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Encouraging regional priorities
To encourage projects to pursue credits with regional environmental significance, LEED offers up to four bonus Regional Priority (RP) points for each project.
RP credits are identified by USGBC Regional Councils for each zipcode within their region, with input from USGBC Chapters. These bonus points are granted for meeting requirements that have been designated as particularly important for your project's specific geographical area.
Automatic achievement
The RP points are for normal LEED credits, not new ones written for your region. You don’t have to do anything to attempt them. You enter your project’s zipcode when you register in LEED Online, and the system automatically credits you with a bonus point when you earn a credit that is designated as a regional priority credit for your zip code, up to four bonus points.
Based on your registered project’s zipcode, regional priorities are assigned based on what is deemed really important for that region. If your project earns these designated priority credits, it automatically achieves RP points. Your project can only achieve four of the six designated RP points through RPc1, however, it is a good idea to pursue all six in order to ensure achieving at least four.
It's a good idea to find out which credits will earn you a bonus point during your initial LEED review so you can estimate how many points you’re targeting, and learn which credits USGBC deems particularly important in your project’s location. You can do that by using the tool from the USGBC website that provides your RPc1 credits based on your zipcode or non-U.S. location (see Resources).
Some credits are listed with a performance threshold in the form of a percentage. That tells you what threshold you need to achieve to earn the bonus point. For example, in water conservation, it might specify that you have to reach the 40% savings threshold to earn the bonus point—achieving the 30% level won’t do it. For example, if you’re using LEED-NC and reach the 30% water reduction level for 2 points, you just earn those two points. But if you reach the 40% reduction level (4 points), you also get a regional bonus point for a total of 5 points.
What to expect
Environmental zones are defined based on multiple factors and can differ across a state, or even within a city (if it has multiple zipcodes). Significant differences are based on the following factors.
Climate
You can expect WE credits to be given high priority in arid climates.
The points for this credit are generally based on concerns at a regional level, but they vary quite a bit by zip code, so carefully check them for your project.Renewable energy is given priority in sunny or windy regions. Ecology and geography
Stormwater is a common priority for coastal areas and sites adjacent to major rivers or water bodies.
Habitat protection and restoration is assigned to many regions in the West, as well as to areas such as the Mississippi Delta and Florida Everglades, which contain large areas of critical natural habitat.
Existing development
Density, transportation, and building reuse are commonly assigned as priorities for urban sites or areas prone to sprawl.
Differences in policy
Energy performance is assigned as a regional priority credit in many areas, though less frequently in states that already have high standards for energy efficiency, such as Oregon or California.
Consider these questions when approaching this credit
- How will your project respond to its climate and physical context?
- Can RP bonus points help push your project to a higher level of certification?
- Are there local incentives that encourage the same regional priorities your project is assigned?
FAQ's for RPc1
How many points can a project achieve from Regional Priority credits?
A project can receive a maximum of four points, even if all six possible Regional Priority credits are achieved.
Can a project receive a point for Exemplary Performance for a credit as well as a point if that credit is also a Regional Priority credit?
Yes. A project can earn an Innovation point for Exemplary Performance while also earning an RPc1 point for the same credit.
My project does not have a zip code because it is not located in the U.S. Can the project still apply for Regional Priority credits?
Yes. A set of Regional Priority credits is available for projects located ouside of the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam. The list can be found through USGBC.
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Identify which Regional Priority (RP) credits are available for your project's zipcode by checking the USGBC’s website.
Cross-check the available RP credits against your preliminary project scorecard. Note which RP credits you are already pursuing, as well as ones you may not have been pursuing but may want to consider based on the bonus points available.
Discuss as a team the value of these additional RP bonus points, to be sure that everyone is on board with pursuing them. Make sure the additional benefit is understood so that the proper emphasis is put on those credits.
Projects outside the U.S. are not currently eligible for RP points.
Not more than four RP points can be earned, even if you earn all six RP credits. However, it makes sense to aggressively pursue as many RP credits as possible, in case a credit becomes unattainable during the design and construction process or one of your RP submittals is denied during certification review. Doing so also supports the environmental priorities of your region.
Plan on tracking the progress of RP credits throughout project design and construction to keep your project in line with its certification goals.
USGBC
Excerpted from LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations
COPYRIGHT © 2009 BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVEDRP Credit 1: Regional priority
1–4 Points
Intent
To provide an incentive for the achievement of credits that address geographically specific environmental priorities.
Requirements
Earn 1 of the 6 Regional Priority Credits (credits identified by the USGBC Regional Councils and Chapters as having additional regional environmental importance). A database of Regional Priority Credits and their geographic applicability is available on the USGBC Web site, https://www.usgbc.org/RPC/RegionalPriorityCredits.aspx?CMSPageID=2435
One point is awarded for each Regional Priority credit achieved. No more than 4 credits identified as Regional Priority credits may be earned. USGBC has prioritized credits for projects located in the U.S., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. All other international projects should check the database for eligible Regional Priority credits.
Potential Technologies & Strategies
Determine and pursue the prioritized credits for the project location.
Web Tools
Database of Regional Priority Credits
Uses a map-based tool to determine the Regional Priority credits of a particular location and credit sequence. Also includes list of Regional Priority credits available to international projects. Some credits listed note a specific compliance path/option or performance threshold that must be achieved to be awarded a pt for RP.



18 Comments
Regional Priority SSc7.2 - Heat Island Roof
I have completed the SSc7.2 form...successfully it appears and upload the required documentation. Is there additional documentation for the RP credit? We really need the RP point.
The credit form says there are no thresholds for that needs to be met to achieve the RP point. Right now when I check the compliance button it only shows that we have met compliance for 1 point...but not the RP point. Any suggestions?
As every project has six different credits which offer regional priority and each project is only allowed up to 4 extra points, you have to manually select which credit you want to attempt the regional priority on. You need to do this from the Credit Information Tab within the individual credit (the page that initially opens when you click on a credit from the Scorecard). On that page, scroll down the the "Thresholds" seciton and make sure that you click the "Attempt Regional credit" checkbox. Once you resave the form, and go back to the Scorecard Tab, you should see the additional point being attempted. The LOv3 Help Content has some screenshots which might be helpful (https://www.leedonline.com/irj/go/km/docs/documents/usgbc/leed/config/co...).
This has been done. It shows the additional credit being attempted as shown in all the screen shots.
Is the RP point awarded once the credit is mark complete and submitted for review?
Yes - You have to achieve the base credit before you can get the additional RPC point. So the additional RPC point will only show as "Attempted" until the credit has been submitted, reviewed, and approved. Provided that you achieve the base credit (in this case SSc7.2) and have met any additional threshold requirements for your RPC (such as in cases where the RPC requires you to use Path X or achieve at least XX%), the addditional point would be awarded during that review phase along with the regular point associated with the base credit. Hope that helps to clarify.
Appeal of RP credit
do we need to pay an appealing fee for RP credit or it will be automatically awarded once the associated credit are awarded. e.g. if we apeal for EAc1 and was awarded, one point of RP will be awarded without paying appealing fee.
Thanks
I would assume that you do not have to pay the appeal fee for RPc1, but only GBCI could say for sure.
No RP for zip code
The zip code I used for a campus project is not registering any RP credits. It is a NC project. Do I change the zip code to the city's, in the project data list for the RPs to register?
Brian, that is probably what you'll ultimately do. However, since LEED Online calculates your RP compliance based on project zipcode (I think), you may want to contact GBCI to ensure that you're doing this by the book.
All LEED Regional Priority credits?
I know that RP credits are by zip code, and for Volume planning purposes, I'd love to have a comprehensive list of ALL credits that (at one location or another) qualify for RP.
I'm certain some never make the cut. If we had a list of any credit that is every available for RP, we could better plan for our prototype in the LEED Volume program. Again, just a list of all possible credits that in one location or another qualify for Regional Priority.
Does it exist? Can we get it?
The RP credits use to be in an excel spread sheet before the USGBC transformed it into an online database. So the data should be available. You can try contacting the USGBC or try the USGBC linkedin group. They are very responsive, which I can't always say about the direct email contact of the USGBC or GBCI.
Good luck!
new RPc1 database
There is a new tool from USGBC to help you identify your project's Regional Priority Credits (RPCs). Last week USGBC launched a new Regional Priority credit database.
The database is a map-based tool that allows the user to select one or more rating systems, enter the project location (specific address or merely a postal code), and see an outline of the postal code on a map, and export the RPC data output to Excel.
USGBC will also maintain the original, Excel-based spreadsheets of state-specific RPCs. However, users are asked to primarily use the new database, as it contains the most up-to-date information.
It's nice that USGBC put together this database. I find it useful and time-saving. Thanks for the update.
RP Credits for International Projects
Have all international projects earned the regional priority credits WEc1, WEc2, WEc3, EAc1, EAc3, EAc5? I am asking this because in LEED online we see a magnifying glass next to these credits in the "Add Credits" page, but not on the "Scoresheet" page. Is it up to the USGBC to decide which projects gets RP? How do you utilise these credits?
Thanks.
Omer, those are the credits that are available to all international NC projects via RPc1. They should be available to all projects equally, but of course you have to earn the actual credit first. If LEED Online doesn't seem to be showing them correctly I would send GBCI a note via "feedback" on that site.
Double Regional Priority Credit
If a credit is listed twice in the same zip code for RP credits, is it safe to assume that it counts as two additional points?
For example in Pennsylvania zip code 19103 for Commercial Interiors, WEc1(40%) is listed twice. Initially, I thought it might be a typo but I realized it could me they a placing great emphasis on this credit. Has anyone else experienced this?
Patrick, sorry for the slow reply on this one. I was hoping someone from USGBC would chime in. I would not make this assumption, but would check with GBCI. I haven't heard of a situation like this, and there have been inconsistencies in the RPc1 data. Let us know what you learn.
Regional Priority in LEED-ND
Does anyone know how to determine what RPCs are avaialble for ND?
The LEED ND regional priority credits can be found here: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148, towards the bottom of the page.
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