Using the LEED Pilot Credit Library

via LEEDUser.com

About the LEED pilot credit library
According to USGBC on its LEED Pilot Credit Library page, the LEED Pilot Credit Library is intended to facilitate the introduction of new credits to LEED. The process allows projects to test more innovative credits that haven't been through the complete drafting and balloting process.

Projects who want to participate in a credit pilot need to register with USGBC on this page. Questions about pilot credits can be directed to USGBC at pilot@usgbc.org

For more information on the pilot credits, including language and submittal requirements, LEEDuser has a complete credit-by-credit guide

Earning the credits: trying is no longer enough

All LEED projects can earn points for piloting credits through IDc1 (or IOc1 for EBOM projects). To earn a point, projects must do the following.

- Comply with the credit requirements. Note that when the Pilot Credit Library was launched, it was enough to try to comply, but it has become more difficult: actual achievement according to the language is now necessary, with one exception....

- You can fail to achieve a pilot credit, and still earn a point through IDc1, if you demonstrate that the credit is "broken," or unusable by all projects, or certain projects, in its current form.

- You can demonstrate this by showing that metrics are unachievable with current technology, and providing more suitable metrics; by showing that credit requirements are contradictory, and providing suggested revisions; or showing that requirements result in an outcome antithetical to LEED, and providing an alternative that better meets the intent. The idea is that if the credit is not working, the project should help improve it.

- Complete the required documentation.

- Actively participate on related conference calls.

- Provide thorough data on their use of the credit.

- Submit additional feedback to USGBC as requested.

- Participate in the LEEDuser forum for the credit you're working on

Rating system limitations

USGBC only makes certain pilot credits available to certain applicable rating systems. Here is a full chart showing which credits are available to which systems

About LEEDuser's pilot credit pages

LEEDuser is a website, unaffiliated with USGBC or GBCI, that offers how-to help on achieving LEED credits. Through a special arrangement with USGBC, LEEDuser has posted the official language of the LEED pilot credits in order to make it more accessible to interested project teams.

We at LEEDuser encourage project teams using them or thinking about using them to discuss them and share experiences in the comments area on each of the credit pages.

Because these pilot credits are so new, LEEDuser does not provide the kind of how-to guidance on these pages that we normally include on our credit pages. To see LEEDuser's guidance on standard LEED credits, please view our credit listings page