The short answer is no, but it’s still good to do it. If the project team decides to pursue MRc7, MRc8 and/or MRc9, they will have to provide documentation and/or calculations demonstrating compliance for those credits. However, for this prerequisite (MRp2), demonstrating performance during the performance period is not required.

Yes. There is no official list of acceptable plants, but any biobased material that otherwise meets the requirements should be accepted, if you can get formal documentation from your supplier that the life cycle is less than 10 years.

Be careful, though—the caveat that USGBC provides in LEED Interpretation #10057, dated 5/9/2011, is that the plants must be "typically regenerated" within 10 years. Trees that could economically be harvested within 10 years, but for which that practice isn't typical, might not meet this standard.

Big-ticket items commonly used for this credit include flooring, insulation, millwork, wall coverings, and coatings. These products can have enough combined cost to reach the credit threshold, and renewable options are generally widely available. That said, there are many other products made with renewable materials that can contribute to this credit, so taking the time to explore the opportunities specific to your project can be worthwhile.

To count as rapidly renewable for the purposes of this credit, the material must be harvested without causing the animal harm, and the animal must be able to continue to regenerate the material. A good example is wool from a sheep. See LEED Interpretation #2549 for details.

Taking corrective action doesn’t necessarily require that you make making large changes or investments. Corrective action is more likely to consist of fairly minor activities like checking and adjusting temperature setpoints, adding task lighting, or educating occupants. You should take meaningful steps to try and remedy the problems identified through the survey, but you’re not expected to make wholesale changes to building systems or infrastructure.

It’s wise to plan your survey with adequate time to remedy potential issues. Remember that the performance period for any prerequisite or credit can last for a maximum of 24 months, at the discretion of the project team. That gives you lots of time to address issues before the end of the shared three-month performance period.

Yes, offering a prize to increase your survey response rate is acceptable, and even encouraged. Just be sure that names aren’t attached to responses. This credit requires that you collect anonymous responses so that occupants feel comfortable responding truthfully.

No, guests are considered transient visitors for this credit and do not need to be surveyed.

ASHRAE-55 does not require a specific device, but requires you to measure mean radiant temperature (MRT). Measurements from both black globe thermometers and infrared thermometers can be used to calculate MRT. See ASHRAE Fundamentals 2005 for additional details on calculations.

An HVAC zone is a group of spaces or a single space with individual temperature control from a shared HVAC system. So, in order to meet the credit requirements you need to have at least one temperature sensor for each zone with individual control. Note that when pursuing this credit, be sure to also delineate between HVAC zones that contain both perimeter and core spaces, zones that have perimeter areas with different orientations, or zones that have substantially different usage types may require additional temperature sensors.