This credit rewards projects that are able to minimize the impact of their refrigerants on the ozone layer and global warming. 

This credit is achievable for projects that have a fair amount of outdoor space. Work with the landscape architect and architect early in the design process to incorporate places of respite into the site design.

Consider noise sources (mechanical systems, vehicles, etc.), proximity to heavy foot traffic, accessibility, existing tree canopy, and security when it comes to site placement.

Teams may find it useful to approach this credit and SSc7: Places of Respite at the same time, in order to double down on points. Areas outside the building envelope that meet the places of respite requirements can contribute to earning this credit, as long they are immediately adjacent to clinical areas or with direct access from inpatient units.

Although most buildings won’t have trouble meeting this prerequisite, there are some challenges that can sneak up unexpectedly if you don’t address it early.

The most important thing to confirm is that ventilation air is provided to all occupiable spaces in the building. This may seem obvious, but the prerequisite applies to areas that are sometimes overlooked, such as circulation, back of house spaces, and active storage rooms. Check out the EQ Overview section in the LEED v4 Reference Guide for a list of the space types that must be addressed.

Although most buildings won’t have trouble meeting this prerequisite, there are some challenges that can sneak up unexpectedly if you don’t address it early. 

The most important thing to confirm is that ventilation air is provided to all occupiable spaces in the building. This may seem obvious, but the prerequisite applies to areas that are sometimes overlooked, such as circulation, back of house spaces, and active storage rooms. Check out the EQ Overview section in the LEED Reference Guide for all of the space types that must be addressed here.

This credit should be relatively easy for all Core & Shell projects to achieve. This credit requires that the building owner provide guidelines to all potential future tenants of the CS space.

The guidelines need to provide a description of the sustainable features and goals of the building, and should include strategies, recommendations, and examples of how the tenant may take advantage of the green features in the building to pursue their own LEED certifications.

This prerequisite aims to reduce occupant contact with mercury by limiting sources of mercury and by properly collecting and recycling products and devices that do contain mercury.

Teams should consider creating procurement protocol for mercury-containing products, devices, and lamps to ensure that new mercury sources are not introduced into the building during operations.

What’s New in LEED v4

• Nothing new!

This credit builds on the lamps component of MRp3: PBT Source Reduction–Mercury. 

To earn this credit, teams must specify reduced-mercury fluorescent lamps that are also long lasting. This credit also prohibits projects from specifying or installing circular fluorescent lamps or probe start metal halide lamps.

What’s New in LEED v4

• Nothing new!

This credit aims to reduce occupant contact with lead, cadmium, and copper by limiting sources of these toxic chemicals.

Teams should identify potential sources of these chemicals within building materials and specify substitutes. Note that lead used for radiation shielding and copper used for MRI shielding are exempt from the credit requirements.

What’s New in LEED v4

• Nothing new!

This credit addresses the freestanding furniture and medical furnishings in your project. To comply with the requirements, at least 30% of products (by cost) must meet the credit criteria. Examples of “medical furnishing” items covered by this credit include: mattresses, foams, panel fabrics, cubicle curtains, window coverings, and other textiles.