LEED Certification: LEED Platinum and the LEED Gold Standard

There are many ways to improve the energy efficiency of a building. LEED Certification is a great program to ensure the quality and energy-efficiency of your construction project. Now that you know all there is to know about LEED certification, here are some tips to help you score high on your next project!

What are Regional Priority Credits?

Regional credits were designed by LEED to give incentives for projects that address geographically specific environmental priorities, based on zip codes. Consider it like a bonus point for constructing in an area that has specific environmental needs.

Regional Priority		4
Credit	Regional Priority: Specific Credit	1
Credit	Regional Priority: Specific Credit	1
Credit	Regional Priority: Specific Credit	1
Credit	Regional Priority: Specific Credit	1

Did you know that...

Having a LEED AP on the project is worth 1 point! Learn how you can become LEED accredited!

What are “Prereq” Credits?

These credits are required before any more points in the category are allotted. For example: In order to receive the maximum points allowed in the Indoor Environmental Quality category, the building must pass the minimum indoor air quality performance test.

The building must also include an environmental tobacco smoke control system. The maximum number of points a building can receive in this category is 16 points. All of these points are allotted only when the building has scored high in each additional credit below:

Indoor Environmental Quality		16
Prereq	Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance	Required
Prereq	Environmental Tobacco Smoke Control	Required
Credit	Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies	2
Credit	Low-Emitting Materials	3
Credit	Construction Indoor Air Quality Managment Plan	1
Credit	Indoor Air Quality Assessment	2
Credit	Thermal Comfort	1
Credit	Interior Lighting	2
Credit	Daylight	3
Credit	Quality Views	1
Credit	Acoustic Performance	1

How can I score high in the Water Efficiency category?

For a building to score high in the water efficiency category, it must have indoor and outdoor water reduction plans in place. The same building must also have a water metering system in place. The total number of points a building can receive in this category is 11 points, considering if they score high in each additional credit below:

Water Efficiency		11
Prereq	Outdoor Water Use Reduction	Required
Prereq	Indoor Water Use Reduction	Required
Prereq	Building-Level Water Metering	Required
Credit	Outdoor Water Use Reduction	2
Credit	Indoor Water Use Reduction	6
Credit	Cooling Water Tower Use	2
Credit	Water Metering	1

How can I score high in the Innovation of Design category?

The maximum number of credits in this category is 6 points. LEED also offers an additional point for construction projects that have a LEED accredited professional (AP) on site.

Innovation		6
Credit	Innovation	5
Credit	LEED Accredited Professional	1

How can I score high in the Energy & Atmosphere category?

Because energy-efficiency is the most important, LEED offers the highest number points in this category. However, before a building can get the maximum 33 points allotted in this category, they must pass four prerequisites:

Fundamental Commissioning and Verification
Minimum Energy Performance
Building-Level Energy Metering
Fundamental Refrigerant Management

Afterwards, it is eligible to receive additional points from the credits below:

Energy & Atmosphere		33
Prereq	Fundamental Comissioning and Verification	Required
Prereq	Minimum Energy Performance	Required
Prereq	Building-Level Energy Metering	Required
Prereq	Fundamental Refrigerant Management	Required
Credit	Enhanced Commissioning	6
Credit	Optimize Energy Performance	18
Credit	Advanced Energy Metering	1
Credit	Demand Response	2
Credit	Renewable Energy Production	3
Credit	Enhanced Refrigerant Management	1
Credit	Green Power and Carbon Offsets	2

How can I score high in the Materials & Resources category?

Before a building project can receive maximum points in this category, it must maintain responsible waste management and sustainable materials & resources. LEED offers a total of 13 points in this category, but first the building must pass two prerequisites:

Storage and Collection of Recyclables
Construction And Demolition Waste Management Planning

Materials & Resources		13
Prereq	Storage and Collection of Recyclables	Required
Prereq	Construction and Demolition Waste Management Planning	Required
Credit	Building Life-Cycle Impact Reduction	5
Credit	Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Enivromental Product Declarations	2
Credit	Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials	2
Credit	Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Material Ingredients	2
Credit	Construction and Demolition Waste Management	2

How can I score high in the Sustainable Sites category?

This category offers a total of 10 points, considering the building site scores high in each and every credit category. LEED awards points to buildings that manage their construction activity and prevent pollution.

Sustainable Sites		10
Prereq	Construction Activity Pollution Prevention	Required
Credit	Site Assessment	1
Credit	Site Development - Protect or Restore Habitat	2
Credit	Open Space	1
Credit	Rainwater Management	3
Credit	Heat Island Reduction	2
Credit	Light Pollution Reduction	1

How can I score high in the Location & Transportation category?

LEED awards a maximum of 16 points in this credit category. In order to get the total number of points allotted and receive LEED platinum certification, a building must consider the location, and ensure it has access to eco-friendly transportation options.

Location & Transportation		16
Credit	LEED for Neighborhood Development Location	16
Credit	Sensitive Land Protection	1
Credit	High Priority Site	2
Credit	Surrounding Density and Diverse Uses	5
Credit	Access to Quality Transit	5
Credit	Bicycle Facilities	1
Credit	Reduced Parking Footprint	1
Credit	Green Vehicles	1