meets every other week to discuss the on-going implementation of sustainable design and LEED into all projects at the Pentagon. The team consists of A/E design team members, construction contractors, facilities operations staff, and staff from the Pentagon Renovation office. 5. Staff Education. The Pentagon Renovation Office has had four private LEED Training Programs to educate staff and designers about the use of LEED. 6. Staff Addition. The Pentagon Renovation Office has created a new position, Special Assistant for Sustainable Construction, to assure that sustainable design is integrated into all projects. 7. Presentations. Pentagon Renovation Office staff present information on this project, and other LEED projects at the Pentagon at least once a month at conferences locally and around the US. 8. Award Fee. Sustainable Design and Construction is now included as an evaluation factor in the award fee process. By doing this, Pentagon Renovation Office, in effect, "incentivized" sustainability for projects on the Pentagon reservation. If the contractor excels in each of the factors, s/he can earn up to 10% extra (of the contract award amount). Could an innovation credit be achieved for these educational innovations?
The elements described suggest that the project is on its way to achieving an education ID credit. Specific requirements for an education ID credit have been established by the USGBC through previous CIR\'s. When submitting this credit, make sure the documentation adequately addresses the requirements listed in previous CIR\'s, such as CIR 0097-IDc11-092801 dated 9/24/01: "To take advantage of the educational value of the green building features of a project and to earn a LEED point, any approach should be ACTIVELY instructional. Two of the following three elements must be included in the educational program: 1) A comprehensive signage program built into the building\'s spaces to educate the occupants and visitors of the benefits of green buildings. This program may include windows to view energy-saving mechanical equipment or signs to call attention to water-conserving landscape features. 2) The development of a manual, guideline or case study to inform the design of other buildings based on the successes of this project. This manual will be made available to the USGBC for sharing with other projects. 3) An educational outreach program or guided tour could be developed to focus on sustainable living, using the project as an example."