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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...
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33 Comments
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!
Regional Priority Credit Point from M&V
If we go for option 3 of M&V credit by registering an account to the Energy Star, can we also get the bonus point from Regional Priority Credit?
Only if the M&V credit is listed as available for your project's zip code if the project is in the US. See Tristan's comments below on international projects if that applies.
This isn't a regional priority credit. You can either get points under EA 5.1 Option 3 (meet MPR6 with using Energy Star portfolio Manger) or an Exemplary performanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. point (ID credits) if you achieve also option 3. You will have to fill out the PFI 1 (Minimum project requirements) and EA 5.1 first, so it will show up under the ID credit for selection. 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.
Regional priority + examplary performance under WEC3
Dear all,
I am willing to make the best use of the new RP rule regarding international projects. In my current project, it would bring a big help to reach a Gold instead of Silver. Now, when we consider WEC2: innovative waste water techn & WEC3: Water Use Reduction and that we target a 50% water use reduction using all that is necessary to do so, it would mean: 2 points under WEC2 + 1 RP under the new international rule AND 4 points under WEC3 + 1 RP under the new international rule+ 1 ID for reaching 50% savings. So it makes a lot of points and I wanted to make sure that this really is a nice incentive or if I am missing something. Also, can we cumulate a RP and a ID under WEC3 in that case?
Thanks a lot,
Valentin, you can earn a point under IDc1 for exemplary performanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. while also earning an RPc1 point for the same credit.
I didn't double-check every aspect of your scenario here but in principle I don't see anything wrong.
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 for Healthcare
Have Regional Priority creidts or LEED for Healthcare been worked out?
Hi Neil,
We're working to get the regional priority credits in the LEED Online v3 database for healthcare projects, as well as to publish a spreadsheet listing the credits on usgbc.org. This should happen within the next couple of weeks.
best,
Cara Mae
As an update, I asked this question to the LEED Healthcare Committte for LEED HC projects. Here is my response on July 12, 2011. I just found this thread.
"Regional Priority Credits will be available when full certification launches in a few months. I will let you know, however, that we used the same RPCs as LEED for New Construction, except for when credits significantly changed or do not exist in LEED for Healthcare. In those instances, a committee of regional representatives selected appropriate alternatives. Chapters will select new RPCs for LEED for Healthcare as part of the next round of Regionalization for LEED 2012."
MRc1
I am working on a LEED-NC 2009 project in Baltimore MD, 21205. One of the RP credits is MRc1 (75%). Technically there is a MRc1.1 and MRc1.2. Does this mean that I am to combine these (2) credits to acheive my 75%, or pick one, or maybe its a typo?
Thanks.
Based on my best understanding of the intent, you would have to earn either MRc1.1 or MRc1.2, but not both. I would send a note to GBCI via LEED Online to confirm, if it's important to your project.
Thanks Tristan.
GBCI informed me that is it supposed to be MRc1.1. They are in the process of updating their database accordingly.
international projects now get RPc1
Good news for non-U.S. projects: RPc1 "bonus points" are now being awarded for key energy and water credits. Read about details here.
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.
Thank you Lauren
LEED in Guam
As a US Territory we have a zip code but it isnt listed in the regional point matrix, also there is no local chapter.
i have looked at the hawaii credits and expect that they will apply for Guam. how do i get this confirmed?
RPc1 points are awarded based on zipcodes that are in the Regional Priority spreadsheets, and in LEED Online. Since those are not currently set up for Guam, it seems logical that you could earn the points, but you would need GBCI's approval and help to set this up. I would recommend you get in touch with them about it, if you haven't.
Is there a chapter in Hawaii? Perhaps they would help in a communication with USGBC.
Richard, did you ever get a resolution on the Guam Regional Priorities?
Jennifer, Guam might fall under the more recently introduced International regional priority credits—see the note above about that.
Asia Regional Priority credit
I heard that LEED awards Asia Regional Priority credit. Does anybody know this and can somebody help in checking this?
Where did you hear this? I have not heard of this being the case. On its official Regional Priority credits page, USGBC does not give any information on RP credits available outside the U.S.
USGBC will be posting defaul International Regional Priority Credits in the second half of August/first half of September. A default slate of credits has been approved by the Steering Committee and they are updating LEED Online to accommodate them. I don't know what they are yet, but they reflect the TRACI environmental priorities, absent a choice by the national GBC.
I just read the International RP credits online - they are the same for every country. http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8156
Interesting, they are only WE and EA credits-must only achieve base threshold.
It references an October 16th date, but does not state a year. Is it safe to assume 2011?
Alyson--that Oct 16 date was in 2010, but i don't think it matters--they're just saying that if you registered before that date they'll have to make a manual adjustment to make these RPCs available to your project, whereas if you registered after that should happen automatically.
I second Nadav on that. I have worked on a couple of international projects registered before Oct 2010. You will have to send a feedback request through LEEDOnline to get the credits to show up on LEED Online. Also if you are already in design review or even construction review you can still get the credits applied to your projects.
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