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LEED v4.1

Commercial Interiors

Innovation
Innovation

LEED CREDIT

CI-v4.1 IN101: Innovation 1-5 points

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Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.

Option 1. Innovation (1 point)
Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system. Identify the following:
  • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
  • proposed requirements for compliance;
  • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
  • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.
Examples of innovation may be found in the LEED Innovation Catalog. AND/OR
Option 2. Pilot (1 point)
Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library. AND/OR
Option 3. Additional Strategies
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
  • Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
  • Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary Performance (1–2 points)
  • Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold. See all forum discussions about this credit »

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    This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

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    Addenda

    4/9/2021Updated: 4/20/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Revise credit intent to read as "To encourage projects to achieve exceptional or innovative performance to benefit human and environmental health and equity. To foster LEED expertise throughout building design, construction, and operation and collaboration toward project priorities."
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    10/5/2018
    LEED Interpretation
    Inquiry:

    If a project pursues a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP), can it be exempted from the following pilot credit requirement for the Innovation credit?

    “To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.”

    Ruling:

    If projects achieve a pilot ACP, they are exempted from the requirement to achieve at least one pilot credit. To achieve all five points in the Innovation credit under this approach, projects may select one of the following point combinations:
    • 4 innovation and 1 exemplary performance
    • 3 innovation and 2 exemplary performance

    ***Updated 7.10.2020 to clarify that projects must achieve a pilot ACP to be exempted***
    *** Updated 3.29.2023 to include applicability for v4.1 projects***

    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    Yes
    See all forum discussions about this credit »

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    USGBC logo

    © Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Requirements

    To achieve all five innovation points, a project team must achieve at least one pilot credit, at least one innovation credit and no more than two exemplary performance credits.

    Option 1. Innovation (1 point)
    Achieve significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED green building rating system. Identify the following:
    • the intent of the proposed innovation credit;
    • proposed requirements for compliance;
    • proposed submittals to demonstrate compliance; and
    • the design approach or strategies used to meet the requirements.
    Examples of innovation may be found in the LEED Innovation Catalog. AND/OR
    Option 2. Pilot (1 point)
    Achieve one pilot credit from USGBC’s LEED Pilot Credit Library. AND/OR
    Option 3. Additional Strategies
  • Innovation (1-3 points)
  • Defined in Option 1 above.
  • Pilot (1-3 points)
  • Meet the requirements of Option 2.
  • Exemplary Performance (1–2 points)
  • Achieve exemplary performance in an existing LEED v4 prerequisite or credit that allows exemplary performance, as specified in the LEED Reference Guide, v4 edition. An exemplary performance point is typically earned for achieving double the credit requirements or the next incremental percentage threshold.
    See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about CI-v4.1 IN101