Recertification

If you are referring to the percentage that is calculated within the table, then this is referring to the percent over the performance period only. Additionally, the amount purchased should be for the designated performance period only (not the full 2 year contract). I'm looking at a v05 form so maybe they've fixed the bug? If you need a form update, you can request one by clicking on the feedback link at the top of the website.

Alicia

Go back and discuss this with GBCI. I think your snag may be due to the fact that LEED on LIne can't 'transfer' all the original documentation from the first certification straight into all the credits in the re-certification. (It's classed as a 'certification' with each credit having the option button that shows that the building was originally certified under LEED EB, NC, CS)....which means...then you'll need to review each credit and upload all the documents again. In some ways this is sensible as it will make you look through the credit support documents and understand any shortfalls that you may get with the re-cert.

Any credits not previously awarded are treated like 'new'...i.e. 3 month performance data needed. (However during the recertification performance period...4 to 5 years, it would be nice if building operators were already taking data down to show that the building is advancing over the whole performance rather than just the last 3 months)

Hooray! This guidance has been long awaited. I'm very excited to see we finally have a clear document to reference in our Certification maintenance. Thanks to all who contributed to this document.

Barry - Thank you for your response! I assumed that was the case. The guidance also defines recertification as any "Subsequent application(s) to the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operation Maintenance program after receiving an initial LEED for Existing Buildings certification under any version." Does this mean we can now recertify buildings that were previously certified under LEED EB 2.0? The previous guidance specifically stated that this would not qualify for recertification.

Any version of EB, even back to pilots can now re-certify with these guidelines provided that they satisfy the 5 year rule. Good luck

I have to say, I am very glad that the USGBC really kept the owner's best interest in mind with these guidelines!

The recertification guidelines "temporary" or otherwise have apparently been removed from the website. When you go to the link posted here a message pops up that says "Stay Tuned! Guidelines available September 2012" I've searched and searched and can't find recertification guidelines anywhere and submitted an email inquiry today to GBCI asking when they expect to post the guidelines. We've registered our LEED EB Gold corporate headquarters for recertification but it's all pretty confusing at this point.

LEED EBO&M Recertification Guidance as of 11/07/2012

https://new.usgbc.org/resources/leed-existing-buildings-operations-amp-m...

Cheers!

It's certainly an option, except that during that 5 years we have well seen at least two updates to LEED. The purpose of recert is to make a seamless transition between the different years of operations. By recertifying at least ever two years rather than five you will be able to make use of almost all the existing forms and support documentation that you used initially. Yes you are right the support paperwork is a nightmare especially if you have no documents being gathered over the years and letting the certification lapse is an option. However is this really want we want to do. Our original intention was to show that over the years buildings can provide the support data that shows that they have maintained their high performance status and are worthy of displaying the EB plaque. By letting the EB lapse you are not showing this only that for a three month period you'd complied. This discussion is not really about certification, it's really about data acquisition and maintainance

Chris, I heard that USGBC is actively working on this and expects something out by mid- to late-spring. By "something" I mean not only guidance but LEED Online functionality. Stay posted!

yo! its summer, whats the update on recert guidance?

do we need to perform the IBEAM audit (IEQc1.1) every year?
do we need to submit new data for WEc3?
WEc4?
EAc6?
IEQc1.4?

Here is the Recertification Guide. It helps a bit, but still has a few gray areas: https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=19201

I'd contact GBCI and get a clear answer as previously this need only be repeated every TWO years (unless of course you had major faults highlighted in the survey that required operational or physical changes to the building). In any case with that amount of people I'd take the 'average' number option rather than trying to do the whole 11,000.

Hi Barry,
thanks for the input. When was your last discussion with GBCI? i hope they still stick with 2 years per survey. The previous survey result is ok, doesn't have major issues, only that, it really a tiring process if were to follow ASHRAE 55 requirement. Ya, though is 11,000 people, we only took 30% of the actual total occupant.

You can re-certify as soon as you like or any time up to 5 years. The recert starts the day you get the original certification (see your email from the GBCI). [The building was not 'certified' until the GBCI says it was]

Paul - according to a document issued by the GBCI titled "Temporary Guidance for Recertification under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance," project originally certified under EB v2.0 are ineligible for recertification under LEED EB:O&M and would need to first complete initial certification under EB:O&M. With that said, it would make sense to treat your "recertifcation" project as an initial certification project.

I hope the GBCI responds to you with a more streamlined approach though. I'm sure everyone on this topic would greatly appreciate any additional information the GBCI would provide!

Thanks for your insights Alicia! This seems to be the consensus among people I have spoken with. Only 2 years have passed since our initial certification, it is frustrating to be starting over completely after such a short time, but that looks to be the reality.

UPDATE: Received response from GBCI on our project. Basically, because we are recertifying a LEED EB building to the new LEED EB+OM standards, we should treat it as an "Initial" certification under LEED EB+OM as Alicia suggested. Performance period will start anew and will not be: the period for initial certification or the time in between initial and recertification, as had previously been suggested also.

I am surprised this issue has not gotten more attention on this forum. Other than responses to very specific questions submitted to GBCI, there exists NO accurate information on a LEED EB to LEED EB+OM recertification. This includes the "Temporary Guidance for Recertification..." document. It does suggest that we were not eligible for recertification under EB+OM, but did not give any further instruction, especially on the performance period.

I find this an interesting subject as many buildings that went LEED EB did so under v2...however if you registered under EB v3 for re-cert then the differential between the credits may pose a major problem. In legal reality if you hold a registration for re-cert under EB 2008, then really GBCI should honour that...however if they 'demand' that you up to v3 and they don't charge for the upgrade you then have two choices. 1. muscle the building through a v3, or 2. request an pass on recert and complete an 'initial' certification in v3.

Where can this "Temporary Guidance for Recertification under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance" be found? I can't seem to find it online anywhere.

Jason - There is not a whole lot of public guidance on recertification yet, but if I were advising a project, my answers would be:
- Yes; purchases should be tracked for the duration. EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. is predicated on the concept that without data collection and tracking, you simply don't know whats happening in a building. The USGBC believes that the value in this tracking will outweigh the burdens. So the expectation is that once you've developed a tracking system for purchasing, waste, etc..., its permanent. And that such a system will easily allow for providing summary data at any point in time for reporting to USGBC or anyone else. That doesn't necessarily mean that the USGBC will expect you to provide documentation for all 5 years, but they reserve the right to do so.
- The 5 year clock 'should' start running at the end of your performance period. I would assume exceptions would be made for things that change via the review process, but that's the safe bet.

Lots of unanswered questions about recertification though. I wrestle with these often and look forward to hearing more about the USGBCs conclusions.

Hope that helps,

Dan

Dan, thanks very much for your detailed comments. I agree with your points, and the 5-year period starting from the end of performance period would actually make more sense!

I'm starting some planning in this realm as well. Water and energy are musts. But on the purchasing and waste side, is anything required? Or is just based on which credits you wish to earn? For instance, if we earned MRc4 already, I suspect we need to keep documenting those purchases in order to retain the point during recertification ... yes? But could we choose to let it lapse? What about something like MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters ... do we have to document those purchases over 5 years?

Am I missing any other big ticket items?

Jared I think the expectation is that for any credit you earn in your initial certification, you would either maintain documentation for that credit for the next X years (X being less than or = to 5), or let it lapse. I don't think its likely that USGBC will allow you to re-earn a credit if there is a lapse in performance over the 5 year period. The mechanics of that can get messy and uncertain (for example, is performance measured over the full time period, or does it need to be measured annually and meet the threshold each year within the X year period - those two things could be very different . . . ) but in the big picture, continue tracking and documenting all the credits you've earned. Theoretically, if EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. is well-designed, that tracking should be inherently valuable for ensuring the ongoing success of your sustainability program. . .

Hope that helps,
Dan

Anybody know how these details can be confirmed? Agreed that tracking is valuable, but there are also many trade-offs depending on the time required for each task. We're just getting through our initial certification, so this feels like the time to build a solid list of what should be tracked and when ...

Jared, what details are you unsure of that you would like to confirm?

Clearly USGBC and GBCI need to provide more guidance in this area, and it's likely they will in the next couple years. However, I think Dan has a pretty good grasp on what we know right now.

I think I'm thinking of the many little details that you're probably also referring to with "more guidance."

Many of these revolve around performance periods. Will performance periods be as low as 3 months and variable, as in the current system? Or will they all be the same, from time of original certification until the new application? I'm guessing the latter, but some odd issues could arise. For instance ... over, or during, what time frame will alternative transportation be measured? Could it be measured within the first month, but not re-checked 4 years and 11 months later?

In other cases, I'm curious if requirements will be altered slightly to better fit re-certification. Say for MRc4, the current system only calls for a purchasing plan and minimal physical purchases ... will this evolve into tracking similar to MRc1-3?

And finally, given the many plans and policies ... will efforts be made to check that they are being followed closely? For instance, the purchasing policy essentially sets the stage for MRc1-3, which my project did not pursue the first time around. Will these credits be required under re-certification?

Given our banter to date, I'm guessing these details don't exist yet ... just figured I'd keep the dialogue going.

I've read the reference guide and would still like you to expand on the timing of recertification. Does the recertification process have to be completed within the five year limit, or can the application be made at the five year mark and the recertification process continue on into year six?

The LEED Reference Guide specifies that you must file for recertification at least once every five years.

My understanding is that as long as you have filed within five years, you have the time it takes your application to be processed as a grace period. This seems like it's cutting it close, though, and doesn't give you much wiggle room in correcting any issues that come up. If you've tracked and documented things through the five year period, I wouldn't think it would be a problem to get the application complete well in time.

Regarding the 5 years - does the clock start at the end of the Performance Period or the date of Certification Notification? Our project had almost a 6 month time frame from end of PP until actual certification due to the long review process so it does make a substancial difference.

Additionally, the ongoing tracking requirements still seem unclear from this string and does seem like quite a burdon on building owners to actually keep up the meticulous tracking for that length of time will be a turn off to the whole process.

The clock starts the day you 'accept' the certification at whatever level you finally get. (Usually you receive a congratulatory email from the GBCI and this links to showing the project as 'certified' on the USGBC website)

So the GBCI will not ask for the tracking from the window of time from PP end date to certification? For a specific project I have in mind it was over 6 months...

Jen, I won't with-hold the info. An example would be Energy star...you can't leave out 6 months of data nor should you leave a hole in data gathering for water use, materials from a construction job etc.
What exactly are you trying to get around? How soon do you need to get re-certified, what was the date of the original certification.