Complying with this prerequisite is standard practice in most urban and suburban areas in the U.S., where most or all of the EPA Construction General Permit (CGP) requirements have been adopted and implemented at the state or county level. Regulators at those levels often threaten heavy fines for not complying with CGP requirements, so most projects do so without the added incentive of the LEED prerequisite.

The buildings best positioned to meet this credit are those whose utility or service provider has a demand reduction program in place, and that have large systems that can be turned off during a demand response event.

Buildings located in markets with an existing demand response program are also the ones that will be most likely to benefit financially from pursuing this type of strategy, due to the high cost of electricity in these markets. Also, providers typically provide financial incentives beyond any reduction in peak demand charges to encourage buildings to participate.

To earn this credit your project must submeter at least two water subsystems. This credit is typically low-cost and easy to implement, while offering significant long-term benefits, including providing building operators with the tools to track, manage, and optimize water use at the subsystem level.

To earn this credit your project must submeter at least two water subsystems. This credit is typically low-cost and easy to implement, while offering significant long-term benefits, including providing building operators with the tools to track, manage, and optimize water use at the subsystem level.

This credit rewards projects for bringing green buildings to low-income neighborhoods and for locating on brownfield sites.

Projects located in economically disadvantaged areas or on brownfield sites are great candidates for this credit. The credit also offers points for equitable development—implementing an equity plan or adding affordable housing to the neighborhood. Note that siting in a historic district no longer contributes to this credit.

This credit rewards projects for locating on high-priority sites, rather than developing greenfields or other environmentally sensitive areas.

Infill projects located in historic districts (Option 1) or high-priority redevelopment areas (Option 2) are great candidates for this credit. The credit language lists the acceptable high priority redevelopment areas. 

Density and diverse uses are rewarded separately in this credit. Projects can earn points in both or either of the density and diverse use options. If your project is located in a metropolitan area, it’s likely that both components can be achieved.

There’s also hope for suburban and rural projects! If your building is located on a main street or in a transit-oriented development area, and surrounded by mixed commercial and community services, the diverse uses option may still be achievable even if the density minimums are unattainable.

Density and diverse uses are rewarded separately in this credit. Projects can earn points in both or either of the density and diverse use options. If your project is located in a metropolitan area, it’s likely that both components can be achieved.

There’s also hope for suburban and rural projects! If your building is located on a main street or in a transit-oriented development area, and surrounded by mixed commercial and community services, the diverse uses option may still be achievable even if the density minimums are unattainable.

Onsite renewable energy, although becoming more common, is still relatively rare. If your project does have onsite solar or another eligible renewable energy source, the door has been opened to achieving all five available points. Keep in mind that some offsite renewable energy sources, such as a power purchase agreement, may qualify as onsite renewable energy for this credit. Check the LEED Reference Guide for more info on eligibility for offsite scenarios. 

Teams can earn a basketful of points based on the daily transit service available to their projects. If your building is located in a metropolitan area with multiple modes of transportation, and has functional entries within a quarter- to half-mile walking distance of transit stops, you’re likely to achieve this credit.

Walking distance is critical. LEED reviewers will want to see an accessible route, so don’t try to cross a highway with no crosswalks.