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LEED v4.1
Data Centers – NC
Innovation
Innovation

LEED CREDIT

Data-Centers-NC-v4.1 INc1: Innovation 1-5 points

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View the LEED v4 version of this credit »

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser expert

Eric Corey Freed

RA, LEED Fellow, Living Future Accredited, EcoDistricts AP, ActiveScore AP

CannonDesign
Principal, Director of Sustainability

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

Explore this LEED credit

Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

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.

Option 1. Innovation (1 point)
Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system. Identify the following:
  • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
  • proposed requirements for compliance;
  • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
  • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.
Examples of innovation may be found in the LEED Innovation Catalog. AND/OR
Option 2. Pilot (1 point)
Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library. AND/OR
Option 3. Additional Strategies
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
  • Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
  • Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary Performance (1–2 points)
  • Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold. See all forum discussions about this credit »

    What does it cost?

    Cost estimates for this credit

    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.

    Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

    Frequently asked questions

    Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4.1 projects?

    The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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    My LEED credential is about to expire. What should I do?

    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 a LEED AP with specialty and I’m also a WELL AP. Does this affect how I report my continuing education hours?

    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 missed my credential maintenance reporting deadline. Do I have to take the LEED AP exam again?

    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.)

    See all forum discussions about this credit »

    Addenda

    4/9/2021Updated: 4/20/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Revise credit intent to read as "To encourage projects to achieve exceptional or innovative performance to benefit human and environmental health and equity. To foster LEED expertise throughout building design, construction, and operation and collaboration toward project priorities."
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    10/5/2018
    LEED Interpretation
    Inquiry:

    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.”

    Ruling:

    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***

    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    Yes
    See all forum discussions about this credit »

    Documentation toolkit

    The motherlode of cheat sheets

    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.

    LEEDuser expert

    Eric Corey Freed

    RA, LEED Fellow, Living Future Accredited, EcoDistricts AP, ActiveScore AP

    CannonDesign
    Principal, Director of Sustainability

    USGBC logo

    © Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Requirements

    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.

    Option 1. Innovation (1 point)
    Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system. Identify the following:
    • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
    • proposed requirements for compliance;
    • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
    • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.
    Examples of innovation may be found in the LEED Innovation Catalog. AND/OR
    Option 2. Pilot (1 point)
    Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library. AND/OR
    Option 3. Additional Strategies
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
  • Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
  • Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary Performance (1–2 points)
  • Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.

    In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

    • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
    • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
    • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
    • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
    • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
    • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

    Is there a list of Innovation strategies available to v4.1 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.)

    My LEED credential is about to expire. What should I do?

    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 a LEED AP with specialty and I’m also a WELL AP. Does this affect how I report my continuing education hours?

    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 missed my credential maintenance reporting deadline. Do I have to take the LEED AP exam again?

    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.)

    4/9/2021Updated: 4/20/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Revise credit intent to read as "To encourage projects to achieve exceptional or innovative performance to benefit human and environmental health and equity. To foster LEED expertise throughout building design, construction, and operation and collaboration toward project priorities."
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    10/5/2018
    LEED Interpretation
    Inquiry:

    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.”

    Ruling:

    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***

    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    Yes

    LEEDuser expert

    Eric Corey Freed

    RA, LEED Fellow, Living Future Accredited, EcoDistricts AP, ActiveScore AP

    CannonDesign
    Principal, Director of Sustainability

    See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Data-Centers-NC-v4.1 INc1