LEED Interpretations and Addenda Database Help Document This document was developed to help LEED Project Teams and users maneuver through the LEED Interpretations and Addenda Database located at: https://www.usgbc.org/leedinterpretations This document was updated to reflect the post BETA user interface of the database released in late October 0. Internet Browser Platforms Supported by the Database Internet Explorer versions 6 through 9 Safari version and above Google Chrome version 0 and above Firefox version and above Conducting Your Search There are multiple ways in which you can use the database to find the issues you are looking for. The following are just a few examples.. Search by Specific Minimum Program Requirement, Prerequisite, or Credit Example : You need to search for ALL LEED Interpretations and Addenda that relate to NCv., SSc Site Selection. () Select your Entry Types ( LEED Interpretations and both Addenda are selected by default) () Expand the Rating System selection box and select New Construction v. (Figure ) Figure
() Expand the Credit Category selection box and select Sustainable Sites () Expand the MPR/Prerequisite/Credit selection box and select SSc Site Selection (Figure ) Figure The default posting date range is from //999 to today s date. To change the date range, expand the Date selection box () and enter the date directly or click the calendar icon () that will allow you to scroll through dates more quickly. Next, click the link on the month () to scroll through multiple months and years (). (Figure ) Figure Under the Date selection box, you have the Applicability section of the search filters. Every LEED Interpretation is accompanied by a table that indicates how the ruling may or must be applied to projects certifying under every LEED rating system currently in use. This filter allows you to tailor the results of your search based on the following indications: [ ] The ruling was written for projects using this rating system, and must be applied based on the project s registration date. [ ] Project teams and certification reviewers may refer to the ruling for projects using this rating system, if reasonable and appropriate. [ ]+[ ] Both In this example, we selected Both. (Figure ) Figure
Once all the search criteria are selected, continue to scroll to the bottom of the screen and click on the button or scroll back to the top of the screen and select the search icon: You will then be given a list of rulings on the entries page that pertains to NCv. SSc: Site Selection with the filter criteria listed to the left in green (). You then have the ability to () sort your records by Entry Types, Date, Rating System and Category and select to have all the text of the results collapsed or expanded (). You may also export the results into an excel file (). (Figure 5) Figure 5. Search by Inquiry ID # or Specific Topic Example A: You would like to search for all LEED Interpretations that include the term RECs in the formal inquiry and ruling text. If you have recently completed a search in the database, make sure to click Clear All Filters () before starting a new search. Enter the term RECs in the Keyword or Entry Number field (). Next, select LEED Interpretations under Entry Types () and then click on the search icon. (Figure 6) Search results will include ALL LEED Interpretations throughout ALL LEED Rating Systems with the term RECs in the text. NOTE: Keyword searches do not include language in the Rating System, Credit Category or MPR/Prerequisite/Credit fields. Figure 6
If you would like to run a search amongst the New Construction rating systems only, simply click on the inapplicable rating systems shown in green () and click on the search button again. Search results will only include those entries that meet the filter requirements shown in green. (Figure 7) Figure 7 Figure 7 How to Read an Entry Every LEED Interpretation, or ruling, contains guidance regarding the applicability of the ruling in the Applicability tab. The table under Rating Systems & References tells you the following: () the ruling must be applied based on your project s registration date () project teams and certification reviewers may refer to the ruling for additional guidance () the ruling is explicitly excluded from application to another rating system. () the ruling has not yet been considered for applicability to the given rating system Additional information: For rulings that were not yet considered for projects using this rating system [ ], USGBC will continue to determine the applicability of these LEED Interpretations to each rating system, and will publish changes to these tables when possible. For projects registered under a rating system that the LEED Interpretation was not considered for, the project team may either: a) Attempt to apply the LEED Interpretation during the standard project certification review process, explaining in a narrative why the LEED Interpretation should apply to the rating system that the project team is using b) Submit a similar formal inquiry under the desired rating system If the ruling does NOT apply to projects using this rating system [ ], project teams should not attempt to apply the ruling to their project. If a project team would like to appeal the applicability of a given ruling to their project, they may do so through the Project CIR and possibly the LEED Interpretations process.
This section in the database also contains information letting you know if there are corresponding Addenda or LEED Interpretations related to the issue. In such cases, the unique ID for the corresponding LEED Interpretation and/or Addenda is provided (5). (Figure 8) 5 Figure 8 Entry Tools The Tools drop down menu provided on every LEED Interpretations and Addenda entry contains the ability to remove a single entry from your search results (). This will not delete the entry entirely from the database, but simply removes the entry from your search results and will therefore not appear in any export files. The Go to Details function () under the Tools menu allows you to see the entry in its entirety, including the Applicable Rating System matrix, on a separate page. You can use this details page to cut and paste entries in their entirety into other formats. The Unique ID hyperlink () in the top right corner of every entry allows the same view. (Figure 9) Figure 9 5
Project teams can now share and reference single entries via email using the Share Email tool located in the Tools drop down menu. A unique URL is then provided in the format of an email that can be shared with other project team members. (Figure 0) Figure 0 Additional Help Content. Keyword or Entry Number Search In addenda entries, the keyword is searched for in all the following fields:. the Addenda ID number. the description of the issue In LEED Interpretations, the keyword is searched for in all the following fields:. the LEED Interpretation Inquiry ID number. the LEED Interpretation (or ruling) text. the Formal Inquiry (or question) text Figure Use the following functions to aid your search:. Use a comma, plus sign or the word and to search for entries with multiple words (examples: HVAC, energy / HVAC + energy / HVAC and energy). Use the negative sign or the word not to exclude entries with a certain word (examples: brownfield asbestos / brownfield not asbestos). To search for entries with exact words or phrases, enclose within double quotes (examples: Renewable Energy / Natural Ventilation / Green e ). To search for entries with a mix of phrases and words, use double quotes for all terms (examples: Renewable Energy + RECs ) 5. If multiple words are used without VALID quotes, zero results are returned with a message showing search rules (example: Renewable Energy AND RECs are not valid search criteria) 6. Manually type criteria into the search field as words and terms that are copied and pasted from other sources may give varied or inaccurate results (Figure ) 6
. Entry Types LEED Interpretations LEED Interpretations are precedent setting rulings reviewed by USGBC on formal inquiries submitted by LEED project teams that can be applied to multiple projects. This includes:. All rulings on inquiries submitted before July 009 (formerly known as CIRs). All rulings for precedent setting inquiries submitted post launch of the LEED Interpretations program. Select Project CIRs requested prior to the LEED Interpretations program launch Figure Rating System Addenda This database includes addenda for the following rating systems: LEED for New Construction v009 LEED for Schools v009 LEED for Core & Shell v009 LEED for Commercial Interiors v009 LEED for Existing Buildings: O&M v009 LEED for Neighborhood Development v009 LEED for Retail, New Construction v009 LEED for Retail, Commercial Interiors v009 LEED for Homes v008 LEED for Healthcare v009 Reference Guide Addenda The database includes addenda to the following reference guides: Green Building Design and Construction, 009 edition Green Building Design and Construction, 009 edition, updated June 00 Retail Supplement to Green Building Design and Construction, 009 edition Green Interior Design and Construction, 009 edition Green Interior Design and Construction, 009 edition, updated June 0 Retail Supplement to Green Interior Design and Construction, 009 edition Green Building Operations and Maintenance, 009 edition Green Building Operations and Maintenance, 009 edition, updated April 00 Green Neighborhood Development, 009 edition Homes, 008 edition Homes, 008 edition, updated December 009 Healthcare Supplement to Green Building Design and Construction, 009 edition (Figure ). Posting Date Range The posting date for each entry indicates the day that an entry was originally posted. Please note the following ranges in posting dates: 7
LEED Interpretations LEED Interpretations that first appeared as CIRs were published from January, 999 through September 0, 009. There were no LEED Interpretations published between October 009 and February 0. LEED Interpretations are now published on a quarterly (tri monthly) schedule to align with the addenda schedule. Addenda The first publication of LEED 009 addenda occurred in November 009. Starting in April 00, addenda were published on a quarterly (tri monthly) schedule. (Figure ) Figure Figure. Addenda Issue Types Grammatical addenda are those that do not alter the technical content of the rating system or reference guide in a substantive way, and typically would not affect a project team s ability to earn a prerequisite or credit. Examples include misspelled words and incorrect punctuation. Figure Non grammatical addenda are substantive changes to the rating system or reference guide. They may alter the way a given requirement is achieved or meant to be achieved. (Figure ) The LEED Foundations document provides a description of addenda as well as updates to LEED. It can be found on usgbc.org under Policies and Guidelines. 5. Sorting Users may sort their results using the following criteria (Figure 5): Entry Type: LEED Interpretation or Addenda Figure 5 Date: most recent entries by posting date or by oldest Rating System: entries are listed in the following order: ) New Construction v009 ) New Constructionv. ) New Construction v. ) New Construction v.0 5) Schools v009 6) Schools v007 7) Core & Shell v009 8) Core & Shell v.0 9) Commercial Interiors v009 8
0) Commercial Interiors v.0 ) Existing Buildings: O&M v009 ) Existing Buildings: O&M v008 ) Existing Buildings v.0 ) Neighborhood Development v009 5) Retail, New Construction v009 6) Retail, Commercial Interiors v009 7) Homes v008 8) Healthcare v009 Category: entries are listed in the following order: ) Introduction/other ) Minimum Program Requirements ) Sustainable Sites ) Water Efficiency 5) Energy and Atmosphere 6) Materials and Resources 7) Indoor Environmental Quality 8) Innovation in Design 9) Innovation in Operations 0) Smart Location and Linkage ) Neighborhood Pattern and Design ) Green Infrastructure and Buildings ) Innovation and Design Process ) Location and Linkage 5) Awareness and Education 6. Export Search results Project Teams may use this feature to export LEED Interpretations OR Addenda selections into an unformatted excel spreadsheet. Exporting both LEED Interpretations and Addenda to the same spreadsheet is not available. If search results include both entry types, export twice (one for each entry type) to capture all results. (Figure 6) Figure 6 Agreement to Terms and Conditions must be provided before the export occurs. USGBC is not responsible for data once it has been extracted from the LEED Interpretations and Addenda database. 9