The Pilot Credit Library was established to facilitate the introduction of new prerequisites and credits to LEED through stakeholder engagement and collaboration on the testing and analysis of proposed requirements. This process allows USGBC to refine credits through LEED project evaluations before being introduced into LEED.

“The LEED Pilot Credit Library has been widely embraced by LEED users and has successfully created a forum for discussing the strengths and weaknesses of new and innovative credits,” said Brendan Owens, vice president, LEED Technical Development. “The LEED user community has actively engaged in pilot testing the existing credits and these new and updated credits incorporate their valuable feedback and help make LEED more dynamic and effective.”

One of the pilot credit updates is a new Energy Jumpstart concept under the Energy & Atmosphere heading that addresses the opportunity to reduce building operational expenses and carbon emissions by reaching the 75 percent of the market that the existing buildings energy performance prerequisite excludes.

“The pilot credit creates an on-ramp for these buildings and we hope to use it to engage project teams and building owners who demonstrate leadership by drastically improving the energy performance of their buildings,” said Owens.

Pilot Credit 67: Energy & Atmosphere Prerequisite 2 Alternative Compliance Path, or Energy Jumpstart, rewards significant improvement in building energy performance. It enables projects that have documented substantial energy performance improvement to satisfy the requirements of the Energy & Atmosphere Prerequisite 2: Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance and pursue LEED at the Certified level.

The LEED Pilot Credit Library can be viewed online at usgbc.org/pilotcreditlibrary.

Publication date: 03/26/2012