Corporate Information
Demystifying the LEED certification process
The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. Commercial buildings as defined by standard building codes are eligible for certification under following classifications:
- LEED for New Construction
- LEED for Existing Buildings
- LEED for Commercial Interiors
- LEED for Retail
- LEED for Schools
- LEED for Core & Shell rating systems.
Building types include – but are not limited to – offices, retail and service establishments, institutional buildings such as libraries, schools, museums and religious institutions, hotels and residential buildings of four or more habitable stories.
What happens to the LEED submittal package once it’s sent to the U.S. Green Building Council?
Designing and building a project to meet LEED standards requires thought, planning and commitment of the entire project team to achieve certification at any level. Even if the team has closely followed all the project instructions and provided the documentation required for submittal, there is a final hurdle to crest -- review and audit by the USGBC contracted reviewers.
When the project’s design is complete, the design-related credits can be submitted for review by the USGBC. As the project reaches substantial completion, is ready for occupancy, and the contractors have provided the needed LEED information, the LEED consultant will be able to finish collecting and uploading the templates for submittal.
The commissioning templates are usually one of the last to be received because they involve startup and testing of equipment. The following steps come between the first submittal to USGBC and receipt of the LEED plaque:
- The completed LEED submittal package is sent electronically to USGBC.
- USGBC logs receipt of the submittal package and assigns it to one of several outside contracted reviewers.
- The submittal package is reviewed and the credits to be audited are identified. Credits are always audited – usually at least six. (30-90 days)
- The first review comments and credits earmarked for audit are returned electronically to the LEED consultant.
- The LEED consultant sends the amended submittal package electronically to USGBC, which who forwards the package to the reviewer.
- The reviewer determines if all items have been satisfactorily clarified. (2-6 weeks)
- If not, the reviewer will request additional information.
- The LEED consultant repeats item 5 and item 6. (2-4 weeks)
- The reviewer determines if all items have been satisfactorily clarified to their (3-9 weeks)
- If certification is granted, an e-mail is sent to the LEED consultant stating the level of certification achieved. The LEED consultant notifies the project team.
- USGBC orders a plaque and certificates according to the information filed with them. (60-90 days)
- The LEED consultant receives the plaque and certificates and disperses them as instructed by the project owner/team.
It’s important to understand that LEED certification is not a “fill out a form, send it in, receive certification by return mail” process. Every effort is made to determine that the project has actually fulfilled the requirements. That’s why it can take months to achieve LEED certification.
For questions regarding the LEED certification process, please contact CxGBS, Tel: 770-831-6760; fax: 770-831-6761. www.cxgbs.com