Leed
Certification
LEED Certification distinguishes building
projects that have demonstrated a commitment
to sustainability by meeting the highest performance
standards. The information contained on this
page outlines the required steps of the application
process and answers the questions most frequently
asked by project teams seeking LEED certification.
Leed
Certification: Why Certify?
- Establish recognized
leadership in the green building sector
- Validate
achievement through third party review
- Qualify
for a growing array of state and local government
incentives
- Contribute
to a growing green building knowledge base
- Earn
LEED Certification plaque and certificate
Leed
Certification Eligibility
Commercial
buildings as defined by standard building codes
are eligible for certification under LEED Version
2.1. Commercial occupancies include—but are
not limited to—offices, retail and service establishments,
institutional buildings (e.g., libraries, schools,
museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential
buildings of four or more habitable stories.
If the application of LEED for a unique building
type is questionable, USGBC encourages the project
team to tally a potential point total using
the LEED
Rating System checklist. The project is
a viable candidate for LEED certification if
it can meet all prerequisites and achieve a
minimum of 26 points.
Leed
Certification Registration
The
first step toward earning LEED certification
is project registration.
Registering during the early phases of project
design will ensure maximum potential for achieving
certification. Registration is an important
step that establishes contact with the USGBC
and provides access to essential information,
software tools and communications. Upon registration,
project contacts receive an orientation letter
and access to resources that explain and facilitate
the formal LEED application process. For more
information, visit the LEED
Registration page.
Leed
Certification Documentation
Once
a project is registered, the project team begins
to prepare documentation and calculations to
satisfy the prerequisite and credit submittal
requirements. It is helpful to have a LEED
Accredited Professional as the project contact
and team member responsible for coordinating
the LEED process. To streamline the application
process, required documentation should be gathered
throughout the design and construction phases.
Use the LEED software tools for Version 2.0
and/or Version 2.1 as appropriate. Mixed 2.0/2.1
submittals are acceptable, but using Version
2.1 exclusively is recommended for simplicity.
Documentation should be compiled in one three-ring
binder and/or compact disc (LEED Version
2.1 Letter Template Excel document is required
on a CD for Version 2.1 submittals). All
electronic submittals must be printable on letter-
or legal-sized paper. Refer to the Certification
section below for application details. The project
team submits two copies of ALL project application
materials and the corresponding fee (check payable
to U.S. Green Building Council) to the LEED
Certification Manager.
Leed Certification
To earn LEED certification,
the applicant project must satisfy all of the
prerequisites and a minimum number of points
to attain a LEED rating level. The certification
review process includes the following:
1) Application
Submittal.
The project team submits
two copies of ALL project application materials,
and the corresponding fee (check payable to
U.S. Green Building Council), to the LEED Certification
Manager. A complete application includes
the following:
- the printed LEED Letter
Template and requested submittals for each
prerequisite and credit, separated by tabs
(LEED Version 2.1 Letter Template Excel document
is required on a CD for Version 2.1 submittals);
- LEED registration information,
including project contact, project type, project
size, number of occupants, date of construction
completion, etc.;
- an overall project narrative
including at least three project highlights;
- the LEED Project Checklist/Scorecard
indicating projected prerequisites and credits
and the total score for the project (If mixed
submittal, LEED v2.0 credits are to be noted
as such in LEED v2.1 Letter Template Credit
Summary or similar format.); and
- Drawings and photos (8.5x11
or 11x17) illustrative of the project, including:
- Site plan
- Typical floor plan
- Typical building
section
- Typical or primary
elevation
- Photo or rendering
of project
2) LEED Version
2 Technical Reviews.
a) LEED
Version 2.0 Review: Documentation submittals
for every prerequisite and credit are reviewed
for compliance. The inclusion of extraneous
documentation is discouraged as this slows
the application review process. Within 30
days of administrative approval, the USGBC
issues a Preliminary LEED Review document
noting credits earned, pending and denied.
The project team has 30 days from the receipt
of the Preliminary Review to provide corrections
and/or additions as a supplementary submittal
to the application. The USGBC conducts a Final
LEED Review of the application within three
weeks of receiving the resubmittal and notifies
the project contact of the LEED certification.
b) LEED
Version 2.1 Review: The LEED Letter
Templates and additional submittals for each
prerequisite and credit are reviewed for compliance.
Within 30 days of administrative approval,
the USGBC issues a Preliminary LEED Review
document noting credit achievement anticipated,
pending and denied. In addition, up to six
prerequisites and/or credits shall be selected
for audit. The project team has 30 days from
the receipt of the Preliminary Review to provide
corrections and/or additional supporting documents
(e.g., calculations, cutsheets and other backup)
as a supplementary submittal to the application.
The USGBC conducts a Final LEED Review of
the application within three weeks of receiving
the resubmittal and notifies the project contact
of certification status. If two or more
audited credits are denied, additional credits
may be selected for a second audit and may
prompt a Second Preliminary LEED Review prior
to a Final LEED Review.
c) LEED
Version 2.0 / 2.1 Combination Review:
All credits submitted under the LEED v2.0
Rating System shall be reviewed as outlined
in the LEED 2.0 Review Process. All
credits submitted under the LEED v2.1 Rating
System shall be reviewed as outlined in the
LEED v2.1 Review Process. If audited
credits pass, the timeline is identical for
both processes.
3) Award. Upon
notification of the LEED certification, the
project team has 30 days to accept or appeal
the awarded certification. Upon the project’s
acceptance, or if it has not appealed the rating
within 30 days, the LEED certification is final.
The project may then be referred to as a LEED
certified building. The USGBC presents the project
team with an award letter, certificate and metal
LEED plaque indicating the certification level.
4) Appeal.
If the project team feels that sufficient grounds
exist to appeal a credit denied in the Final
LEED Review, it has the option of appeal.
The appeal fee is $250 (changing to $500, effective
9/1/04) per credit appealed. A review
of these items will occur within 30 days at
which time an Appeal LEED Review will be issued
to the applicant.
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