Have you ever wondered what goes into a LEED certification review decision?

All reviewers work from the same set of principles, when applying the LEED requirements to a wide diversity of project types. Below are some things to keep in mind when preparing to submit your LEED project for review.

Trust but verify: Reviewers trust that you are being honest about your achievements, but must also verify that the technical requirements have been understood and applied properly to your project. This principle means that each attempted credit is assumed to be earned until the submittal documentation is found to indicate otherwise
Published guidance: Reviewers are guided by the same set of documentation that you are. This includes the balloted LEED rating system, LEED addenda and interpretations, LEED reference guides, and other available submittal requirements (such as the LEED credit forms).
Credit cross checks: Reviewers pay close attention to the interactions between credits and will request clarifications if they see inconsistencies. Common areas of inconsistency include the LEED project boundary, building occupancy, building and site areas, cost (energy and materials), performance periods (for existing buildings), and the classification of spaces. Please check these before you submit!
Benefit of the doubt: If simple good judgment can lead to confidence that the credit requirements have been met, points will be awarded. Additional documentation or clarification is requested only if you’re missing pivotal information, and/or if there is significant doubt that you’ve met the credit requirements.

To find out more about what LEED reviewers are looking for, check out the LEED Project Submittal Tips.

LEED reviewer compass: Understanding the logic behind a review decision