Review Guidance Available for LEED v4

CAGBC significantly increased project submission guidance for LEED v4/v4.1 project teams throughout 2023 with the goal of streamlining the certification review process for teams. The CAGBC LEED Reviewers identified some of the most challenging areas of submissions and then developed reviewer tip articles, guidance resources, and free reviewer insight videos to help to resolve any difficulties that teams might be encountering on their projects.

The guidance materials are announced each month in our CAGBC Technical Bulletin (a Specialist member resource) and then housed under News or Resources on CAGBC’s website. All CAGBC produced material is available in both English and French. There are two main locations of the material on CAGBC’s website:

• Under News using the filters of “Certification Essentials” or “Certification Updates”, and “LEED v4” or “LEED v4.1”.
• Under Technical Resources using the filter of “LEED v4” to see the full list of offerings.

Further filtering can be done through keywords if you are looking for something specific.

Under Technical Resources, the newer offerings include:

• Treatment of Incomplete Space in BD+C – CAGBC Reviewers assembled the most significant guidance into one location for LEED v4/v4.1 BD+C projects (all adaptations) with incomplete space.
• Reviewer Insight Video Series – CAGBC Reviewers created short how-to videos to instruct project teams on challenging credits, to streamline the documentation process. The free videos include:
  • The top four mistakes seen with the Indoor Water Use Reduction Calculator and how to avoid them on your next project submission.
  • Reviewer Insights into SSc Rainwater Management: six easy steps that you can implement with your own projects.
  • Resolving common submission errors in Heat Island Reduction.
  • Learn how a Reviewer verifies the Material Ingredients credit and how you can apply this guidance to your own projects.
  • Insights into the Composite Wood category of the LEED v4.1 substitution for Low-Emitting Materials. Reviewers share some updates and tips to make it easy!

Under News, 2023 review guidance includes the following:

• Did you see USGBC’s improved LEED FAQs?
• Electrification encouraged through new ACPs,
• Guidance applying LEED to unusual building types,
• Handling Unrenovated Space in LEED Major Renovation Project,
• LEED Submittal Deadlines,
• New Guidelines for LEED v4.1 Credit Substitutions,
• New opportunities in LEED v4.1 O+M,
• New option to earn energy points through green leasing,
• New resource – Annual Outdoor Water Calculator,
• Quick Tip with Outdoor Water documentation,
• Reviewer Tips: NECB 2011 Hydronic Pumps,
• Streamlining Building Product Disclosure and Optimization and Low-Emitting Materials,
• Updates to LEED v4 Low Emitting Materials,
• WELL and LEED Crosswalk Available,
• When can multiple buildings pursue LEED certification together?