LEED Project Documentation Guide

Understanding LEED Project Documentation

LEED project documentation is a critical component of achieving LEED certification. It involves providing comprehensive evidence that your project meets the specified criteria for each credit and prerequisite within the LEED v5 framework. This includes a variety of materials such as plans, specifications, calculations, reports, and more, tailored to demonstrate compliance with the rigorous standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

Types of Documentation Required

General Documentation

For all project types, you need to provide supporting documentation for the identified strategies. This typically includes:

• Contract documents like plans, specifications, elevations, sections, and construction details.
• Calculations and reports.
• Manufacturer product information.
• Photographs and descriptive narratives.

Exemplary Performance and Regional Priority Strategies

If your project aims to achieve exemplary performance or addresses regional priorities, you must also include:

• A description of the regional/local priority.
• Evidence and description of strategies adopted to address the priority.

Innovation Strategies

For innovative strategies not listed in the Project Priority Library, you need to:

• Provide the intent of the strategy.
• Summarize the significant, measurable environmental performance improvements proposed.

Pilot Credits

To document pilot credits, you must:

• Confirm Pilot Credit registration.
• Complete the Pilot Credit survey.

LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED AP)

The involvement of a LEED AP with an Operations and Maintenance (O+M) specialty is crucial. They must be an on-site participant of the property team, and their GBCI Credential Certificate, which must be current at the time of review, should be uploaded to their GBCI Profile.

LEED v5 Platinum Requirements

To achieve LEED Platinum certification, projects must meet stringent energy efficiency and emissions reduction criteria. Key requirements include:

• Earning 7 points or equivalent for optimized energy performance (EAc2).
• Achieving a minimum of 2 points for greenhouse gas emissions reduction (EAc1).
• Developing decarbonization and efficiency plans (EAc5).

Site EUI Targets

Projects must adhere to specific energy use intensity targets based on their building type and climate zone, as outlined in ASHRAE 100-2024. These targets are adjusted according to the operating shift normalization factor and can be found in various tables within the standard.

Getting Started with LEED v5

Before diving into documentation, it's essential to select the right LEED rating system for your project type. This decision should be made early in the process to avoid complications later. The USGBC Help Center and GBCI consultations offer valuable guidance for this step.

How ISG Can Help

At ISG, we specialize in guiding projects through the complexities of LEED documentation. Our team of experts can assist with everything from initial planning to final submission, ensuring that your project not only meets but exceeds the necessary standards for LEED certification.