LEEDhttp://new.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/

Selection

Guidance

LEED Green Building Rating SystemsRating systems are groups of requirements for projects that want to achieve LEED certification. Each group is geared towards the unique needs of a project or building type.LEED is flexible enough to apply to all project types including healthcare facilities, schools, homes and even entire neighborhoods. The Rating System Selection Guidance will help you determine which specific rating system is right for your project.

Projects earn points to satisfy green building requirementsWithin each of the LEED credit categories, projects must satisfy prerequisites and earn points. The number of points the project earns determines its level of LEED certification.

Main credit categories

Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources.

Water efficiency credits promote smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable water consumption.

Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance through innovative strategies.

Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste.

Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.

Additional LEED for Neighborhood Development credit categories

Smart location & linkage credits promote walk able neighborhoods with efficient transportation options and open space.

Neighborhood pattern & design credits emphasize compact, walk able, vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods with good connections to nearby communities.

Green infrastructure & buildings credits reduce the environmental consequences of the construction and operation of buildings and infrastructure.

Additional LEED for Homes credit categories

Location & linkage credits encourage construction on previously developed or infill sites and promotes walk able neighborhoods with access to efficient transportation options and open space.

Awareness & education credits encourage home builders and real estate professionals to provide homeowners, tenants and building managers with the education and tools they need to understand and make the most of the green building features of their home.

Two bonus credit categories

Innovation in design or innovation in operations credits address sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered under the five LEED credit categories. Six bonus points are available in this category.

Regional priority credits address regional environmental priorities for buildings in different geographic regions. Four bonus points are available in this category.

New Construction & Major RenovationsLEED for New Construction & Major Renovations takes an integrative approach to producing buildings that are

designed to be efficient and have a lower impact on their environment.LEED (for New Construction) v1.0 was released in 2000 as the first LEED rating system geared towards new commercial office buildings. Today, LEED for New Construction is applied to many building types including offices, libraries, churches, hotels and government buildings.

LEED for New Construction addresses design and construction activities for both new buildings and major renovations of existing buildings, which includes major HVAC improvements, significant envelope modifications, and major interior rehabilitation.

While primarily focused on design and construction, LEED for New Construction also helps lay the foundation for sustainable operations and maintenance practices once the project has been completed. Upfront planning for green operations and maintenance can help building owners and operators ensure that the building performs to its full potential.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

Existing BuildingsLEED for Existing Buildings helps maximize the efficiency of your operations while minimizing the impact on the environment. The rating system encourages owners and operators of existing buildings to implement sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impacts of their buildings, while addressing the major aspects of ongoing building operations:

exterior building site maintenance programs

water and energy use

environmentally preferred products and practices for cleaning and alterations

sustainable purchasing policies

waste stream management

ongoing indoor environmental quality

All buildings (as defined by standard building codes) are eligible for certification under LEED for Existing Buildings. It is targeted at single buildings, whether owner occupied, multitenant, or multiple-building campus projects. It is a whole-building rating system; individual tenant spaces aren’t eligible.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

An Ongoing ProcessThe prescriptive and performance strategies of LEED for Existing Buildings are intended to provide operational benefits throughout the life of the building. If these strategies are continued, a building can maintain and even improve its performance over time. Projects that certify under any version of LEED for Existing Buildings must recertify at least once every five years in order to keep their certification current.

The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Recertification Guidance provides clear direction for Existing Buildings projects that are ready to recertify.

Core & ShellPrepare your buildings for environmentally conscious tenants with LEED for Core & Shell.We recognize the unique nature of the speculative development market, where project teams don’t control all aspects of the entire building’s design and construction. Depending on how a project is structured, a developer's influence can vary significantly from project to project. LEED for Core & Shell acknowledges this and can be adapted to a variety of project types.

LEED for Core & Shell can be used for projects where 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. Projects could include a commercial or medical office building, retail center, warehouse, or lab facility.

Because of the nature of the core and shell project type and scope, the LEED for Core & Shell rating system has some unique aspects.

Default occupancy counts: 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.

Energy modeling guidelines: Guidance on how to model building systems that are beyond the developer’s scope of work is provided.

It is designed to be complementary to LEED for Commercial Interiors and LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

PrecertificationAfter registering a project under LEED for Core & Shell, the project team can apply for precertification. Precertification is a formal recognition given to a candidate project that has established a goal to develop a LEED for Core & Shell building. Developers or owners of these projects can then market the building's proposed green features to potential tenants and financiers.

LEED 2009: projects can use LEED Online to apply

LEED v2.0: need to use the off-line process and hardcopy submittal templates for precertification

LEED for Commercial InteriorsLEED for Commercial Interiors is the green benchmark for the tenant improvement market.LEED for Commercial Interiors is the recognized system for certifying high-performance green tenant spaces that are healthy, productive places to work; are less costly to operate and maintain; and have a reduced environmental footprint. It gives tenants and designers, who do not always have control over whole building operations, the power to make sustainable choices. Making these choices during tenant improvements and interior renovations can dramatically affect the indoor environment.

This rating system was developed specifically for tenants in commercial and institutional buildings who lease their space or don’t occupy the entire building.

LEED for Commercial Interiors was designed to work hand-in-hand with the LEED for Core & Shell rating system, used by developers to certify the core and shell of a project and prepare the building for environmentally conscious tenants.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

LEED for RetailLEED for Retail is designed to guide and distinguish high-performance retail projects, including banks, restaurants, apparel, electronics, big box and everything in between.

A unique fit for retail and hospitalityLEED for Retail recognizes the unique nature of the retail environment and addresses the different types of spaces retailers need for their product lines. Compared with other commercial buildings, retail has different occupancy characteristics and hours of operation, different parking and transportation considerations, and different process water and energy consumption. Retail projects also may be part of a larger multi-tenant retail complex, where certain issues are addressed at the site level rather than by the project itself.

LEED for Retail provides two options for projects seeking certification:

New Construction & Major RenovationsAddresses specifics for the construction or major renovation of a retail building. A major renovation includes major HVAC improvements, significant envelope modifications and major interior rehabilitation.

Commercial InteriorsAddresses the specifics of tenant spaces where a retailer is retrofitting an existing building, and the shell of the building is outside of the tenant’s control. Individual tenants may seek LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors certification for their spaces whether the rest of the building is LEED-certified or not. Works hand-in-hand with LEED for Core & Shell.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

LEED for HomesLEED for Homes is the right fit for residential projects.

Savings: A LEED home is designed to save energy, water, and therefore money.

Health: A LEED home has been built to provide a healthy environment for families.

Value: Data has shown that green and efficient buildings often sell for more, and in less time, than non-green buildings. "Yahoo! Study: American Dream Homes Turn Green." Yahoo! Real Estate, 2011

Trusted: A LEED home is performance tested and green measures are third-party verified.

LEED for Homes is a voluntary rating system for single and multifamily, affordable and market rate housing projects.LEED for Homes promotes the design and construction of high-performance homes – energy efficient, resource efficient, and healthy for occupants. A home that achieves LEED certification has been designed to maximize fresh air indoors, minimizing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants. It also has the potential to use 20-30% less energy—and some up to 60% less—than a home built to code. And less energy use means lower utility bills every month.

LEED certification recognizes and celebrates leadership in green homebuilding, and allows a builder to clearly differentiate their work. For the homebuyer, LEED is like the nutrition label that demonstrates in measurable terms that a home incorporates efficient techniques and features, and that the final product has been third party-verified and performance tested.

Builders interested in pursuing LEED for Homes certification begin the process by contacting a LEED for Homes Green Rater. Green Raters are local experts who conduct the on-site project verification services required for certification.

LEED for Homes Scoring Tool

Learn how close you are to earning LEED certification by using the LEED for Homes Scoring Tool.

LEED for Homes Green Rater Program Green Raters provide in-the-field verification services at each and every LEED for Homes Project.Green Raters play a critical part in LEED for Homes certification. With tens of thousands of registered LEED for Homes projects, the demand for qualified Green Raters is growing every day.

Green Raters are responsible for:

Providing on-site verification services on a LEED for Homes registered project

Assembling the Project Submittal Package and submitting it for certification review

Verifying that the home is designed and built to the rigorous requirements of the LEED for Homes rating system through onsite verification.

Green Raters must be involved with the project from the design phase (prior to a preliminary rating) and throughout the construction process.

Project teams interested in participating in the LEED for Homes program must contact a LEED for Homes Green Rater.

All Green Raters work with LEED for Homes Provider Organizations to complete the verification process for each LEED for Homes project. Providers provide quality assurance oversight for each Green Rater. LEED for Homes Providers are local organizations selected by USGBC based on demonstrated experience and expertise in supporting builders in the construction of high-performance, sustainable homes in their market.

Is a Green Rater qualified to complete performance testing?All projects pursuing LEED for Homes certification also require performance testing to be completed by a qualified energy rater, or a Home Energy Rating System Rater (HERS Rater). Many Green Raters are also qualified energy raters (HERS Raters) and can provide both the onsite verification and performance testing services. Ask your LEED for Homes Green Rater if they are qualified or locate a HERS Rater near you.

LEED for Neighborhood DevelopmentLEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for neighborhood design.Whole neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods, multiple neighborhoods—there is no minimum or maximum size for a LEED for Neighborhood Development project.

A rating system for today — for a brighter tomorrowThoughtful neighborhood planning can limit the need for automobiles and their greenhouse gas emissions. Mixed-use development and pedestrian-friendly streets encourage walking, bicycling and public transportation. Green buildings and infrastructure also lessen negative consequences for water resources, air quality and natural resource consumption.

The character of a neighborhood, including its streets, homes, workplaces, shops and public spaces, affects quality of life. Green developments respect historic resources and the existing community fabric. They preserve open space and encourage access to parks.

Combine the substantial environmental and social benefits, and the case for green neighborhoods makes itself.

Unlike any otherLEED for Neighborhood Development, developed in collaboration with Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council, emphasizes elements that bring buildings and infrastructure together and relates the neighborhood to its local and regional landscape.

LEED for SchoolsLEED for Schools is the recognized third-party standard for high performance schools that are healthy for students, comfortable for teachers, and cost-effective.

The LEED for Schools rating system was developed to address the design and construction of K-12 schools. Based on LEED for New Construction, it focuses on classroom acoustics, master planning, mold prevention, environmental site assessment and other issues important to these buildings. LEED for Schools provides a comprehensive tool for schools that wish to build green with measurable results by recognizing the uniqueness of school spaces and their occupants.

All projects involving a full building dedicated to K-12 instruction must use either LEED for Schools or LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. Other projects (university educational buildings, K-12 athletic facilities, or interpretive centers) may choose to use LEED for Schools if they wish.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

Get involvedThe Center for Green Schools is how USGBC is making sure every student has the opportunity to attend a green school within this generation. From the kindergartner entering the classroom, to the Ph.D. student performing researching in a lab, the Center provides the resources and support to elevate dialogue, accelerate policy and institute innovation toward green schools and campuses. High-performing schools result in high-performing students, and the Center works directly with staff, teachers, faculty, students, administrators, elected officials and communities to drive the transformation of all schools into sustainable places to live and learn, work and play.

LEED for HealthcareFirst, do no harm. The goal of the LEED for Healthcare rating system is to help you design, build and operate, high-performance healing environments.The needs of healthcare facilities are very unique. Healthcare buildings often have strict regulatory requirements, 24/7 operations, and specific programmatic demands are not covered in LEED for New Construction. The LEED for Healthcare rating system acknowledges these differences by both modifying

existing credits and creating new, healthcare-specific credits. The goal is to help promote healthful, durable, affordable, and environmentally sound practices in these projects.

LEED for Healthcare is geared towards inpatient and outpatient care facilities and licensed long term care facilities. It can also be used for medical offices, assisted living facilities and medical education and research centers.

Projects that meet certain criteria are required to use LEED for Healthcare. These include licensed and federal inpatient and outpatient care facilities and licensed long term care facilities.

Global Alternative Compliance Paths are available for this rating system.

A collaborative effort for healthLEED for Healthcare is the result of seven years of working closely with the Green Guide for Health Care (GGHC), a joint project of Health Care Without Harm and Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems.

Rating system selection guidanceThis guidance was developed to explain what type of project each LEED rating system was written for. It provides general guidance for project teams to consider in order to make a reasonable decision before registering their project. This document also picks up where the LEED Reference Guides leave off when deciding which rating system is best for a given project.

Project teams should pay careful attention to the prerequisites and credits outlined in the given rating system, and make sure that the project can earn all prerequisites and enough points to earn certification.

How to use this guidance

Step 1

Determine which construction type the project falls into.

Step 2

If there are multiple systems applicable to the construction type, choose one based on space usage type.

Step 3

If the correct rating system is not obvious, carefully review the 40/60 rule.

Exceptions

LEED for Schools and LEED for Healthcare projects. There are very specific building types that must certify under these rating systems. See the introduction section of the relevant reference guides, as well as this guidance, to outline when it is necessary to use these rating systems.

This document does not address the LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system. Please refer to LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system for more information.

Occasionally, USGBC recognizes that an entirely inappropriate rating system has been chosen for a project. In this case, the project team will be asked to change the designated rating system for their registered building project. Please review this guidance carefully, and contact USGBC if it is not clear which rating system to use.

If both the following two statements describe the project, then a whole building rating system, with the exception of LEED for Commercial Interiors or LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors, should be used.

The entity conducting the work leases OR owns and controls 90% or more of the building that the space is located in

The same entity is conducting new construction or major renovation in 40% or more of the gross floor area of the building

New construction additions cannot include any portions of the existing building (renovated or not) within their LEED project boundary when pursuing a whole building rating system, unless they include the entirety of the existing building. For further detail on how to pursue certification for addition projects as ‘Attached Buildings’, please reference MPR #2 in our 2009 Minimum Program Requirements – Supplemental Guidance document

Step 1 - Choose a rating system based on construction typeDetermine which construction type the project falls into. Be sure to consider the building in its entirety or the complete interior space.Many projects will be undergoing construction work that does not fall neatly under one construction type definition (such as ‘major renovation’ or ‘interior fit-out’). It is the project team’s responsibility in this case to make a reasonable determination on which definition best fits their project. A strict application of each definition is not required.

Complete Construction

These rating systems are appropriate for buildings that are undergoing new construction or major renovation (or gut rehab, for low- and mid-rise residential) and a complete interior fit-out. There are five rating systems in this category.

Core and Shell Construction

This rating system is appropriate for buildings that are undergoing new construction or major renovation on its exterior shell and core mechanical, electrical, and plumbing units but NOT a complete interior fit-out. There is only one rating system in this category.

Commercial Interior Construction

This rating system is appropriate for commercial Interior spaces that are undergoing a complete interior fit-out of at least 60% of the certifying gross floor area. There are two rating systems in this category.

Existing Buildings: Limited Construction

This rating system is appropriate for existing buildings undergoing improvement work or little to no construction. There is only one rating system in this category.

Step 2 - Choose a rating system based on space usage typeIf there are multiple rating systems applicable to the construction type, choose one based on space usage type.

New ConstructionThis rating system is appropriate for buildings that do not primarily serve K-12 educational, retail, or designated healthcare uses. It is also appropriate for high rise (7+stories) residential buildings.

SchoolsThis rating system is required for buildings made up of core and ancillary learning spaces on K-12 school grounds. It is also appropriate for buildings made up of core

and ancillary learning spaces on non K-12 school grounds, as well as non-academic buildings on school campuses.

See the LEED for Schools Applications table for more information.

Table 1. Applying the LEED for Schools Rating System

% of building square footage dedicated to learning spaceMore than 60% core and ancillary including 25%+ core

40-60% core and ancillary, including 10%+ core

Less than 40% core and ancillary OR less than 10% core

K-12 Must use LEED for Schools

Should use LEED for Schools

Should not use LEED for Schools

Other than K-12

Should use LEED for Schools

May use LEED for Schools

Should not use LEED for Schools

HealthcareThis rating system is required (beginning January 1, 2012) for buildings that serve individuals who seek medical treatment, including licensed and federal inpatient care facilities, licensed and federal outpatient care facilities, and licensed and federal long-term care facilities. These are considered LEED for Healthcare ‘designated’ uses. It is also appropriate for buildings with other kinds of medically-related uses, such as unlicensed outpatient facilities, medical, dental and veterinary offices and clinics, assisted living facilities and medical education & research centers are examples of ‘non-designated’ uses, and may use LEED for Healthcare at the project team’s discretion.

See the LEED for Healthcare Applications table for more information.

Table 2. Applying the LEED for Healthcare Rating System

% of building square footage dedicated to healthcare use

more than 60% 40-60% Less than 40%Licensed or federal

inpatient care, outpatient care, long-

Must use LEED for Healthcare*

Should use LEED for Healthcare

May use LEED for Healthcare

term careOther medically- related buildings

May use LEED for Healthcare

May use LEED for Healthcare

May use LEED for Healthcare

* Effective January 1, 2012

Retail New ConstructionThis rating system is appropriate for buildings or interiors dedicated to the sale of goods or commodities directly to consumers who come onto the premise for the purpose of obtaining those goods or commodities. It includes, but is not limited to, banks, restaurants (quick and full-serve), stores of any kind, spas, etc. It is also appropriate for both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer service.

Commercial InteriorsThis rating system is appropriate for Interiors dedicated to functions other than retail.

Retail Commercial InteriorsThis rating system is appropriate for buildings or interiors dedicated to the sale of goods or commodities directly to consumers who come onto the premise for the purpose of obtaining those goods or commodities. It includes, but is not limited to, banks, restaurants (quick and full-serve), stores of any kind, spas, etc. It is also appropriate for both direct customer service areas (showroom) and preparation or storage areas that support customer service.

HomesThe Homes rating system is appropriate for low-rise (1-3 stories) residential buildings. The LEED for Homes Multi-Family Midrise rating system is appropriate for mid-rise (4-6 stories) residential buildings.

See the Residential Applications table for more information.Table 3. Applying the LEED for Homes Rating System

# of occupiable, above-grade

stories

% of square footage that meets the definition of 'residential'

Less Between 40 More than

than 40%

and 60% 60%

Single-family home n/a n/a n/a LEED for Homes

Multi-family with HVAC systems shared

across living units

1-3 stories NC NC or Homes

Homes

4-6 stories NC NC or Mid-rise

NC or Mid-rise

7+ stories NC NC NC*Multi-family with

individual unit HVAC systems

1-3 stories NC NC or Homes

Homes

4-5 stories NC NC, Homes, or Mid-rise

NC, Homes or Mid-rise

6 stories NC NC or Mid-rise

NC or Mid-rise

7+ stories NC NC NC**If the building is more than 6 stories, it may use Mid-Rise in exceptional situations. Please contact Kelsey Mullen for further information.

If the correct rating system is not obvious, use the 40/60 rule.

Step 3 - Make a decisionWhen several rating systems may be appropriate, use the 40/60 ruleIf the correct rating system is not obvious, for example, if different parts of the project are undergoing different kinds of construction or are serving different space usage types, carefully review the rule below.

Percentage of square footage appropriate for a particular rating system

0% to 40% Should not use that rating system

40% to 60% Project team's choice

60% to 100% Should use that rating system

The following “40/60 rule” provides guidance for making a decision when several rating systems appear to be appropriate for a project. To use this rule, first ‘assign’ a rating system to each square foot of the building based on the guidance in this document.

Example: LEED for Schools for an existing K-12 school undergoing major renovations and LEED for New Construction for an addition being built onto it. Choose the best rating system depending on the resulting percentages. Be sure to include the entire certifying square footage (but no more) in this exercise.

Keep in mind that the entire gross floor area of a LEED project must be certified under a single rating system, and is subject to all prerequisites and attempted credits in that rating system, regardless of a mixed construction or space usage type.

1. If a rating system is appropriate for less than 40% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space, then that rating system should not be used.

2. If a rating system is appropriate for more than 60% of the gross floor area of a LEED project building or space, then that rating system should be used.

3. Project teams with buildings and spaces that do not fall into the scenarios described in 1) and 2) must independently assess their situation and decide which rating system is most applicable.

The 40/60 rule is not applicable to LEED CI and LEED CS. For additional guidance on using LEED CS versus another rating system, see LEED Interpretation 10102, and for LEED CI, see Step 1 of this guidance document.