LEEDuser Tip Sheets

LEED Process

General

• LEED-NC v4 Explained in Two Pages
  LEED v4 is here. The deadline to register for LEED 2009 passed in October 2016. Already-registered LEED 2009 projects have till June 30, 2021 to submit for certification or upgrade to LEED v4. The most noteworthy changes in LEED v4 are explained here.
• Essential LEED Interpretations, Addenda, and Rating System Updates
  LEED Interpretations, or LIs, are precedent-setting updates to the LEED rating systems that can be used by all projects. Project teams are required to adhere to both LEED rating system addenda and LEED Interpretations issue before a project's LEED registration date. LEED Interpretations and addenda issued after a project's registration date are optional. We review the key ones here every quarter.
• LEED Documentation Tips from LEED Reviewers
  Mistakes in your LEED documentation mean extra reviews and possibly losing credits or your whole LEED certification. We sat down with GBCI reviewers to learn their top tips to making quality documentation.
• LEED Energy and EQ Documentation Tips from LEED Reviewers
  The most important tips on completing quality energy (EA) and ventilation (EQ) documentation for your LEED project, to have a smooth review process.
• Navigating LEED Online
  Here's a status report on LEED Online and digests of recent updates.
• Using the Innovation Catalog
  The innovation catalog is a handy resource for browsing the USGBC-approved innovation credits available to your project. Learn how to use it to your advantage.
• Using the LEED Pilot Credit Library
  All LEED projects can earn Innovation points for piloting credits. To earn a point, here's what projects need to do.
• Understanding the Cost of LEED-NC Project Certification
  How much does LEED certification cost? Earning a LEED certification for a project involves several different types of costs, and you have to consider each separately to get an accurate picture.

New Construction

• Canada and LEED: Approaches for LEED v4 Projects
  Here are all the Canada alternative compliance paths in one place!
• Pointers for First-Time LEED Projects
  So, you’re ready to start your first LEED project: great! Here are some helpful steps to get you on track.
• India and LEED: Approaches for LEED v4 BD+C Projects
  Some requirements in LEED v4 are challenging to comply with in the Indian context, but there are a few others that are particularly easy.

Interiors

• Canada and LEED: Approaches for LEED v4 Projects
  Here are all the Canada alternative compliance paths in one place!

Existing Buildings O+M

• How to Use Arc
  The Arc platform allows existing spaces and whole buildings to measure and score operational performance in energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience.
• Performance Periods in LEED-EBOM: Rules to Follow
  The LEED-EBOM program is built around the idea of a “performance period,” or a snapshot of time where teams collect performance data for review by GBCI.
• LEED Recertification: When and How
  Recertification is required within five years if you want to retain your ability to advertise your LEED-EBOM certification. Here’s some key information on how to do that.

Sustainability Concepts

General

• Design-Phase Energy Modeling for LEED
  Using the ASHRAE 209 energy modeling standard to support IPc1: Integrative Process and EAc2: Optimize Energy Performance
• Social Equity and LEED
  With equity, diversity, and inclusion becoming ever more urgent for the building industry, LEED is moving to keep up with the times.
• A Manufacturer’s Guide to a Successful Sustainability Platform
  Manufacturers have a unique role in sustainable building and LEED—and they don’t need to leave profits behind. Here’s a manufacturer’s guide to improving and promoting green products.
• Understanding Thermal Comfort Factors
  How to understand basic terminology and values relative to thermal comfort.
• Intro to CalGreen and LEED
  Many of the measures in CALGreen will look quite familiar to anyone accustomed to working with the LEED for New Construction rating system.

Credit Guidance — v4 and v4.1 rating systems

New Construction

• Fighting Modern Slavery in Practice, Step by Step
  Forced labor is a daily horror for nearly 30 million people. Project teams can’t directly end these atrocities, but working together, the building industry can demand change. Here’s how.
• Which Energy Performance Metric Is Best for LEED? Depends on Your Grid
  The Alternative Energy Performance Metric pilot credit can provide a better picture of social and environmental impacts. But is it worth the extra number crunching? In some regions, yes.
• 4 Steps to Demand Response: A Primer for Your LEED Project
  With electrification ramping up, we need to take action to ensure the grid is ready. Here’s how design—and LEED—can help.
• A Comprehensive Site Selection Workbook for LEED BD+C
  Feeling nostalgia for a time when sensitivity to place was more important? Use this comprehensive LEEDuser site selection workbook to bring those days back.
• Grid Harmonization: Using Buildings to Clean up the Grid
  The ultimate goal of grid harmonization is decarbonization of the entire built environment. Here is guidance on how to achieve the credit.
• Whole-Building Life-Cycle Assessment
  What is it and what tools are available?
• A Guide to Commissioning and Auditing Credentials
  Understand the range of professional certifications available for professionals who can do commissioning and audits.
• Green Power and Carbon Offsets BDC v4 Tip Sheet
  To calculate your project’s required green power purchase quantity for the Green Power credit, choose one of the methods shown here.
• Guide to Exemplary Performance Credits in LEED-NC v4
  Here’s where to look in LEED-NC v4 to achieve Exemplary Performance (EP) points under the Innovation credit. We’ve compiled the benchmarks you’ll need to hit for each credit, and included our own notes on how achievable each benchmark is so that you can focus your efforts and maximize your Innovation points.
• College & University Tip Sheet for LEED BD+C v4
  College and university projects can present unique challenges in pursuit of LEED certification. Here's what to watch out for.
• Tip Sheet for Stadiums and Arenas
  Project teams for stadiums and arenas may face unique challenges. Learn what to watch out for in this comprehensive tip sheet.
• School as a Teaching Tool Curriculum Ideas
  This document is intended to provide teachers with a starting point for the curriculum assembled for LEED for Schools IDc3: The School as a Teaching Tool.

Commercial Interiors

• Fighting Modern Slavery in Practice, Step by Step
  Forced labor is a daily horror for nearly 30 million people. Project teams can’t directly end these atrocities, but working together, the building industry can demand change. Here’s how.
• Which Energy Performance Metric Is Best for LEED? Depends on Your Grid
  The Alternative Energy Performance Metric pilot credit can provide a better picture of social and environmental impacts. But is it worth the extra number crunching? In some regions, yes.

Existing Buildings O+M

• A Guide to Commissioning and Auditing Credentials
  Understand the range of professional certifications available for professionals who can do commissioning and audits.
• Environmental Best Practices for Deicer Application
  Use this strategy page to support compliance with the deicing component of LEED-EBOM SSc2: Building Exterior and Hardscape Management Plan, or simply as a guide to best practices for deicing at your facility. See that credit page for additional guidance and resources.
• Renewable Energy and Carbon Offsets EBOM v4 Tip Sheet
  To calculate your project’s required green power purchase quantity for the Green Power credit, choose one of the methods shown here.
• Waste Stream Audit Protocol
  This protocol will help you conduct a LEED-EBOM-compliant waste audit. It can also be useful in any situation where you want to establish a baseline for the types and quantities of waste leaving your building.
• Guide to Exemplary Performance Points in LEED-EBOM v4
  Here’s where to look in LEED-EBOM v4 to achieve Exemplary Performance (EP) credits under the Innovation credit. We’ve compiled the benchmarks you’ll need to hit for each credit, and included our own notes on how achievable each benchmark is so that you can focus your efforts and maximize your Innovation points.
• School as a Teaching Tool Curriculum Ideas
  This document is intended to provide teachers with a starting point for the curriculum assembled for LEED for Schools IDc3: The School as a Teaching Tool.

Other Rating Systems

General

• Using your LEED Certification to Achieve Fitwel Strategies
  Now in its v2.1 version, Fitwel offers a streamlined path for teams to leverage a building’s LEED certification to achieve certain Fitwel strategies.
• WELL v1 Building Standard Tip Sheet
  Here are the basics about WELL, and some good tips for getting started with this new health-based certification.
• WELL v2: What’s Changed?
  Lower costs and fewer prerequisites are among the biggest updates to the WELL Building Standard.
• LEED v4.1 for New Construction and Tenant Fit-Outs
  LEED v4.1 for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) has arrived—here’s a rundown of the biggest changes compared with v4.
• LEED Zero: An Orientation
  USGBC’s LEED Zero program provides a path for buildings to distinguish themselves with a net-zero impact for carbon, energy, water, and/or waste.