LEED Certification Workflow

Which Rating System?

Split Design & Construction Review Combined Design & Construction Review

If you are performing a major renovation on an existing building, LEED for

Review phase Length Review phase Length
New Construction is the most appropriate rating system for your project. If Preliminary design-phase review:
however, your project scope does not involve significant design and Preliminary review:
Before substantial completion, the project team submits all attempted Design 25 business days 25 business days
construction activities and focuses more on O&M activities, LEED for The project team submits all attempted credits and prerequisites. USGBC
credits and prerequisites. USGBC returns them to the project team as Expedited: 12 business days Expedited: 12 business days
Existing Buildings is the most appropriate tool for your project. As a returns them to the project team as "earned", "clarify", or "denied".
"anticipated", "clarify", or "denied".
general rule of thumb, a major renovation involves elements of major
HVAC renovation, significant envelope modifications and major PROJECT TEAM Preliminary design-phase response: PROJECT TEAM Preliminary Review Response:
interior rehabilitation. Up to 25 business days Up to 25 business days
Project team responds to any credits or prerequisites marked as "clarify" and Project team responds to any credits or prerequisites marked as "clarify" and
Expedited: 10 business days Expedited: 10 business days
resubmits to USGBC. resubmits to USGBC.
The project is a viable candidate for LEED certification if it can meet all
prerequisites and achieve the minimum points required in a given Final design-phase review:
Rating System. If more than one Rating System applies, then it is up to Final review:
USGBC reviews the resubmitted credits and returns a final review of all Design 15 business days 15 business days
the project team to decide which one to pursue. USGBC reviews the resubmitted credits and returns a final review of all
credits and prerequisites, which will either be marked "anticipated" or Expedited: 7 business days Expedited: 7 business days
credits and prerequisites, which will either be marked "earned", or "denied".
"denied".
About LEED Online
PROJECT TEAM Accept or Appeal: PROJECT TEAM Accept or Appeal:
Project teams pursuing LEED for New Construction certification under The project team has 25 business days to choose to accept or appeal the Up to 25 business days The project team has 25 business days to choose to accept or appeal the Up to 25 business days
Version 2.2 are required to use LEED-Online, which enables teams to results of the final design-phase review. results of the final review.
submit 100% of their documentation online. It enables team members to
Design-phase Appeal:
upload credit templates, track Credit Interpretation Requests (CIRs), Appeal:
Denied design-phase credits or prerequisites may be resubmitted to USGBC
manage key project details, contact customer service, and 25 business days Denied credits or prerequisites may be resubmitted to USGBC for appeal. 25 business days
for appeal. USGBC will return the appealed prerequisite(s) or credit(s) to the
communicate with reviewers throughout the design and Expedited: 12 business days USGBC will return the appealed prerequisite(s) or credit(s) to the project team Expedited: 12 business days
project team as anticipated or denied. Project teams may also appeal design-
construction reviews. as "earned" or "denied."
phase credits at the end of the construction-phase review.

Registration Preliminary construction-phase review: After substantial completion, the ==CERTIFICATION FEES==
project team submits all attempted Construction and/or NEW Design credits 25 business days
Registration is an important step that establishes contact with USGBC and prerequisites. USGBC returns them to the project team as "earned", Expedited: 12 business days
and provides access to LEED-Online software tool, errata, critical "clarify", or "denied".
communications and other essential information.
PROJECT TEAM Preliminary construction-phase response:
Up to 25 business days
Project team responds to any credits or prerequisites marked as "clarify", and
A project becomes active in LEED-Online once the online registration Expedited: 10 business days
resubmits to USGBC.
form has been submitted and payment of the registration fee has been
processed. Registration fee is $450 for members, $600 for non-members. Final construction-phase review: 15 business days
USGBC reviews the resubmitted credits and returns a final review of all credits. Expedited: 7 business days
By default, the person who submits the online registration form will
become the Project Administrator. PROJECT TEAM Accept or Appeal:
The project team has 25 business days to choose to accept or appeal the Up to 25 business days
Registration provides access to Credit Templates online. There are four results of the final review.
sections of Credit Templates: template status, manage template, required
documents, and documentation status. Construction-phase Appeal:
Denied Construction OR Design credits or prerequisites may be 25 business days
A complete LEED-Online submittal must include the following: appealed. USGBC will return the appealed prerequisite(s) or credit(s) to the Expedited: 12 business days
project team as anticipated or denied.
> overall project narrative including at least three project highlights
> drawings and photos illustrating the project, including: site plan, The split review is available to projects that are ready to submit "Design" credits for review well ahead
typical floor plan, typical building section, typical or primary of substantial completion of the project.
elevation, photo or rendering of the project
> Basic project information: project contact, project type, estimated Expedited reviews are subject to a fee in addition to standard certification fees. USGBC reserves the
cost, project size, number of occupants, estimated date of right to deny any request for an expedited review. NOTE: Due to volume, USGBC is currently NOT
occupancy. accepting any requests for expedited reviews.