Schematic Design

The project team should discuss the appropriate recycling process, including whether sorting will occur on or off site. This decision may be made after the general contractor joins the team. Both options have pros and cons (see table).

A long documentation list can be overwhelming for your team, so create a detailed checklist with tasks delegated to individual team members, allowing each member to focus on assigned tasks. The checklist can function as a status tracking document and, finally, the deliverable for LEED Online.

The Core Performance Guide requires an integrated design contributed by the architect, mechanical and electrical engineers, and lighting designer. The project manager must take responsibility for shepherding and documenting the collaborative process to demonstrate compliance. 

Create a checklist of requirements and assign a responsible party to each item. 

For Section 3, the design team needs to identify three or more of the listed strategies as possible targets for the project. 

The project manager must take responsibility for ensuring that the requirement checklist is on track.

Note that the guide demands additional time, attention, and integrated process from the design team as compared to conventional projects. It’s not just a list of prescriptive requirements, but a prescribed process for achieving energy efficiency goals. LEED Online documentation requires proof of all steps outlined in Sections 1 and 2, including three conceptual design options and meeting minutes.

Become familiar with the Core Performance Guide early in the design phase to know the multiple requirements and all requisite documents.

Option 3: Prescriptive Compliance Path—Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide 

Energy efficiency measures prescribed by the guide can be perceived as additional costs in comparison with conventional projects. However, they are easy to implement and are cost-effective pn the whole.