New Construction

Version 2.2

REFERENCE
GUIDE
Third Edition October 2007
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Copyright © 2006 by the U.S. Green Building Council. All rights reserved.

The U.S. Green Building Council authorizes you to view the LEED for New Con-
struction Version 2.2 Reference Guide for your individual use. In exchange for this
authorization, you agree to retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained
in the original LEED for New Construction v2.2 Reference Guide. You also agree not
to sell or modify this Reference Guide or to reproduce, display or distribute the LEED
for New Construction v2.2 Reference Guide in any way for any public or commercial
purpose, including display on a Web site or in a networked environment. Unauthor-
ized use of the LEED for New Construction v2.2 Reference Guide violates copyright,
trademark, and other laws and is prohibited.
Note that the text of the federal and state codes, regulations, voluntary standards, etc.,
reproduced in this Reference Guide is either used under license to the U.S. Green
Building Council or, in some instances, is in the public domain. All other text, graphics,
layout, and other elements of content contained in this Reference Guide are owned by
the U.S. Green Building Council and are protected by copyright under both United
States and foreign laws.

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None of the parties involved in the funding or creation of the LEED for New Con-
struction Version 2.2 Reference Guide, including the U.S. Green Building Council, its
members, its contractors or the United States government make any warranty (express
or implied) or assume any liability or responsibility, to you or any third parties for the
accuracy, completeness or use of, or reliance on, any information contained in this
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As a condition of use, you covenant not to sue, and agree to waive and release the U.S.
Green Building Council, its members, its contractors and the United States govern-
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damages (including, without limitation, equitable relief ) that you may now or hereafter
have a right to assert against such parties as a result of your use of, or reliance on, the
LEED for New Construction v2.2 Reference Guide.
U.S. Green Building Council
1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036

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LEED® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
LEED for New Construction Reference Guide
Version 2.2
ISBN # 978-1-932444-11-7

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The LEED for New Construction Reference Guide has only been made possible through
the efforts of many dedicated volunteers, staff members and others in the USGBC
community. The Reference Guide drafting was managed and implemented by USGBC
staff and consultants and included review and suggestions by many Technical Advisory
Group (TAG) members and the LEED for New Construction Core Committee. We
especially extend our deepest gratitude to all of our LEED committee members who
participated in the development of this guide, for their tireless volunteer efforts and
constant support of USGBC’s mission. They are—
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James H. Goldman (Chair), Turner Construction
Tom Scarola (Vice-Chair), Tishman Speyer Properties
Lee Burgett, Trane Company
Craig Kneeland, New York State Energy Research & Development Authority
Joe Higgins, Fidelity Real Estate Company
Harry Gordon, Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates
Muscoe Martin, Wallace Roberts & Todd, LLC
Chris Dixon, Mithun
Bill Odell, HOK Architects
Chris Schaffner, The Green Engineer
Wayne Trusty, Athena Sustainable Materials Institute
Special thanks to Greg Shank, Marc Cohen, Erik Ring, Heather Rosenberg, Kim
Hosken, Gail Stranske, and Karen Blust from CTG Energetics, for their significant
contributions to the LEED for New Construction Version 2.2 Reference Guide.
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Greg Kats (Chair), Capital-E
Marcus Sheffer (Vice-Chair), 7group
Saad Dimachkieh, HOK Architects
Chad Dorgan, Farnsworth Group, Inc.
Jay Enck, Commissioning & Green Building Services
Donald Fournier, Building Research Council
Ellen Franconi, Nexant, Inc.
Jonathan Heller, Ecotope Inc.
Tia Heneghan, Sebesta Blomberg
John Hogan, City of Seattle Department of Design, Construction, and Land Use
Bion Howard, Building Environmental Science
Michael Lorenz, Kling
Cheryl Massie, Flack + Kurtz
Brenda Morawa, BVM Engineering, Inc.
Tom Rawls, Consultant
Erik Ring, CTG Energetics, Inc.
John Schinter, Jones Lang LaSalle
Mick Schwedler, Trane Company
Gordon Shymko, G.F. Shymko & Associates
Michael Zimmer, Thompson Hine LLP

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Bob Thompson (Chair), EPA Indoor Environments Management Branch
Steve Taylor (Vice-Chair), Taylor Engineering
Jude Anders, Johnson Controls, Inc.
Terry Brennan, Camroden Associates
Brian Cloward, Mithun
Larry Dykhuis, Herman Miller, Inc.
Greg Franta, Ensar Group, Inc.
Francis Offerman, Indoor Environmental Engineering
Christopher Schaffner, The Green Engineer
Dennis Stanke, Trane Company
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Nadav Malin (Chair), BuildingGreen, Inc.
Kirsten Ritchie (Vice-Chair), Scientific Certification Systems
Paul Bertram, PRB Design
Chris Dixon, Mithun
Ann Edminster, Design AVEnues
Lee Gros, Austin Energy Green Building Program
Debra Lombard, RETEC
Nancy Malone, Siegel & Strain Architects
Dana Papke, California Integrated Waste Mgmt. Board
Wayne Trusty, Athena Institute
Denise Van Valkenburg, Steelcase
Melissa Vernon, Interface Flooring Systems
Mark Webster, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger
Gabe Wing, Herman Miller, Inc.
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Bryna Dunn (Chair), Moseley Architects
Susan Kaplan (Vice-Chair), Battery Park City Authority
Gina Baker, Burt Hill Kosar Rittelmann Associates
Ted Bardacke, Global Green USA
Mark Brumbaugh, Brumbaugh & Associates
Meg Calkins, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (and ASLA representative)
Stewart Comstock, Maryland Department of the Environment
Jay Enck, Commissioning & Green Building Services
Ron Hand, G&E Environmental
Richard Heinisch, Acuity Lighting Group
Michael Lane, Lighting Design Lab
Marita Roos, Andropogon Associates
Zolna Russell, Hord Coplan Macht, Inc.
Eva Wong, U.S. EPA Heat Island Reduction Initiative (HIRI)

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David Sheridan (Chair), Aqua Cura
John Koeller (Vice-Chair), Koeller and Company
Gunnar Baldwin, TOTO USA, INC
Neal Billetdeaux, JJR
David Carlson, Columbia University
Bill Hoffman, City of Austin, Water Conservation
Heather Kinkade-Levario, ARCADIS
Geoff Nara, Civil & Environmental Consultants
Shabbir Rawalpindiwala, Kohler Company
Stephanie Tanner, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Bill Wall, Clivus New England, Inc.
Bill Wilson, Environmental Planning & Design, LLC

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Q Certified 26-32 points
Q Silver 33-38 points
Q Gold 39-51 points
Q Platinum 52-69 points

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The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy,
health and productivity. Breakthroughs in building science, technology and operations
are now available to designers, builders, operators and owners who want to build green
and maximize both economic and environmental performance.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is coordinating the establishment and
evolution of a national consensus effort to provide the industry with tools necessary
to design, build and operate buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.
Council members work together to develop industry standards, design and construc-
tion practices and guidelines, operating practices and guidelines, policy positions and
educational tools that support the adoption of sustainable design and building practices.
Members also forge strategic alliances with key industry and research organizations,
federal government agencies and state and local governments to transform the built
environment. As the leading organization that represents the entire building industry
on environmental building matters, the Council’s unique perspective and collective
power provides our members with enormous opportunity to effect change in the way
buildings are designed, built, operated and maintained.
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The Council’s greatest strength is the diversity of our membership. The USGBC is a
balanced, consensus nonprofit representing the entire building industry, consisting of
over 11,000 companies and organizations. Since its inception in 1993, the USGBC
has played a vital role in providing a leadership forum and a unique, integrating force
for the building industry. Council programs are—
Q Committee-Based
The heart of this effective coalition is our committee structure in which volunteer
members design strategies that are implemented by staff and expert consultants. Our
committees provide a forum for members to resolve differences, build alliances and forge
cooperative solutions for influencing change in all sectors of the building industry.
Q Member-Driven
The Council’s membership is open and balanced and provides a comprehensive
platform for carrying out important programs and activities. We target the issues
identified by our members as the highest priority. We conduct an annual review
of achievements that allows us to set policy, revise strategies and devise work plans
based on member needs.
Q Consensus-Focused
We work together to promote green buildings and in doing so, we help foster greater
economic vitality and environmental health at lower costs. The various industry segments
bridge ideological gaps to develop balanced policies that benefit the entire industry.
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1800 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 828-7422 Office
(202) 828-5110 Fax
www.usgbc.org
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social elements that benefit all building
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and the general public.
The environmental impact of the build-
ing design, construction and operation
industry is significant. Buildings annually @@%
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gallons of potable water is used soley to The first LEED (Leadership in Energy
flush toilets. A typical North American and Environmental Design) Pilot Project
commercial construction project gener- Program following the formation of the
ates up to 2.5 pounds of solid waste per U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
square foot of completed floor space. in 1993, the membership quickly realized
Development shifts land usage away from that a priority for the sustainable building
natural, biologically-diverse habitats to industry was to have a system to define
hardscape that is impervious and devoid and measure “green buildings.” The
of biodiversity. The far reaching influence USGBC began to research existing green
of the built environment necessitates ac- building metrics and rating systems. Less
tion to reduce its impact. than a year after formation, the member-
Green building practices can substantially ship followed up on the initial findings
reduce or eliminate negative environmen- with the establishment of a committee
tal impacts and improve existing unsus- to focus solely on this topic. The diverse
tainable design, construction and opera- initial composition of the committee
tional practices. As an added benefit, green included architects, realtors, a building
design measures reduce operating costs, owner, a lawyer, an environmentalist
enhance building marketability, increase and industry representatives. This cross
worker productivity, and reduce potential section of people and professions added
liability resulting from indoor air quality a richness and depth both to the process
problems. For example, energy efficiency and to the ultimate product.
measures have reduced operating expenses The first LEED Pilot Project Program,
of the Denver Dry Goods building by ap- also referred to as LEED Version 1.0, was
proximately $75,000 per year. Students in launched at the USGBC Membership
day-lit schools in North Carolina consis- Summit in August 1998. After extensive
tently score higher on tests than students modifications, the LEED Green Building
in schools using conventional lighting Rating System Version 2.0 was released in
fixtures. Studies of workers in green build- March 2000. This rating system is now
ings reported productivity gains of up to called the LEED Green Building Rating
16%, including reductions in absentee- System for New Commercial Construc-
ism and improved work quality, based tion and Major Renovations, or LEED
on “people-friendly” green design. At a for New Construction.
grocery store in Spokane, Washington,
As LEED has evolved and matured, the
waste management costs were reduced by
program has undertaken new initiatives.
56% and 48 tons of waste was recycled
In addition to a rating system specifi-
during construction. In other words, green
cally devoted to building operational and
design has environmental, economic and
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 maintenance issues, LEED addresses the design and construction market. Cur-
different project development/delivery rently, the LEED product portfolio is
processes that exist in the U.S. building being expanded to the following areas:

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 LEED for New Construction is part of products are coming into the marketplace
the growing portfolio of rating system and innovative designs are proving their
products serving specific market sectors. effectiveness. Therefore, the Rating Sys-
tem and the Reference Guide will evolve
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The LEED Green Building Rating System LEED should note that they will need
is a voluntary, consensus-based, market- to comply with the version of the rating
driven building rating system based on system that is current at the time of their
existing proven technology. It evaluates registration.
environmental performance from a whole USGBC will highlight new developments
building perspective over a building’s life on its Web site on a continuous basis at
cycle, providing a definitive standard for www.usgbc.org.
what constitutes a “green building.” The
development of the LEED Green Build-
ing Rating System was initiated by the @@@%
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segments of the building industry and has The LEED Green Building Rating System
been open to public scrutiny. for New Construction and Major Renova-
The rating system is organized into five tion (formerly referred to as LEED-NC)
environmental categories: Sustainable provides a set of performance standards
Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy & Atmo- for certifying the design and construction
sphere, Materials & Resources, and Indoor phases of commercial, institutional build-
Environmental Quality. An additional ings, and high-rise residential buildings.
category, Innovation & Design Process, The specific credits in the rating system
addresses sustainable building expertise as provide guidelines for the design and
well as design measures not covered under construction of buildings of all sizes in
the five environmental categories. both the public and private sectors. The
LEED is a measurement system designed intent of LEED for New Construction
for rating new and existing commercial, is to assist in the creation of high perfor-
institutional and residential buildings. It mance, healthful, durable, affordable and
is based on accepted energy and environ- environmentally sound commercial and
mental principles and strikes a balance institutional buildings.
between known established practices and LEED for New Construction addresses:
emerging concepts. Q Sustainable Sites
It is a performance-oriented system where Q Water Efficiency
credits are earned for satisfying criterion
designed to address specific environmental Q Energy & Atmosphere
impacts inherent in the design, construc- Q Materials & Resources
tion and operations and maintenance Q Indoor Environmental Quality
of buildings. Different levels of green
building certification are awarded based Q Innovation in Design
on the total credits earned. The system is 8%

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LEED for New Construction was de-
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The green design field is growing and office buildings, but it has been applied
changing daily. New technologies and to many other building types by LEED

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as defined by standard building codes, I\^`jkiXk`fe

are eligible for certification as a LEED for Project teams interested in obtaining
New Construction building. Commercial LEED Certification for their project must
occupancies include (but are not limited first register this intent with USGBC. Proj-
to) offices, retail and service establish- ects can be registered on the USGBC Web
ments, institutional buildings (libraries, site (www.usgbc.org) in the LEED section,
schools, museums, churches, etc.), hotels under Register Your Project. The Web site
and residential buildings of four or more includes information on registration costs
habitable stories. for USGBC member companies as well as
LEED for New Construction addresses non-members. Registration is an important
design and construction activities for step that establishes contact with USGBC
both new buildings and major renova- and provides access to LEED-Online soft-
tions of existing buildings. The LEED ware tool, errata, critical communications
Green Building Rating System for Ex- and other essential information.
isting Buildings is designed to address About LEED-Online
operational and maintenance issues of
working buildings. Therefore, if you are As of January 2006, project teams pursu-
performing a major renovation on an ing LEED for New Construction certifi-
existing building, LEED for New Con- cation under Version 2.2 are required to
struction is the most appropriate rating use LEED-Online, which enables teams
system for your project. If however, your to submit 100% of their documentation
project scope does not involve significant online in an easy-to-use format. LEED-
design and construction activities and fo- Online stores all LEED information,
cuses more on O&M activities, LEED for resources, and support in one centralized
Existing Buildings is the most appropriate location. LEED-Online enables team
tool for your project. As a general rule members to upload credit templates,
of thumb, a major renovation involves track Credit Interpretation Requests
elements of major HVAC renovation, (CIRs), manage key project details, con-
significant envelope modifications and tact customer service, and communicate
major interior rehabilitation. with reviewers throughout the design and
construction reviews.
Many projects will cleanly and clearly
fit the defined scope of only one LEED :%

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Rating System product. For other proj- In some cases, the design team may en-
ects, two or more LEED Rating System counter challenges in applying a LEED for
products may be applicable. USGBC New Construction prerequisite or credit to
encourages the project team to tally a their particular project. These difficulties
potential point total using the Rating arise from instances where the Reference
System checklists for all possibilities. The Guide does not sufficiently address a
project is a viable candidate for LEED specific issue or there is a special conflict
certification if it can meet all prerequisites that requires resolution. To address such
and achieve the minimum points required issues, the USGBC has established the
in a given Rating System. If more than LEED for New Construction Version
one Rating System applies, then it is up 2.2 Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR)
to the project team to decide which one process (separate from the CIR page for
to pursue. For assistance in choosing the version 2.0 and 2.1 CIRs). See the LEED
most appropriate LEED Rating System, for New Construction section of the
please e-mail [email protected]. USGBC Web site for more information

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 at www.usgbc.org. Credit rulings posted prerequisite and credit submittal require-
after the registration date may be applied ments. Since submittal documentation
by the project team at their choosing should be gathered throughout design
(exception: the project’s own CIRs must and construction, it is helpful to designate
always be adhered to). a LEED team leader who is responsible
The Credit Interpretation process is sum- for managing the compilation of this
marized as follows: information by the project team. Use the
LEED-Online Submittal Templates that
1. Project teams should review the CIR are provided through the LEED project
webpage to read previously posted resources Web page located in the LEED
credit interpretation requests and section of the USGBC Web site. These
USGBC responses. Many questions templates contain embedded calculators,
can be resolved by reviewing existing and are instrumental in documenting
CIRs and the Reference Guide. Note fulfillment of credit requirements and
that CIRs for other rating systems prompting for correct and complete sup-
(LEED for Existing Buildings, LEED porting information.
for Commercial Interiors and past ver-
sions of LEED for New Construction) Two-Phase Application
are not necessarily applicable. A new feature of LEED for New Con-
2. If no existing Credit Interpretation struction v2.2 is the option of splitting a
Rulings are relevant to the project, the certification application into two phases.
LEED project team should submit an Rather than submitting all documentation
on-line credit interpretation request. for a project at the end of the construc-
The description of the challenge en- tion phase, project teams will be able to
countered by the project team should submit designated “design phase credits”
be brief but explicit; should be based at the end of the design phase for review
on prerequisite or credit information by USGBC. Design phase credits are
found in the Rating System and Refer- those credits that USGBC can reasonably
ence Guide; and should place a special adjudicate based on design phase docu-
emphasis on the Intent of the prereq- mentation. For example, if a project site
uisite or credit. If possible, the project meets the LEED for New Construction
team should offer potential solutions to Sustainable Sites Credit 3: Brownfield Re-
the problem and solicit approval or re- development Requirements, USGBC can
jection of their proposed interpretation. assess the likelihood of the project achiev-
Follow the detailed instructions in the ing this credit prior to the completion of
“CIR Guidelines” document available construction. It is important to remember
on the CIR Web page in the LEED that LEED credit is not awarded at the
section of the USGBC Web site. design review stage. Project teams are noti-
fied of the likelihood that their project will
3. USGBC will rule on your request achieve a LEED credit if construction is
electronically according to the executed in accordance with design phase
posted schedule, either through a plans. Projects must submit verification
posting on the CIR Page or via e-mail that design elements were implemented
correspondence. as planned after completion of construc-
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tion. A list of the potential design phase
8ggc`ZXk`fe credits can be found in the LEED section
of the USGBC Web site. Project teams are
Once a project is registered, the project allotted one design phase review. At the
design team begins to collect information completion of construction, the balance
and perform calculations to satisfy the of attempted credits, verification of design
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phase credits, and additional documenta- design has been executed per requirements
tion for any design phase credits that has in the construction phase. Once USGBC
changed since the design phase review are has received the complete application and
documented and submitted for USGBC fee (the remainder of the total certification
review. See below for more details regard- fee, if a design review has been conducted),
ing the two-phase review. the USGBC will formally rule on your
full application. All applicant-verified
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To earn LEED for New Construction as Anticipated and have not changed since
certification, the applicant project must the design phase review will be declared as
satisfy all of the prerequisites and a Achieved. All other credits will be desig-
minimum number of points to attain the nated as either Achieved or Denied.
established LEED for New Construction Appeals
project ratings as listed below. Having
satisfied the basic prerequisites of the Appeals may be filed either after the
program, applicant projects are then rated design phase review or the final review.
according to their degree of compliance Please see the LEED Certification Pro-
within the rating system. All projects will cess section (http://www.usgbc.org/
need to comply with the version of LEED DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1497) of
for New Construction that is current at the USGBC Web site for more informa-
the time of project registration. tion on appeals.
Design Phase Review Fees
Once USGBC has received your com- Certification fee information can be found
plete design phase application and the at the LEED Register your project page
design phase fee (which is a portion of of the web site: http://www.usgbc.org/
the total certification fee), the USGBC DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=65&.
will formally rule on your application by USGBC will acknowledge receipt of your
designating each attempted credit as either application and proceed with application
Anticipated or Denied. No certification review when all project documentation
award will be given at this time, nor will has been submitted.
any credits be awarded. This process serves The LEED for New Construction ratings
to allow project teams the opportunity to are awarded according to the following
assess the likelihood of credit achievement, scale—
and requires follow through to ensure the Q Certified 26-32 points
design is executed in the construction
phase according to design specifications. Q Silver 33-38 points

Construction Phase Review Q Gold 39-51 points

At the completion of construction, the Q Platinum 52-69 points

project team will submit all attempted USGBC will recognize buildings that
credits for review. If the project team had achieve one of these rating levels with a
elected to have a design phase review and formal letter of certification and a mount-
any of the design phase Anticipated credits able plaque.
have changed, additional documentation
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ued compliance with credit requirements. This is the second edition of the LEED
For design phase Anticipated credits that for New Construction Version 2.2 Refer-
have not substantively changed, the project ence Guide, dated September 2006. As
team must submit a verification that the LEED for New Construction continues

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 to improve and evolve, updates and errata & Strategies for achieving the credit. The
will be made available to substitute and subsequent sections provide supportive
augment the current material. USGBC information to help interpret the measure,
cannot be held liable for any criteria set examples, and links to various resources.
forth herein, which may not be appli- If your project team encounters an out-
cable to later versions of LEED for New of-date web link in the Reference Guide,
Construction. Updates and addenda will please go to the root Web site, which
be accumulated between revisions and should take the form of www.organization.
will be formally incorporated in major com with no additional text following.
revisions. In the interim between major Then you may be able to navigate through
revisions, USGBC may use its consensus the Web site to find the referenced
process to clarify criteria. document. Please contact the USGBC at
When a project registers for certification, (202) 828-7422 if you are unable to locate
the prerequisites, credits, errata, and credit a resource.
rulings current at the time of project regis-
tration will continue to guide the project >i\\e`e^
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throughout its certification process. Throughout this Reference Guide, you
will see this icon:
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The LEED for New Construction v2.2
Reference Guide is a supporting docu-
ment to the LEED Green Building Rating
System. The Guide is intended to assist
project teams in understanding LEED for This icon will assist projects that are
New Construction criteria and the bene- proceeding with the intention of certify-
fits of complying with each criterion. The ing with LEED for Existing Buildings,
Guide includes examples of strategies that following their LEED for New Construc-
can be used in each category, case studies tion certification. It identifies credits that
of buildings that have implemented these involve measures that are significantly
strategies successfully, and additional more cost-effective and convenient to
resources that will provide more infor- implement during design and construc-
mation. The guide does not provide an tion than they are during the operation of
exhaustive list of strategies for meeting the building. These credits are—
the criteria as subsequent strategies will
be developed and employed by designers SSc 2: Development Density &
that satisfy the Intent of each credit. Nor Community Connectivity
does it provide all of the information that SSc 4.1: Alternative Transportation:
design teams need to determine the ap- Public Transportation Access
plicability of a credit to their project. EAc 1: Optimize Energy Performance
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Each prerequisite and credit is organized EAc 5: Measurement & Verification
in a standardized format for simplicity MRc 4: Recycled Content
and quick reference. The first section
summarizes the key points regarding the MRc 5: Regional Materials
measure and includes the Intent, Require- MRc 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
ments, and some Potential Technologies
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MRc 7: Certified Wood
EQc 1: Outdoor Air Delivery
Monitoring
EQc 6.2: Controllability of Systems:
Thermal Comfort
EQc 7: Thermal Comfort
EQc 8: Daylight and Views

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