The LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System helps building owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED for Existing Buildings addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues (including chemical use), recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs, and systems upgrades. It can be applied both to existing buildings seeking LEED certification for the first time and to projects previously certified under LEED for New Construction, Schools, or Core & Shell.
GBCI offers free registration for all previously certified LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, and LEED for Core & Shell projects. Contact GBCI's project certification staff to take advantage of this offer and get started on the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M certification process.
Minimum Program Requirements Update: The LEED Steering Committee has approved a change to the Minimum Program Requirements (MPRs) for LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, versions 2 and 3, lowering the occupancy rate required for certification from 75% to 50%. Learn more »
LEED v3
LEED v3 launched on April 27, 2009, including an upgrade of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance under the suite of LEED 2009 rating systems. LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: O&M is served by the Green Building Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide.
LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance Rating System » (PDF)
The Rating System lists the intent, requirements, and technologies/strategies for each credit and includes the Credit Checklist. Updated July 19, 2010
LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Checklist » (XLS)
The Checklist helps project teams track their credits against requirements for certification. Updated August 25, 2010
Rating System & Reference Guide Addenda » Project teams are required to adhere to the Rating System addenda based on registration date; it is strongly recommended that project teams adhere to the Reference Guide addenda based on registration date.
LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance
The LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance LEED-Online Submittal templates are now available. If you choose to register for LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M today, you will have access to LEED-Online and the Registered Project Tools page for LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M. All LEED for Existing Buildings v2.0 registered projects that wish to upgrade to LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M will need to save any uploaded template data before requesting the switch.
LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Rating System (PDF)
The Rating System lists the intent, requirements, and technologies/strategies for each credit and includes the Credit Checklist.
LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Checklist (PDF)
The Checklist helps project teams track their credits against requirements for certification.
Introduction to the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance Reference Guide (PDF)
The introduction helps project teams get acquainted with the LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M Rating System, certification process & strategy, minimum program requirements, and more.
Changes to the LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System:
Version 2.0
Version 2.0 Rating System (PDF)
The Rating System lists the intent, requirements, submittals and technologies/strategies for each credit and includes the Credit Checklist.
Version 2.0 Credit Checklist (XLS)
The Checklist helps project teams track their credits against requirements for certification.
Combined LEED-EB Errata Sheet (PDF)
Project teams are subject to errata requirements based on registration date.
Download the introduction chapter of the LEED for Existing Buildings Reference Guide
Recertification
All LEED for Existing Buildings recertification projects are required to register under the LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System version that is live in LEED Online at the time of the recertification registration. Please note that recertification project teams may opt to use a newer version of LEED for Existing Buildings if one is available at the time of the recertification application. Projects must recertify all prerequisites but may drop previously earned credits or add new credits as desired.
Prior to registering a project for recertification, obtain a promotion code to waive the registration fee by contacting GBCI's project certification staff. Once you’ve received the promotion code, register the recertification project as a separate project from the original Existing Building project, but use the original project title and include the word "Recertification" in the project name.
Before submitting a project for recertification review, obtain a promotion code for a reduced recertification fee by contacting GBCI's project certification staff.
The recertification fees are found on GBCI's LEED Project Registration and Certification Fees Page.
For more information on how to begin recertification, contact GBCI's project certification staff.
Multiple Buildings
The 2005 Application Guide for Multiple Buildings and On-Campus Projects was written prior to the release of LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance and was intended to be used only with LEED NCv2.1 and NCv2.2. The document was also written for a paper-based certification process. Though the guide contains some general guidance on multiple-building scenarios in EB: O&M (e.g. performance-based prerequisites must be met at the individual building level), the document does not correspond to the unique nature of prerequisites and credits in this rating system. It also does not address the application procedures for projects using LEED Online.
GBCI’s planned update to the Certification Policy Manual will clarify policies and procedures regarding certification of multiple-building and campus projects for all versions of LEED (including both LEED 2009 and previous versions). The update will include significant modifications to the methodology for LEED certification in a multiple building context, as well as opportunities for streamlining documentation and review of multiple building and campus projects. The first phase of this new guidance will focus on the design and construction rating systems, with guidance for existing buildings coming shortly thereafter.
In order to ensure the smoothest possible certification process, it is recommended that project teams wait to submit any multiple building applications until updates to the policy manual are published. Project teams with scheduling constraints that cannot be avoided which require application in advance of the policy manual updates should contact GBCI.
Note: For LEED 2009, all buildings must be registered individually. LEED 2009 multiple building projects are encouraged to first register a Block. Each building must then be registered separately from within the Block. See the Help section of LEED Online for more information on blocks.
