LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction
For the Design, Construction and Major Renovations of Commercial
and Institutional use only and subject to the sales order &
Shell terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed. For
personal Buildings Including Core agreement and K12 School Projects
2009 Edition
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The built environment has a profound impact on our natural
environment, economy, health, and productivity. Breakthroughs in
building science, technology, and operations are now available to
designers, builders, operators, and owners who want to build green
and maximize both economic and environmental performance. Through
the LEED green building certification program, the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) is transforming the built environment. The
green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to
respond to the most important challenges of our time, including
global climate change, dependence on non sustainable and expensive
sources of energy, and threats to human health. The work of
innovative building professionals is a fundamental driving force in
the green building moment. Such leadership is a critical component
to achieving USGBCs mission of a sustainable built environment for
all within a generation.
USGBC MeMBerShip10 30 36 44
Member-drivensu bj ec
Membership is open and balanced and provides a comprehensive
platform for carrying out important programs and activities. We
target the issues identified by our members as the highest
priority. We conduct an annual review of achievements that allows
us to set policy, revise strategies, and devise work plans based on
members needs.
Contact the U.S. Green Building Council 2101 L Street, NW Suite
500 Washington, DC 20036 (800) 795-1747 Office (202) 828-5110 Fax
www.usgbc.org
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terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
constRuction i
Fo
We work together to promote green buildings, and in doing so, we
help foster greater economic vitality and environmental health at
lower costs. We work to bridge ideological gaps between industry
segments and develop balanced policies that benefit the entire
industry.
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The heart of this effective coalition is our committee
structure, in which volunteer members design strategies that are
implemented by staff and expert consultants. Our committees provide
a forum for members to resolve differences, build alliances, and
forge cooperative solutions for influencing change in all sectors
of the building industry.
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USGBCs greatest strength is the diversity of our membership.
USGBC is a balanced, consensusbased nonprofit with more than 18,000
member companies and organizations representing the entire building
industry. Since its inception in 1993, USGBC has played a vital
role in providing a leadership forum and a unique, integrating
force for the building industry. USGBCs programs have three
distinguishing characteristics:
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CopyriGhtCopyright 2009 by the U.S. Green Building Council. All
rights reserved. The U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. (USGBC)
devoted significant time and resources to create this LEED
Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction, 2009
Edition. USGBC authorizes individual use of the Reference Guide. In
exchange for this authorization, the user agrees: (1) to retain all
copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the Reference
Guide, (3) not to reproduce, display, or distribute the Reference
Guide in any way for any public or commercial purpose, including
display on a website or in a networked environment. Unauthorized
use of the Reference Guide violates copyright, trademark, and other
laws and is prohibited. The text of the federal and state codes,
regulations, voluntary standards, etc., reproduced in the Reference
Guide is used under license to USGBC or, in some instances, in the
public domain. All other text, graphics, layout, and other elements
of content in the Reference Guide are owned by USGBC and are
protected by copyright under both United States and foreign laws.
Redistributing the Reference Guide on the internet or otherwise is
STRICTLY prohibited even if offered free of charge. DOWNLOADS OF
THE REFERENCE GUIDE MAY NOT BE COPIED OR DISTRIBUTED. THE USER OF
THE REFERENCE GUIDE MAY NOT ALTER, REDISTRIBUTE, UPLOAD OR PUBLISH
THIS REFERENCE GUIDE IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AND HAS NO RIGHT TO LEND
OR SELL THE DOWNLOAD OR COPIES OF THE DOWNLOAD TO OTHER PERSONS.
(2) not to sell or modify the Reference Guide, and
so
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None of the parties involved in the funding or creation of the
Reference Guide, including the USGBC, its members, its contractors,
or the United States government, assume any liability or
responsibility to the user or any third parties for the accuracy,
completeness, or use of or reliance on any information contained In
the Reference Guide, or for any injuries, losses, or damages
(including, without limitation, equitable relief) arising from such
use or reliance. Although the information contained in the
Reference Guide is believed to be reliable and accurate, all
materials set forth within are provided without warranties of any
kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to
warranties of the accuracy or completeness of information contained
in the training or the suitability of the information for any
particular purpose. As a condition of use, the user covenants not
to sue and agrees to waive and release the U.S. Green Building
Council, its members, its contractors, and the United States
government from any and all claims, demands, and causes of action
for any injuries, losses, or damages (including, without
limitation, equitable relief) that the user may now or hereafter
have a right to assert against such parties as a result of the use
of, or reliance on, the Reference Guide. U.S. Green Building
Council 2101 L Street, NW Suite 500 Washington, DC 20036
For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement
terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.ii LEED
REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD constRuction 2009
EDition
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traDeMarkLEED is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green
Building Council. LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design
and Construction For the Design, Construction and Major Renovations
of Commercial and Institutional Buildings Including Core &
Shell and K12 School Projects 2009 Edition ISBN #
978-1-932444-14-8
Bryna Dunn, Chair Stewart Comstock, Vice-Chair Michele Adams
Gina Baker Ted Bardacke Stephen Benz Mark Brumbaugh Laura Case Zach
Christeson Jay Enck
er
Sustainable Sites taGsoMoseley Architects Maryland Department of
the Environment Cahill Associates Burt Hill Global Green USA Sasaki
Brumbaugh & Associates Emory University Campus Services the HOK
Planning Group Commissioning & Green Building Services
For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement
terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
constRuction iii
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Scot Horst, Chair, LSC Joel Ann Todd, Vice-Chair, LSC Muscoe
Martin Stuart Carron Holley Henderson Christine Magar Kristin
Shewfelt Jessica Millman Bryna Dunn Neal Billetdeaux Greg Kats Mark
Webster Bob Thompson Malcolm Lewis John Boecker Sara OMara Alex
Zimmerman Ian Theaker
Horst, Inc Joel Ann Todd M2 Architecture JohnsonDiversey, Inc.
H2 Ecodesign, LLC Greenform Architectural Energy Corporation Agora
DC Moseley Architects JJR Managing Good Energies Simpson Gumpertz
& Heger EPA Indoor Environment Management Branch Constructive
Technologies Group, Inc. 7Group Choate Construction Company Rep
Canada Green Building Council Rep Canada Green Building Council
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The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and
Construction, 2009 Edition, has been made possible only through the
efforts of many dedicated volunteers, staff members, and others in
the USGBC community. The Reference Guide drafting was managed and
implemented by USGBC staff and consultants and included review and
suggestions by many Technical Advisory Group (TAG) members. We
especially extend our deepest gratitude to all of our LEED
committee members who participated in the development of this
guide, for their tireless volunteer efforts and constant support of
USGBCs mission:
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Ron Hand Richard Heinisch Michael Lane Marita Roos Zolna Russell
Alfred Vick
E/FECT. Sustainable Design Solutions Acuity Lighting Group
Lighting Design Lab HNTB Hord Coplan Macht, Inc. Ecos Environmental
Design, Inc.
water efficiency taGNeal Billetdeaux, Chair John Koeller,
Vice-Chair David Carlson Bill Hoffman Geoff Nara Stephanie Tanner
Daniel Yeh David Bracciano Robert Rubin Winston Huff Robert Benazzi
Gunnar Baldwin Heather Kinkade Shabbir Rawalpindiwala Bill Wall JJR
Alliance for Water Efficiency Columbia University H.W. Hoffman and
Associates, LLC Civil & Environmental Consultants U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency University of South Florida Tampa
Bay Water NCSU-BAE and McKim & Creed SSR Engineers Jaros Baum
& Bolles TOTO USA, INC Forgotten Rain, LLC Kohler Company
Clivus New England, Inc.
Greg Kats, Chair Marcus Sheffer, Vice-Chair Drury Crawley Jay
Enck Ellen Franconi Mark Frankel Nathan Gauthier Rusty Hodapp John
Hogan Bion Howard Dan Katzenberger Bob Maddox Brenda Morawa Erik
Ring Michael Rosenberg Mick Schwedler Gord Shymko Gail Stranske
Michael Zimmer
GoodEnergies 7group US Department of Energy Commissioning &
Green Building Solutions, Inc. IPMVP and AEC New Buildings
Institute Harvard Green Campus Initiative Dallas/Fort Worth, Energy
& Transportation Management City of Seattle Department of
Planning & Development Building Environmental Science and
Technology Engineering, Energy, and the Environment Sterling Planet
BVM Engineering, Inc. LPA, Inc. Oregon Department of Energy Trane
IPMVP and G.F. Shymko & Associates CTG Energetics Thompson Hine
LLP
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Materials and resources taGMark Webster, Chair Steven Baer,
Vice-chair Paul Bertram Chris Dixon Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Inc. Five Winds International NAIMA NBBJ
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terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.iv LEED
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James H. Goldman, Chair Tom Scarola, Vice-Chair Lee Burgett
Craig Kneeland Joe Higgins Harry Gordon Muscoe Martin Chris Dixon
Bill Odell Chris Schaffner Wayne Trusty Jerry Yudelson Charlotte
Matthews John McFarland Prasad Vaidy Aalok Deshmuk
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leeD for new Construction Version 2.2 Core CommitteeoTurner
Construction Tishman Speyer Properties Trane Company New York State
Energy Research & Development Authority Fidelity Real Estate
Company Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates Wallace Roberts &
Todd, LLC Mithun HOK Architects The Green Engineer Athena
Sustainable Materials Institute Greenway Consulting Group, LLC
Bovis Lend Lease WorkingBuildings LLC The Weidt Group The Rocky
Mountain Institute
For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement
terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
constRuction v
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This edition of the reference guide builds on the work of those
who helped create previous versions:
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Bob Thompson, Chair Steve Taylor, Vice-Chair Nancy Clanton
Alexis Kurtz George Loisos Prasad Vaidya Daniel Bruck David Lubman
Charles Salter Ozgem Ornektekin Jude Anders Brian Cloward Larry
Dykhuis Francis (Bud) Offerman Christopher Schaffner Dennis
Stanke
EPA Indoor Environment Management Branch Taylor Engineering
Clanton and Associates Ove Arup &Partners Loisos+ Ubelohde The
Weidt Group BRC Acoustics & Tech. David Lubman & Associates
Salter Associates DMJM Harris Shoreline Concepts, LLC Mithun
Architects+Designers+Planners Herman Miller, Inc Indoor
Environmental Engineering The Green Engineer Trane Company
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Ann Edminster Lee Gros Theresa Hogerheide-Reusch Nadav Malin
Nancy Malone Kirsten Ritchie Wayne Trusty Denise Van Valkenburg
Gabe Wing
Design AVEnues Lee Gros Architect and Artisan, Inc Reusch Design
Services BuildingGreen, LLC. Siegel & Strain Architects Gensler
Athena Sustainable Materials Institute MASCO Retail Cabinet Group
Herman Miller, Inc.
.
leeD for Core & Shell Version 2.0 Core CommitteeJerry Lea,
Chair Christine Magar, Vice-Chair Peter Bartels Clark Bisel Gary
Gardner Art Gensler Russell Perry Joe Van Belleghem Ken Wilson
Sally Wilson Jerry Yudelson Hines Corporation Greenform Power
Construction Company, LLC Flack + Kurtz Davis Gardner Gannon Pope
Architecture Gensler SmithGroup BuildGreen Developments, Inc.
Envision Design CB Richard Ellis Greenway Consulting Group, LLC
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terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.vi LEED
REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD constRuction 2009
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A special thanks to USGBC staff for their invaluable efforts in
developing this LEED Reference Guide especially Sonia Punjabi for
her technical expertise and extraordinary commitment, Lauren Riggs
for her dedication and hard work, and Brendan Owens and Peter
Templeton for their vision and guidance.
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Robert Kobet, Chair Jyoti Sharma, Vice-Chair Anja Caldwell
Gregory Churchill Charles Eley Deane Evans, NJIT William Orr Larry
Schoff Katrina Shum-Miller Timothy Sisson Brenda Stokes
Sustainaissance International Wake County Public Schools
Montgomery County Public Schools Oregon State Energy Office
Architectural Energy Corporation Center for Architecture and
Building Science Research California Integrated Waste Management
Board Energy Efficient Solutions Green Building Services York
International Bibb County Public Schools
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preface introductioni. Why Make Your Building Green? ii. LEED
Green Building Rating system iii. overview and Process iV.
LEED-online Documentation Requirements V. certification application
Vi. certification strategy Viii. Regional Priority X. tools for
Registered Projects Vii. Exemplary Performance strategies iX. core
& shell appendixes
i xixi xiii xviii xviii
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Prerequisite 2 credit 1 credit 2 credit 3 credit 4.1 credit 4.2
credit 4.3 credit 4.4 credit 5.1 credit 5.2 credit 6.1 credit 6.2
credit 7.1 credit 7.2 credit 9 credit 10 credit 8 credit 9
* Environmental site assessment
(B
Prerequisite 1
construction activity Pollution Prevention site selection
Brownfield Redevelopment
10
Sustainable Sites (SS)by
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Xi. How to use this Reference Guide
).
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Development Density and community connectivity
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Heat island EffectRoof Light Pollution Reduction
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Heat island Effectnonroof
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stormwater DesignQuality control
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stormwater DesignQuantity control
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site DevelopmentMaximize open space
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site DevelopmentProtect or Restore Habitat
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alternative transportationParking capacity
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alternative transportationLow-Emitting and fuel-Efficient
Vehicles
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alternative transportationBicycle storage and changing Rooms
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alternative transportationPublic transportation access
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water efficiency (we)Prerequisite 1 credit 1 credit 2 Water use
Reduction Water-Efficient Landscaping innovative Wastewater
technologies
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* tenant Design and construction Guidelines * site Master Plan *
Joint use of facilities
on
161165 179 193
*credit not applicable to all Rating systems, please refer to
the credit for more details.
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terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
constRuction vii
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xx xxii xxii
15 11 17 23 35 41 49 61 71 77 85 91
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credit 3 credit 4
Water use Reduction * Process Water use Reduction
203 207
energy and atmosphere (ea)Prerequisite 1 Prerequisite 2
Prerequisite 3 credit 1 credit 2 credit 3 credit 4 credit 5 credit
5.1 credit 5.2 credit 6 fundamental commissioning of Building
Energy systems Minimum Energy Performance fundamental Refrigerant
Management optimize Energy Performance Enhanced commissioning
Enhanced Refrigerant Management * Measurement and Verification *
Measurement and Verificationtenant submetering * Measurement and
VerificationBase Building Green Power on-site Renewable Energy
213217 237 251 257 289 299 305 315 316 317 325
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credit 4.1 credit 4.2 credit 4.3 credit 4.4 credit 4.5 credit
4.6 credit 5 credit 6.1 credit 6/6.2 credit 7/7.1
on
credit 3.2
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Prerequisite 3
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* Minimum acoustical Performance outdoor air Delivery Monitoring
increased Ventilation construction indoor air Quality Management
PlanDuring construction * construction indoor air Quality
Management PlanBefore occupancy Low-Emitting Materialsadhesives and
sealants Low-Emitting MaterialsPaints and coatings Low-Emitting
Materialsflooring systems Low-Emitting Materialscomposite Wood and
agrifiber Products * Low-Emitting Materialsfurniture and
furnishings * Low-Emitting Materialsceiling and Wall systems indoor
chemical and Pollutant source control * controllability of
systemsLighting controllability of systemsthermal comfort thermal
comfortDesign
e
Prerequisite 2
Environmental tobacco smoke (Ets) control
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Prerequisite 1
Minimum indoor air Quality Performance
or
indoor environmental Quality (ieQ)s
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credit 6/7
certified Wood
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credit 6
Rapidly Renewable Materials
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credit 5
Regional Materials
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credit 4
Recycled content
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credit 3
Materials Reuse
(B
credit 2
construction Waste Management
10
credit 1.2
* Building ReuseMaintain interior nonstructural Elements
30
credit 1/1.1
Building ReuseMaintain Existing Walls, floors, and Roof
44
Prerequisite 1
storage and collection of Recyclables
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335339 347 351 357 363 369 379 387 393
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*credit not applicable to all Rating systems, please refer to
the credit for more details.
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credit 7.2 credit 8.1 credit 8.2 credit 9 credit 10
* thermal comfortVerification Daylight and ViewsDaylight
Daylight and ViewsViews * Enhanced acoustical Performance * Mold
Prevention
543 549 565 575 583
innovation in Design (iD)credit 1 credit 2 credit 3 innovation
in Design LEED accredited Professional *the school as a teaching
tool
591593 601
Core & Shell appendixesayappendix 2. core & shell Energy
Modeling Guidelines
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appendix 1. Default occupancy counts appendix 3. LEED for core
& shell Project scope appendix 4. tenant Lease or sales
agreement appendix 5. LEED for core & shell Precertification
Guidance
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*credit not applicable to all Rating systems, please refer to
the credit for more details.
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EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
constRuction ix
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Platinum
80 points and above
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Gold
6079 points
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silver
5059 points
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certified
4049 points
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100 base points; 6 possible innovation in Design and 4 Regional
Priority points
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Schoolstt
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Regional Priority
609
611611 615 617 619 621
623
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regional priority (rp)
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REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD constRuction 2009
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i. why Make yoUr BUilDinG Green?The environmental impact of the
building design, construction, and operations industry is enormous.
Buildings annually consume more than 30% of the total energy and
more than 60% of the electricity used in the United States. In
2006, the commercial building sector produced more than 1 billion
metric tons of carbon dioxide, an increase of more than 30% over
1990 levels.1 Each day 5 billion gallons of potable water are used
solely to flush toilets. A typical North American commercial
building generates about 1.6 pounds of solid waste per employee per
day2; in a building with 1,500 employees, that can amount to 300
tons of waste per year. Development alters land from natural,
biologically diverse habitats to hardscape that is impervious and
devoid of biodiversity. The farreaching influence of the built
environment necessitates action to reduce its impact. Green
building practices can substantially reduce or eliminate negative
environmental impacts through high-performance, market-leading
design, construction, and operations practices. As an added
benefit, green operations and management reduce operating costs,
enhance building marketability, increase workers productivity, and
reduce potential liability resulting from indoor air quality
problems. Examples abound. Energy efficiency measures have reduced
operating expenses of the Denver Dry Goods building by
approximately $75,000 per year. Students in day-lit schools in
North Carolina consistently score higher on tests than students in
schools using conventional lighting fixtures. Studies of workers in
green buildings reported productivity gains of up to 16%, including
less absenteeism and higher work quality, based on people-friendly
green design. Karges Faulconbridge, Inc., renovated a former
grocery store for its new headquarters and diverted 88% of the
construction waste from landfills through reuse or recycling. The
largest high-rise real estate project in Sacramento, the Joe Serna
Jr. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters Building
(Cal/EPA), was able to save $610,000 a year by implementing energy
efficiency measures, making it 34% more energy efficient than
required by Californias 1998 energy code. In short, green design,
construction, and operations have environmental, economic, and
social elements that benefit all building stakeholders, including
owners, occupants, and the general public.
Following the formation of the U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC) in 1993, the organizations members quickly realized that
the sustainable building industry needed a system to define and
measure green buildings. USGBC began to research existing green
building metrics and rating systems. Less than a year after
formation, the members acted on the initial findings by
establishing a committee to focus solely on this topic. The
composition of the committee was diverse; it included architects,
real estate agents, a building owner, a lawyer, an
environmentalist, and industry representatives. This cross section
of people and professions added a richness and depth both to the
process and to the ultimate product. The first LEED Pilot Project
Program, also referred to as LEED Version 1.0, was launched at the
USGBC Membership Summit in August 1998. After extensive
modifications, LEED Green Building
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Rating System Version 2.0 was released in March 2000, with LEED
Version 2.1 following in 2002 and LEED Version 2.2 following in
2005. As LEED has evolved and matured, the program has undertaken
new initiatives. In addition to a rating system specifically
devoted to building operational and maintenance issues (LEED for
Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance), LEED addresses
the different project development and delivery processes that exist
in the U.S. building design and construction market, through rating
systems for specific building typologies, sectors, and project
scopes: LEED for Core & Shell, LEED for New Construction, LEED
for Schools, LEED for Neighborhood Development, LEED for Retail,
LEED for Healthcare, LEED for Homes, and LEED for Commercial
Interiors. Project teams interact with the Green Building
Certification Institute (GBCI) for project registration and
certification. GBCI was established in 2008 as a separately
incorporated entity with the support of the U.S. Green Building
Council. GBCI administers credentialing and certification programs
related to green building practice. These programs support the
application of proven strategies for increasing and measuring the
performance of buildings and communities as defined by industry
systems such as LEED. The green building field is growing and
changing daily. New technologies and products are being introduced
into the marketplace, and innovative designs and practices are
proving their effectiveness. The LEED rating systems and reference
guides will evolve as well. Project teams must comply with the
version of the rating system that is current at the time of their
registration.
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The LEED rating systems are designed for rating new and existing
commercial, institutional, and residential buildings. They are
based on accepted energy and environmental principles and strike a
balance between known, established practices and emerging concepts.
Each rating system is organized into 5 environmental categories:
Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere,
Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. An
additional category, Innovation in Design, addresses sustainable
building expertise as well as design measures not covered under the
5 environmental categories. Regional bonus points are another
feature of LEED and acknowledge the importance of local conditions
in determining best environmental design and construction
practices.
the leeD Credit weightingsIn LEED 2009, the allocation of points
between credits is based on the potential environmental impacts and
human benefits of each credit with respect to a set of impact
categories. The impacts are defined as the environmental or human
effect of the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of
the building, such as greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel use,
toxins and carcinogens, air and water pollutants, indoor
environmental conditions. A combination of approaches, including
energy modeling, life-cycle assessment, and transportation
analysis, is used to quantify each type of impact. The resulting
allocation of points among credits is called credit weighting. LEED
2009 uses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys TRACI3
environmental impact categories as the basis for weighting each
credit. TRACI was developed to assist with impact evaluation for
life-cycle assessment, industrial ecology, process design, and
pollution prevention.
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The LEED Green Building Rating Systems are voluntary,
consensus-based, and market-driven. Based on existing and proven
technology, they evaluate environmental performance from a
wholebuilding perspective over a buildings life cycle, providing a
definitive standard for what constitutes a green building in
design, construction, and operation.
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LEED 2009 also takes into consideration the weightings developed
by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); these
compare impact categories with one another and assign a relative
weight to each. Together, the 2 approaches provide a solid
foundation for determining the point value of each credit in LEED
2009. The LEED 2009 credit weightings process is based on the
following parameters, which maintain consistency and usability
across rating systems:n n n
All LEED credits are worth a minimum of 1 point. All LEED
credits receive a single, static weight in each rating system;
there are no individualized scorecards based on project location.
All LEED rating systems have 100 base points; Innovation in Design
(or Operations) and Regional Priority credits provide opportunities
for up to 10 bonus points.
Each credit is allocated points based on the relative importance
of the building-related impacts that it addresses. The result is a
weighted average that combines building impacts and the relative
value of the impact categories. Credits that most directly address
the most important impacts are given the greatest weight, subject
to the system design parameters described above. Credit weights
also reflect a decision by LEED to recognize the market
implications of point allocation. The result is a significant
change in allocation of points compared with previous LEED rating
systems. Overall, the changes increase the relative emphasis on the
reduction of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions
associated with building systems, transportation, the embodied
energy of water, the embodied energy of materials, and where
applicable, solid waste. The details of the weightings process vary
slightly among individual rating systems. For example, LEED for
Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance includes credits
related to solid waste management but LEED for New Construction
does not. This results in a difference in the portion of the
environmental footprint addressed by each rating system and the
relative allocation of points. The weightings process for each
rating system is fully documented in a weightings workbook. The
credit weightings process will be reevaluated over time to
incorporate changes in values ascribed to different building
impacts and building types, based on both market reality and
evolving scientific knowledge related to buildings. A complete
explanation of the LEED credit weightings system is available on
the USGBC website, at www.usgbc.org.
iii. oVerView anD proCeSSThe LEED Green Building Rating Systems
for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools are a set of
performance standards for certifying the design and construction of
commercial or institutional buildings and high-rise residential
buildings of all sizes, both public and private. The intent is to
promote healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound
practices in building design and construction.For personal use only
and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP 10303644).
May NOT be copied or distributed.2009 EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE
foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD constRuction xiii
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3. Data that quantify building impacts on environmental and
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2. The relative importance of building impacts in each category
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1. A reference building is used to estimate the environmental
impacts in 13 categories associated with a typical building
pursuing LEED certification.
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Given the above criteria, the LEED 2009 credit weightings
process involves 3 steps:
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All LEED credits are positive, whole numbers; there are no
fractions or negative values.
.
Prerequisites and credits in the LEED Green Building Rating
Systems address 7 topics:n n n n n n n
Sustainable Sites (SS) Water Efficiency (WE) Energy and
Atmosphere (EA) Materials and Resources (MR) Indoor Environmental
Quality (IEQ) Regional Priority (RP) Innovation in Design (ID)
Minimum program requirementsN O T
LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction
activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing
buildings. A major renovation involves major HVAC renovation,
significant envelope modifications, and major interior
rehabilitation. For a major renovation of an existing building,
LEED for New Construction is the appropriate rating system. If the
project scope does not involve significant design and construction
activities and focuses more on operations and maintenance
activities, LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations &
Maintenance is more appropriate because it addresses operational
and maintenance issues of working buildings. Some projects are
designed and constructed to be partially occupied by the owner or
developer, and partially occupied by other tenants. In such
projects, the owner or developer has direct influence over the
portion of the work that they occupy. For such a project to pursue
LEED for New Construction certification, the owner or tenant must
occupy more than 50% of the buildings leasable square footage.
Projects in which 50% or less of the buildings leasable square
footage is occupied by an owner should pursue LEED for Core &
Shell certification.
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LEED for New Construction was designed primarily for new
commercial office buildings, but it has been applied to many other
building types by LEED practitioners. All commercial buildings, as
defined by standard building codes, are eligible for certification
as LEED for New Construction buildings. Examples of commercial
occupancies include offices, institutional buildings (libraries,
museums, churches, etc.), hotels, and residential buildings of 4 or
more habitable stories.
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The Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) reserves the
right to revoke LEED certification from any LEED 2009 project upon
gaining knowledge of non-compliance with any applicable MPRs. If
such a circumstance occurs, no registration or certification fees
paid to GBCI will be refunded.
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A project must adhere to LEEDs Minimum Program Requirements
(MPRs), or possess minimum characteristics in order to be eligible
for certification under LEED 2009. These requirements define the
categories of buildings that the LEED rating systems were designed
to evaluate, and taken together serve three goals: (1) give clear
guidance to customers, (2) protect the integrity of the LEED
program, and (3) reduce challenges that occur during the LEED
certification process. The MPRs will evolve over time in tandem
with the LEED rating systems. In order to be eligible for
certification under any LEED 2009 Rating System, projects must
comply with each associated MPR. The MPRs can be found in the LEED
2009 Rating Systems. In addition, definitions and more extensive
guidance on certain issues are provided in a separate document,
titled Supplemental Guidance, available on the USGBC website.
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LEED prerequisites and credits have identical structures; see
Section XI of this Introduction.
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when to Use leeD for Core & ShellThe LEED for Core &
Shell Rating System is a market-specific application that
recognizes the unique nature of core and shell development. The
LEED for Core & Shell Rating System acknowledges the limited
level of influence a developer can exert in a speculatively
developed building. LEED for Core & Shell was developed to
serve the speculative development market, in which project teams do
not control all scopes of a whole buildings design and
construction. Depending on how the project is structured, this
scope can vary significantly from project to project. The LEED for
Core & Shell Rating System addresses a variety of project types
and a broad project range. LEED for Core & Shell can be used
for projects in which the developer controls the design and
construction of the entire core and shell base building (e.g.,
mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection systems) but
has no control over the design and construction of the tenant
fit-out. Examples of this type of project can be a commercial
office building, medical office building, retail center, warehouse,
and lab facility. If a project is designed and constructed to be
partially occupied by the owner or developer,then the owner or
developer has direct influence over that portion of the interior
build-out work. For these projects to pursue LEED for Core &
Shell certification, the owner must occupy 50% or less of the
buildings leasable square footage. Projects in which more than 50%
of the buildings tenant space is occupied by a owner should pursue
LEED for New Construction certification. Because of the nature of
the core and shell project type and scope, LEED for Core &
Shell certification has some unique aspects. Further guidance on
these can be found in the appendixes to the Reference Guide.
Project teams should review these appendixes for guidance.
core & shell appendix 5 LEED for core & shell
Precertification Guidance n Precertification, signifying the
developers commitment to achieving full certification upon
completion of construction, enables a Core & Shell project to
market the advantages of a green building to potential tenants.
when to Use leeD for SchoolsLEED for Schools addresses design
and construction activities for both new school buildings and major
renovations of existing school buildings.
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For more information about the Core & Shell appendixes, see
Section IX of this Introduction.
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core & shell appendix 4 tenant Lease or sales agreement n
The LEED for Core & Shell Rating System allows developers to
achieve compliance with the requirements for certain credits
through a binding tenant lease or sales agreement.
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core & shell appendix 3 core & shell Project scope n
This checklist is to be provided to GBCI for certification and
precertification, and is intended to show what portions of the work
is within the developers control.
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core & shell appendix 2 core & shell Energy Modeling
Guidelines n Guidance is provided on how to model building systems
that are beyond the developers scope of work.
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core & shell appendix 1 Default occupancy counts n Guidance
is provided for Core & Shell projects, which typically do not
know what the actual building occupancy, for how for determining
FTE and transient occupants.
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LEED for Schools must be used for the construction or major
renovation of an academic building on K12 school grounds. Other
projects on a school campus may qualify under 2 or more LEED rating
system project scopes; for example, nonacademic buildings on a
school campus, such as administrative offices, maintenance
facilities, or dormitories, are eligible for either LEED for New
Construction and LEED for Schools. Projects involving postsecondary
academic buildings or prekindergarten buildings may also choose to
use either LEED for New Construction or LEED for Schools. If the
project scope does not involve significant design and construction
activities and focuses more on operations and maintenance
activities, LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M is the appropriate
rating system. Many projects neatly fit the defined scope of only 1
LEED rating system; others may be eligible for 2 or more. The
project is a viable candidate for LEED certification if it can meet
all prerequisites and achieve the minimum points required in a
given rating system. If more than 1 rating system applies, the
project team can decide which to pursue. For assistance in choosing
the most appropriate LEED rating system, please e-mail
[email protected].
Project teams interested in earning LEED certification for their
buildings must first register the project with GBCI. Projects can
be registered on the GBCI website (www.gbci.org). The website also
has information on registration costs for USGBC national members as
well as nonmembers. Registration is an important step that
establishes contact with GBCI and provides access to software
tools, errata, critical communications, and other essential
information.
LEED-Online also features several support capabilities. It
enables team members to view and submit credit interpretation
requests, contact customer service, generate project-specific
reports, and consult supplementary LEED resources, such as FAQs,
tutorials, offline calculators, and sample documentation.
Applicants with multiple projects will have access to reporting
tools that use data from projects across their entire LEED
portfolio. LEED certificates for successful projects are also
issued through LEED-Online.
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Credit interpretation requests and rulingsIn some cases, a LEED
project team may encounter challenges when interpreting the
requirements of a prerequisite or credit for their project, perhaps
because the reference guide does not sufficiently address a
specific issue or a conflict requires resolution. To address such
issues, a credit interpretation ruling process has been established
for each LEED rating system. See the GBCI website for more
information, at www.gbci.org.
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LEED-Online is the primary resource for managing the LEED
documentation process. From LEEDOnline, project teams can manage
project details, complete documentation requirements for LEED
credits and prerequisites, upload supporting files, submit
applications for review, receive reviewer feedback, and ultimately
earn LEED certification. LEED-Online provides a common space where
members of a project team can work together to document compliance
with the LEED rating system. All project teams pursuing LEED
certification are required to use LEED-Online and its submittal
documentation paths. LEED submittals are instrumental in
demonstrating credit compliance because they contain all the
documentation requirements for any given LEED credit. Additionally,
LEED-Online contains embedded calculators and tables to ensure that
the submittal package delivered to GBCI is complete and
accurate.
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Credit interpretation requests must be submitted online. Provide
a brief but clear description of the challenge encountered, refer
to the prerequisite or credit information found in the rating
system and reference guide, and emphasize the intent of the
prerequisite or credit. If possible, the project team should offer
potential solutions to the problem or a proposed interpretation.
Follow the detailed instructions in LEED-Online. Communications
related to credit interpretation requests will be in electronic
format.
review and CertificationTo earn LEED certification, the
applicant project must satisfy all the prerequisites and credits
worth the minimum number of points to warrant the desired project
rating under LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, or
Schools. Projects must comply with the version of the rating system
that is current in LEED-Online at the time of project
registration.
Information on certification fees can be found on the GBCI
website. GBCI will acknowledge receipt of the application and
proceed with application review when all project documentation and
payments have been received and processed. Registration fees,
appeal review fees, and any additional fees required to expedite
LEED certification are not refundable.
Green Building Certification Institute, Inc. (GBCI) implements
the LEED rating systems and carries out credentialing programs
relating to LEED. For more information on the privacy policy of
GBCI including the privacy policy on documentation submitted
through LEED-Online, refer to the Policies and Guidelines section
of the GBCI website, at www.gbci.org. Projects whose information
should be treated as confidential may select this option during
registration; project confidentiality status may be changed at any
time through LEED-Online. Please review the GBCI privacy policy for
further details.
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terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
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Fo
For more information on the privacy policy of the U.S. Green
Building Counil, Inc. (USGBC), refer to the Policies and Guidelines
section of the USGBC website, at www.usgbc.org. With the support of
its members, volunteers, and other stakeholders, USGBC is the
developer of the LEED rating systems.
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The prerequisites, credits, amendments and addenda current at
the time of project registration will continue to guide the project
throughout its certification process
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This is the first edition of the LEED Reference Guide for Green
Building Design and Construction, 2009. As building science and
technology continue to improve and evolve, updates and addenda will
be made available. USGBC cannot be held liable for any criteria set
forth herein that may not be applicable to later versions of LEED
rating systems, and GBCI reserves the right to modify its policies
from time to time. Updates and addenda will be accumulated between
revisions and will be formally incorporated in major revisions. In
the interim, between major revisions, USGBC may issue updates or
addenda to clarify criteria.
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construction phase review, or the full application review. Please
see the GBCI website for more information on appeals.
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iV. leeD-online DoCUMentation reQUireMentSAll LEED for New
Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools certification
applications must include the required LEED-Online documentation:
general documentation requirements, documentation requirements for
all prerequisites, and documentation requirements for all pursued
credits.
General requirementsLEED certification application requires the
submission of an overall project narrative with the completed
LEED-Online documentation requirements. The project narrative
describes the applicants organization, building, site, and team.
This narrative helps the LEED review team understand the major
elements of the project and building performance, and it also aids
in highlighting projects in future communications efforts. General
documentation also requires the basic details pertaining to project
site conditions, construction scope and timeline, occupant and
usage data, and project team identification. Project teams must
address all the elements in the general documentation requirements,
providing details and clarifications where appropriate, and they
may include any optional elements that are helpful in describing
the project.
Precertification is formal recognition by GBCI that the owner or
developer has established LEED for Core & Shell certification
as a goal. Precertification is unique to LEED for Core & Shell,
and projects may pursue it, or not, at their discretion. It gives
core and shell building owners and developers a marketing tool to
attract potential tenants and financiers who recognize the benefits
of a LEED-certified building. Precertification generally occurs
early in the design process and is based on declared goals and the
intent to use green strategies, systems, and/or features, not
actual achievement of these features. Once a project is registered
as a LEED Core & Shell project with GBCI, a project team that
chooses to seek precertification may complete the LEED Core &
Shell precertification documentation requirements and submit the
project for review. Because much of the value of precertification
occurs early in a projects development, the project teams
documentation and GBCIs review is necessarily less rigourous and
comprehensive than the LEED Core & Shell certification
application. Project teams must confirm that the project intends to
meet the requirements of a credit. For detailed information on Core
& Shell precertification, refer to Appendix 5. Precertificaiton
is not required for a documented and completed building, nor is it
confirmation of, or a commitment to achieve, LEED for Core &
Shell certification. Precertification is not LEED Certification.
Please see Appendix 5 for further information on LEED for Core
& Shell precertification.
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leeD for new Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools
Certification applicationTo earn LEED certification, the applicant
project must satisfy all the prerequisites and qualify for a
minimum number of points to attain the established project ratings
as listed below. Having satisfied the basic prerequisites of the
program, applicant projects are then rated according to their
degree of compliance within the rating system.
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The LEED 2009 rating systems do not allow credit substitution
using another version. Currently registered LEED projects that want
to use LEED 2009 credits need to switch to the new version in
entirety. USGBC expects that most projects will find this switch
feasible and advantageous.
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After registration, the project design team should begin to
collect information and perform calculations to satisfy the
prerequisite and credit documentation requirements. Because
documentation should be gathered throughout design and
construction, it is helpful to designate a LEED team leader who
will be responsible for managing its compilation. LEED for New
Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools provides the option of
splitting a certification application into two phases: design and
construction. Documentation for design phase credits, identified in
LEED-Online, can be submitted for review at the end of the design
phase; the submittals for these credits can be fully evaluated
based on documentation available during this phase of the project.
For example, if a project site meets the requirements of LEED for
New Construction SS Credit 3, Brownfield Redevelopment, the
likelihood of credit achievement can be assessed before
construction is complete. The LEED credit itself, however, is not
awarded at the design review stage.
certified Gold
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silver Platinum
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GBCI recognizes buildings that achieve 1 of these rating levels
with a formal letter of certification.
Vi. CertiFiCation StrateGytimeline and project Design
phasesProject teams should study the principles and objectives of
LEED as early in the site selection and design process as possible.
The project design phases mentioned throughout this reference
guide
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5059 points 6079 points 80 points and above
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LEED for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools
certifications are awarded according to the following scale:
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Project teams should refer to LEED-Online and the rating system
scorecards to get information on credits that can be submitted for
design phase review and credits that must be submitted for
construction phase review.
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At the completion of construction, the project team submits all
attempted credits for review, including any newly attempted design
credits. If the project team has had a design phase review and any
of the design phase anticipated credits have since changed,
additional documentation must be submitted to substantiate
continued compliance with credit requirements. Upon receipt of the
full certification application and fee, a final review will be
conducted. All applicant-verified design phase credits that were
designated as anticipated and have not changed since the design
phase review will be declared as awarded. All other credits will be
designated as either awarded or denied.
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Construction phase review
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Each project is allotted a design phase review that consists of
a preliminary design phase review and a final design phase
review.GBCI formally rules on the design phase application by
designating each attempted credit as either anticipated or denied.
Participating in a design phase review does not guarantee award of
any credit and will not result in LEED certification. This process
enables project teams to assess the likelihood of credit
achievement and requires follow-through to ensure the design is
executed in the construction phase according to design
specifications.
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correspond to the architectural design and planning steps
commonly used in the construction industry: 1. Predesign entails
gathering information, recognizing stakeholder needs, and
establishing project goals. 2. Schematic design explores several
design options and alternatives, with the intent to establish an
agreed-upon project layout and scope of work. 3. Design development
begins the process of spatial refinement and usually involves the
first design of a projects energy systems. 4. Construction
documents carry the design into the level of details for all spaces
and systems and materials so that construction can take place. 6.
Substantial completion is a contractual benchmark that usually
corresponds to the point at which a client could occupy a nearly
completed space. 8. Certificate of occupancy is the official
recognition by a local building department that a building conforms
to applicable building and safety codes.
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The LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and
Construction contains information on operations and maintenance to
help project teams streamline green O&M practices once the LEED
design and construction project has been completed. Although not
required as part of the LEED certification process, upfront
planning for green operations and maintenance can help building
owners, operators, and maintenance staff ensure that the building
continues to operate in a sustainable manner.
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Vii. exeMplary perForManCe StrateGieSExemplary performance
strategies result in performance that greatly exceeds the
performance level or expands the scope required by an existing LEED
for New Construction, Core & Shell, or Schools credit. To earn
exemplary performance credits, teams must meet the performance
level defined by the next step in the threshold progression. For
credits with more than 1 compliance path, an Innovation in Design
point can be earned by satisfying more than 1 compliance path if
their benefits are additive. See the Innovation in Design credit
section for further details.
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operations and Maintenance in leeD for new Construction, Core
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Several kinds of project information are required for consistent
LEED documentation across various credits. Pay special attention to
overlapping project data; doing so will help the application and
review process go smoothly.
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When pursuing LEED certification, it is important to consider
how credits are interconnected and how their synergies and
trade-offs will ultimately affect both the project and the other
credits the team may consider pursuing. Consult the Related Credits
section of each prerequisite and credit to help inform design and
construction decisions leading to certification.
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The credits for which exemplary performance points are available
through expanded performance are noted throughout this reference
guide and in LEED-Online by the logo shown below.
The list for exemplary performance points available is as
follows:ss credit 2 ss credit 4 ss credit 5 ss credit 6 ss credit 7
ss credit 10 Development Density and community connectivity site
Development Heat island Effect
energy and atmosphereerEa credit 2 Ea credit 3 Ea credit 6
on-site Renewable Energy
iEQ credit 10
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iEQ credit 9
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indoor environmental Qualityseconstruction indoor air Quality
Management Plan (core & shell only) Daylight and Views Enhanced
acoustical Performance (schools only) Mold Prevention (schools
only)
Viii. reGional priorityTo provide incentive to address
geographically specific environmental issues, USGBC regional
councils and chapters have identified 6 credits per rating system
that are of particular importance to specific areas. Each Regional
Priority credit is worth an additional 1 point, and a total of 4
additional points may be earned by achieving Regional Priority
credits, with 1 point earned per credit. Upon project registration,
LEED-Online automatically determines a projects Regional Priority
creditsFor personal use only and subject to the sales order
agreement terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or
distributed.2009 EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG
DEsiGn anD constRuction xxi
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certified Wood (core & shell, MR credit 6)
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Rapidly Renewable Materials (new construction and schools
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Regional Materials
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Recycled content
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Materials Reuse
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construction Waste Management
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Building Reuse: Maintain Existing Walls, floors, and Roof (core
& shell only)
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innovative Wastewater technologies
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Sustainable Sites
Exemplary performance option 2
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based on its zip code. If the project achieves more than 4
Regional Priority credits, the team can choose the credits for
which these points will apply. The USGBC website also contains a
searchable database of Regional Priority credits.
ix. Core & Shell appenDixeSappendix 1 Default Occupancy
Counts: presents default occupancy counts for Core & Shell
projects. Because of the nature of core and shell development, the
project team may not know the tenant makeup and occupancy during
the buildings design phase. For some credits, the team will need to
refer to the default occupancy count table to determine credit
compliance. The occupancy counts must be consistent across all
credits. appendix 2 Core & Shell Energy Modeling Guidelines:
gives guidelines for Core & Shell energy modeling. These
guidelines are intended to ensure that projects in different
markets approach the energy modeling requirements in a similar
manner and to establish a minimum benchmark for energy
optimization. Consult this appendix when modeling both the designed
core and shell spaces and the tenant spaces that are not part of
the project design and construction scope. appendix 3 Core &
Shell Project Scope Checklist: contains a checklist for tenant
interiors to help Core & Shell teams define the owner-tenant
division in the project design and certification and
precertification review process. appendix 4 Tenant Lease or Sales
Agreement: offers a way for Core & Shell projects to earn
points by making credit requirements part of a binding sales
agreement or tenant lease. This expands the area of project owner
and design team control from design and construction to tenant
sales and lease agreement negotiation, and is designed to give Core
& Shell projects with a limited scope of work the ability to
achieve credits that would otherwise be beyond their control, by
committing the tenant(s) to green building practices in the tenants
scope of work. appendix 5 LEED for Core & Shell
Precertification Guidance: explains how Core & Shell project
teams can earn precertification by making a commitment to comply
with the requirements for full certification. Precertification can
help attract financing and enhance a buildings appeal to potential
tenant.
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x. toolS For reGiStereD projeCtSLEED offers additional resources
for LEED project teams on the USGBC website, at www.usgbc.
org/projecttools. The Registered Projects Tools website provides
resources for starting the project, including rating system errata,
documentation requirements, and referenced industry standards. Also
consult the website for the following: Declarant definitions and
other definitions. This resource describes the team members who are
required to sign off on certain documentation requirements and
indicates the prerequisites and credits for which each team member
is responsible. The required declarant is noted in the
corresponding credit documentation section of LEED-Online.
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Licensed Professional Exemption Form. The Licensed Professional
Exemption Form can be used by a project teams registered
professional engineer, registered architect, or registered
landscape architect as a streamlined path to certain credits,
bypassing otherwise-required submittals. This form is used in
conjunction with the declarations in LEED-Online to document any
exemptions. The form is required for any eligible submittal
requirements the project team wishes to waive; the exemption is
invalid without a properly executed Licensed Professional Exemption
Form. Licensed Professional Exemptions are noted in the
corresponding credit documentation section of LEEDOnline.
Agree to conduct a thermal comfort survey of building occupants
(adults and students of grades 6 and above) within 6 to 18 months
after occupancy. This survey should collect anonymous responses
about thermal comfort in the building, including an assessment of
overall satisfaction with thermal performance and identification of
thermal comfort problems. Agree to develop a plan for corrective
action if the survey results indicate that more than 20% of
occupants are dissatisfied with thermal comfort in the building.
This plan should include measurement of relevant environmental
variables in problem areas in accordance with ASHRAE Standard
55-2004 (with errata but without addenda).
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Achieve IEQ Credit 7.1: Thermal ComfortDesignnew construction
and schools requirements
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Provide a permanent monitoring system to ensure that building
performance meets the desired comfort criteria as determined by IEQ
Credit 7.1: Thermal Comfort Design. Residential projects are not
eligible for this credit.
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In instances where a particular Rating system has a unique
intent and/or requirements, the layout of the rating system pages
will highlight the intent or requirements. The following is an
example of where certain New Construction and Schools requirements
are identical (i.e., NC & Schools), but where there are
additional New Construction-specific requirements (i.e., NC:
Additional Requirement):
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The rating system, published in its entirety on the USGBC
website, is imbedded in this reference guide. Each prerequisite and
credit discussion begins with a gray page that mirrors the rating
systems Intent and Requirements. This Reference guide addresses the
Intents and Requirements for the following Rating Systems: LEED
2009 for New Construction, LEED 2009 for Core & Shell and LEED
2009 for Schools.
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The LEED for Green Building Design and Construction Reference
Guide is a supporting document to the LEED for New Construction,
Core & Shell, and Schools rating systems. The guide helps
project teams understand the criteria, the reasons behind them,
strategies for implementation, and documentation requirements. It
includes examples of strategies that can be used in each category,
case studies of buildings that have implemented these strategies
successfully, and additional resources. It does not provide an
exhaustive list of strategies for meeting the criteria or all the
information that a project team needs to determine the
applicability of a credit to the project.
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prerequisite and Credit FormatEach prerequisite or credit is
organized in a standardized format for simplicity and quick
reference. The first section summarizes the main points regarding
the green measure and includes the intent, requirements, required
submittals for certification, and a summary of any referenced
industry standard. Subsequent sections provide supporting
information to help interpret the measure and offer links to
resources and examples. The sections for each credit are described
in the following paragraphs. Intent identifies the main
sustainability goal or benefit of the prerequisite or credit.
Requirements specifies the criteria that satisfy the prerequisite
or credit and the number of points available. The prerequisites
must be achieved; the credits are optional, but each contributes to
the overall project score. Some credits have 2 or more paths with
cumulative points. Other credits have several options from which
the project team must choose. For example, Energy & Atmosphere
Credit 1, Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance, has 3 options,
but a project can apply for only 1, depending on the type of
building. Benefits and Issues to Consider addresses the
environmental benefits of the activity encouraged by the
prerequisite or credit, and economic considerations related to
first costs, life-cycle costs, and estimated savings. Related
Credits acknowledges the trade-offs and synergies within the LEED
rating system credit categories. Achieving a particular credit may
make it worthwhile and comparatively easy to pursue related
credits; the converse is also possible. The Summary of Referenced
Standards, where applicable, introduces the required standards used
to measure achievement of the credit intent. Teams are strongly
encouraged to review the full standard and not rely on the summary.
Implementation discusses specific methods or assemblies that
facilitate achievement of the requirements. Timeline and Team
guides the project team by identifying who should lead an effort
and when the tasks should begin. Calculations offers sample
formulas or computations that determine achievement of a particular
prerequisite or credit. Most calculations are facilitated in
LEED-Online. The Documentation Guidance section provides the first
steps in preparing to complete the LEEDOnline documentation
requirements. Exemplary Performance, if applicable, details the
level of performance needed for the award of points in addition to
those for credit achievement. Regional Variations outlines concerns
specific to the geographic location of the building. Resources
offers suggestions for further research and provide examples or
illustrations, detailed technical information, or other information
relevant to the prerequisite or credit. The resources include
websites, online materials, and printed books and articles that can
be obtained directly from the organizations listed. Definitions
clarifies the meaning of certain terms relevant to the prerequisite
or credit. These may be general terms or terms specific to LEED for
New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools. A complete
glossary is found at the end of this reference guide. Throughout
these sections, the rating system specific information is called
out by enclosing the information in a gray box; the relevant rating
systems are identified by NC (New Construction), CSFor personal use
only and subject to the sales order agreement terms by (BP
10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.xxiv LEED REfEREncE
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Examples illustrates strategies for credit achievement.
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(Core & Shell) or Schools as printed in the top left corner
of the gray box. Similarly, rating system specific intents and
requirements are identified in the Rating System Pages. This method
provides clarity to the credit discussions and provides the
relevant information needed for different project types where
necessary.
For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement
terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
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Endnotes 1 Energy Information Administration. Emissions of
Greenhouse Gas Report. Report DOE/ EIA-0573(2006). Released 28
November 2007. http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/carbon.
html#commercial 2 Office of the Federal Environmental Executive.
Last modified 24 April 2008. 3 Tools for the Reduction and
Assessment of Chemical and Other Environmental Impacts (TRACI).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and
Development. http:// www.epa.gov/nrmrl/std/sab/traci/. 4 Relative
impact category weights based on an exercise undertaken by NIST
(National Institute of Standards and Technology) for the BEES
program. http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae/software/ bees/.
).
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SS oVerViewoverviewThe selection and development of a buildings
site are fundamental components of sustainable building practices.
Environmental damage caused by construction may take years of work
to remedy. The Sustainable Sites credit section addresses
environmental concerns related to building landscape, hardscape,
and exterior building issues. The LEED Sustainable Sites credits
for New Construction, Core & Shell, and Schools promote the
following measures:
Planting sustainable Landscapes Conventional plant designs and
landscape maintenance practices often require irrigation and
chemicals. Sustainable practices minimize the use of irrigation,
fertilizers, and pesticides and can prevent soil erosion and
sedimentation. Erosion from precipitation and wind causes
degradation of property as well as sedimentation of local water
bodiesand building sites can be major sources of sediment. Loss of
nutrients, soil compaction, and decreased biodiversity of soil
organisms can severely limit the vitality of landscaping.
Sedimentation caused by erosion increases turbidity levels, which
degrades aquatic habitats, and the buildup of sediments in stream
channels can lessen flow capacity, increasing the possibility of
flooding. Sustainable landscaping involves using or restoring
native and adapted plants, which require less maintenance and
irrigation and fewer or no applications of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides compared with most introduced species. Sustainable
landscaping thus reduces maintenance costs over the life of the
building.
For personal use only and subject to the sales order agreement
terms by (BP 10303644). May NOT be copied or distributed.2009
EDition LEED REfEREncE GuiDE foR GREEn BuiLDinG DEsiGn anD
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Reducing Emissions associated with transportation Environmental
concerns related to buildings include vehicle emissions and the
need for vehicle infrastructure as building occupants travel to and
from the site. Emissions contribute to climate change, smog, acid
rain, and other air quality problems. Parking areas, roadways, and
building surfaces increase stormwater runoff and contribute to the
urban heat island effect. In 2006, 76% of commuters in America ages
16 and older drove to work alone. Of the remaining 24% who used
alternative means of transportation (including working from home),
only 5% used public transportation and 11% carpooled.1 Locating the
project near residential areas, providing occupants with cycle
racks, changing facilities, preferred parking, and access to mass
transit and alternativefuel fueling stations can encourage use of
alternative forms of transportation. Promoting mass transit reduces
the energy required for transportation as well as the space needed
for parking lots, which encroach on green space.
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selecting and Developing the site Wisely Buildings affect
ecosystems in a variety of ways. Development of a greenfield, or
previously undeveloped site, consumes land. Development projects
may also encroach on agricultural lands and wetlands or water
bodies and compromise existing wildlife habitats. Choosing a
previously developed site or even a damaged site that can be
remediated reduces pressure on undeveloped land. Developing a
master plan for the project site helps engrain environmental
considerations as adaptations or expansions of site facilities
occur over time. Planning for joint use of facilities integrates
the project into the surrounding community and conserves material
and land resources though optimized use of infrastructure.
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SS oVerView
Protecting surrounding Habitats Development of building sites
can encroach on agricultural lands and adversely affect wildlife
habitat. As animals are displaced by development, they become
crowded into increasingly smaller spaces, and eventually the
population exceeds the carrying capacity of the area. Overall
biodiversity, as well as individual plant and animal species, may
be threatened. Preserving and restoring native and adapted
vegetation and other ecological features on the site provide
wildlife habitat. Managing stormwater Runoff As areas are developed
and urbanized, surface permeability is reduced, which in turn
increases the runoff transported via pipes and sewers to streams,
rivers, lakes, bays, and oceans. Impervious surfaces on the site
may cause stormwater runoff that harms water quality, aquatic life,
and recreation opportunities in receiving waters. For instance,
parking areas contribute to stormwater runoff that is contaminated
with oil, fuel, lubricants, combustion by-products, material from
tire wear, and deicing salts. Runoff accelerates the flow rate of
waterways, increasing erosion, altering aquatic habitat, and
causing erosion downstream. Effective strategies exist to control,
reduce, and treat stormwater runoff before it leaves the project
site. Reducing the Heat island Effect The use of dark,
nonreflective surfaces for parking areas, roofs, walkways, and
o