Are the calculations for MR Credit 5.2 based on the total amount of regionally manufactured materials that a project team has claimed for MR Credit 5.1 (thus making the performance requirement a "moving target"), or should project teams use the minimum 20% requirement of MR Credit 5.1 as the benchmark, and thus the numerator of Equation 2 in the LEED Reference Guide?
This ruling provides additional clarification to a previous CIR (10/18/01). The latter option stated in the inquiry is correct. To have a consistent and comparable performance standard for all LEED projects, the requirement for MR Credit 5.2 is 50% of the minimum 20% benchmark needed for achieving MR Credit 5.1. Thus, in essence, the threshold for MR Credit 5.2 is 10% of the total materials cost. Only raw materials used for the items in Credit 5.1 can be included in Credit 5.2 (as per credit requirements language). When considering Innovation points for exceptional performance, MR Credits 5.1 and 5.2 are considered independently. As a result, the normal approach of exceeding the next logical level of performance applies, and individual Innovation points may be achieved for demonstrating that 40% or more of materials cost is locally manufactured and 20% or more of materials cost is locally harvested. Applicable Internationally.