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There will be changes in the weightings in the 2009 Version, due to go live in March, but site-based criteria will remain pivotal to any successful LEED-CI program. Landlord-controlled credits have the potential to deliver, or at least support, several other energy, water, lighting and environmental points.
Selecting a LEED-certified building is the easiest way to go since it delivers three points towards CI certification. Short of building certification, various subsystems and design factors and policies can also support the process. Credit 1 includes roof design, water efficiency, storm water and waste water management, lighting design and energy management. Credits 2 & 3 are concerned with community and transportation issues.
Pre-selection research
Many non-LEED buildings have systems that meet credit requirements even though the building itself does not qualify or the landlord has chosen not to go through the formal LEED certification process. The challenge for potential tenants in non-compliant buildings is to examine, quantify and, in some cases, negotiate each of these criteria in order to understand how many and what points will be delivered through site selection.
A LEED Accredited Professional (AP) (1 point) can help with the pre-qualification process. If you are pursuing LEED-CI certification, it makes sense to engage a LEED-AP before the site selection process begins. It is the best way to understand the benefits and limits of prospective buildings in regards to certification, and can offer valuable guidance that will save time and money during the space design and build out phases.
For certified and non-certified buildings, every credit that is under the control of the landlord should be addressed during the lease/space research process. This is the only way to know the basis from which you will be able to launch the rest of your LEED-CI program. The process also presents the opportunity to influence the building owner/manager to consider changes. The landlord may discover that minor upgrades, such as bicycle storage and changing rooms, can be made to bring the building closer to overall certification.
The upfront process should examine not only the LEED Sustainable Sites category, but also the credits in other categories that are part of the building's systems and/or controlled by the landlord. For instance, the Energy & Atmosphere and Indoor Environmental Quality categories include Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) measures that are controlled by building systems and policies. Also, check to see if the property has a program for the collection and storage of recyclables.
Essentially, each LEED-CI credit should be part of the upfront evaluation process in order to assess the fundamental capabilities of the building.
The next step is to carefully evaluate the proposed lease space in anticipation of the build out. How much of the interior non-structural components can be reused? USGBC awards up to two points for reusing existing components. Also, take a look to see if restroom facilities are located within your space and if they can be retrofitted for reduced water usage. Determine if lighting, HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration) and other systems can be controlled for the space, and how much flexibility you have to retrofit the systems serving the space.
