SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser overview
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.
Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system.
Identify the following:
AND/OR
Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library
AND/OR
Frequently asked questions
We achieved exemplary performance for more than two credits. Can we claim more than two points?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
One of the credits we used for exemplary performance didn’t actually end up earning exemplary performance. Can we replace it with a different credit that did?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
We didn’t claim one of our credits as an exemplary performance point under INc1 during the design review, but now we’d like to because it earned exemplary performance per the review comments. Is it possible to claim it now?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
I’m confused about how many points I can earn for each strategy (innovation vs pilot credit vs exemplary performance). Is there a limit on each type of strategy if we want to earn all five Innovation points?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4 projects?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
What does it cost?
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
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Checklists
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
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Documentation toolkit
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
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Addenda
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:
"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:
"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Revise all references to the online "Innovation database" to say "Innovation Catalog."
Revise the text below Step 2. to the following:
"Projects may earn up to 5 points through combination of the following:
• Innovation (up to 4 points). This option is appropriate for strategies that are not addressed by any existing credits in the LEED rating system under which the project will be certified.
• Pilot credits (up to 4 points). This option requires project teams to achieve, document, and provide feedback on pilot credit strategies developed by USGBC members and committees.
• Exemplary performance (up to 2 points). This option is achieved by demonstrating performance that greatly exceeds the level or scope required by existing LEED prerequisites or credits.
o One point is reserved for Pilot Credits and one for Innovation. To use all five points, projects must use at least one pilot credit and one innovation credit"
Delete: "Corporate strategies are not considered innovative."
If a project pursues a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP), can it be exempted from the following pilot credit requirement for the Innovation credit?
“To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
If projects achieve a pilot ACP, they are exempted from the requirement to achieve at least one pilot credit. To achieve all five points in the Innovation credit under this approach, projects may select one of the following point combinations:
• 4 innovation and 1 exemplary performance
• 3 innovation and 2 exemplary performance
***Updated 7.10.2020 to clarify that projects must achieve a pilot ACP to be exempted***
*** Updated 3.29.2023 to include applicability for v4.1 projects***
LEEDuser overview
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
Already a premium member? Log in now
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.
Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system.
Identify the following:
AND/OR
Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library
AND/OR
Documentation toolkit
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
Already a premium member? Log in now
Frequently asked questions
We achieved exemplary performance for more than two credits. Can we claim more than two points?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
One of the credits we used for exemplary performance didn’t actually end up earning exemplary performance. Can we replace it with a different credit that did?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
We didn’t claim one of our credits as an exemplary performance point under INc1 during the design review, but now we’d like to because it earned exemplary performance per the review comments. Is it possible to claim it now?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
I’m confused about how many points I can earn for each strategy (innovation vs pilot credit vs exemplary performance). Is there a limit on each type of strategy if we want to earn all five Innovation points?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4 projects?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Addenda
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:
"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Revise the text of the first sentence under "Requirements" to the following:
"To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
Revise all references to the online "Innovation database" to say "Innovation Catalog."
Revise the text below Step 2. to the following:
"Projects may earn up to 5 points through combination of the following:
• Innovation (up to 4 points). This option is appropriate for strategies that are not addressed by any existing credits in the LEED rating system under which the project will be certified.
• Pilot credits (up to 4 points). This option requires project teams to achieve, document, and provide feedback on pilot credit strategies developed by USGBC members and committees.
• Exemplary performance (up to 2 points). This option is achieved by demonstrating performance that greatly exceeds the level or scope required by existing LEED prerequisites or credits.
o One point is reserved for Pilot Credits and one for Innovation. To use all five points, projects must use at least one pilot credit and one innovation credit"
Delete: "Corporate strategies are not considered innovative."
If a project pursues a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP), can it be exempted from the following pilot credit requirement for the Innovation credit?
“To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”
If projects achieve a pilot ACP, they are exempted from the requirement to achieve at least one pilot credit. To achieve all five points in the Innovation credit under this approach, projects may select one of the following point combinations:
• 4 innovation and 1 exemplary performance
• 3 innovation and 2 exemplary performance
***Updated 7.10.2020 to clarify that projects must achieve a pilot ACP to be exempted***
*** Updated 3.29.2023 to include applicability for v4.1 projects***
RA, LEED Fellow, Living Future Accredited, EcoDistricts AP, ActiveScore AP
CannonDesign
Principal, Director of Sustainability