Recertification Now a Reality for All LEED Buildings

Design is just the beginning, but the plaque stays up forever. What happens next with LEED for Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and Interior Design and Construction (ID+C) was formerly unknown—unless they pursued LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. But now it’s possible for BD+C and ID+C projects to recertify every three years in order to confirm continued sustainability achievements during operations.

To participate, project teams have to submit a year’s worth of data in five categories:

• Energy (1–33 points)
• Water (1–15 points)
• Transportation (1–14 points)
• Waste (1–8 points)
• Human experience (1–20 points)

These five categories form the backbone of version 4.1 of O+M, but full certification under that rating system is not required. Projects will receive an automatic ten points for prior certification. Certification levels will be tallied as follows:

• Certified: 40–49 points
• Silver: 50–59 points
• Gold: 60–79 points
• Platinum: 80+ points

Recertification under O+M is built into that rating system, but recertification is optional for BD+C and ID+C projects. Annual data reporting on energy and water consumption remains a requirement for these project types, regardless of whether they seek recertification.

For more information:

U.S. Green Building Council
usgbc.org