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COVID-19 impacts on USGBC and LEED certification

  • Updated

Where can I find resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Visit the Building re-entry page on usgbc.org for resources to support managing buildings during COVID-19.

 

For more guidance specifically for LEED v4.1 O+M projects affected by COVID-19, please also refer to the following resources:

This guidance is applicable to LEED O+M projects submitting preliminary reviews prior to June 30, 2022. Final submissions must be provided within 90 days of receiving preliminary review comments from GBCI. LEED O+M projects requiring additional time can request to extend the reporting period up until the end of year 2022 by contacting us no later than December 31, 2022. Include project name/ID and expected submission date. All projects with 2022 end of year reporting periods must be submitted within 90 days of the reporting period ending or by March 31, 2023.

Updated 11/11/2022

Our project is impacted by COVID-19. What if we can't provide data annually as required following our LEED v4.1 O+M certification (or recertification)?

Generally, projects that are seeking to maintain their certification status during the three-year recertification cycle may follow the guidance (and associated submittal guidance) and include in the next application submittal a brief description of the efforts they made to keep their project data up-to-date, and to include any obstacles they faced or reasons they were not able to complete certain actions (e.g., IAQ testing). Projects impacted by COVID-19 which can reasonably explain the reason for the missing data will not need to pay a new registration fee.

Please keep an eye on our FAQs related to COVID-19. We will continue updating it as needed to address common questions about LEED v4.1 O+M, such as yours, that have come up.

My v4.1 O+M project is impacted by COVID. When is the deadline for submitting under the guidance?

As per the December 2021 update, the guidance is applicable to LEED O+M projects submitting prior to June 30, 2022. For more details/updates, see the latest Guidance for LEED O+M certification and recertification projects affected by COVID-19.

I have updated my cleaning strategies in response to COVID-19. Will this impact my certification?

Every project should feel confident in taking measures to provide a safe and healthy environment. In the event that the project team is unable to meet the criteria of EQc Green Cleaning due to current concerns about COVID-19, please contact us with a narrative explaining the circumstances, as well as dates of purchase and our LEED reviewers, will help you understand how each choice connects to your LEED certification.

Additionally, a new pilot credit is now available to assist LEED projects in continuing green cleaning best practices: Safety First: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Space.

My construction waste recycling facility is closed or is not recycling materials at the same rate as before due to the Coronavirus pandemic. I am not able to store materials to wait for better recycling conditions. What can I do?

We encourage all projects to continue to divert materials and recycle to the greatest extent possible. Those materials that are able to be recycled and diverted shall be documented in the normal way for credit achievement. However, we realize that circumstances may make recycling challenging for reasons outside a project team's control during the global pandemic. Projects that are experiencing difficulty during this time can choose one of two options for the credit:

  • Option A: Temporarily exclude the affected loads from credit calculations. Projects will continue to track these materials, but they will not count toward overall project generation and diversion rates.
  • Option B: Utilize the waste processing facility's average diversion rate reported prior to the pandemic lock-down. Diversion rates must be the facility average for at least the six months prior to the pandemic.

To document this exception, follow these steps:

  • In the LEED Form, provide a special circumstances narrative describing the waste management challenges the project is facing during the affected time period.
  • Provide the completed Construction and Demolition Waste Calculator.
  • If choosing Option A above, separately track material quantities that were generated and collected but that were not able to be recycled or diverted due to the pandemic. Report these quantities in the project narrative but exclude the loads from the credit calculations. Include a letter or other documentation from the impacted recycling facility stating the change in material processing (for example: if they are unable to recycle materials, are processing materials as alternative daily cover (ADC), or are not open for collection).
  • If choosing Option B above, provide documentation from the recycling facility stating the average diversion rates for the 6 months preceding the pandemic. Enter this average diversion rate and ADC rate in the Calculator.

GBCI will allow these adjustments to the Construction & Demolition Waste Management credit on a case-by-case basis.

I am concerned that the change in occupancy for my building will impact performance reporting for my LEED v4.1 O+M project. What should I do?

Many project teams are in a similar situation to yours because of the pandemic, so guidance was created with additional flexibility in mind to help project teams document their project during COVID-19. When changes in occupancy occur, teams should update occupancy values. We understand that significantly reduced (or increased) occupancy will impact building data and scores. Projects impacted by COVID-19 have two primary options at this time

This guidance is for projects pursuing LEED O+M initial certification or recertification and impacted by COVID-19. In general, there are two pathways forward for project teams.

  • Option 1. Use pre-COVID-19 performance data (LEED O+M v4.1 initial or recertification in either LEED Online or the Arc platform and LEED O+M v4 recertification in the Arc platform)
  • Option 2. Implement outlined pathways that account for reduced occupancy during COVID-19 (LEED v4.1 initial or recertification only)

This guidance is applicable to LEED O+M projects submitting prior to June 30, 2022.

In case any of this guidance does not work for a specific project need please contact us to propose alternative approaches at gbci.org/contact.

Projects that have not updated to Arc score version 3.1 or 3.2 must do so prior to submitting for certification with the COVID-19 Guidance pathways.

To utilize these pathways, select the setting “Impacted by COVID-19” in project settings under meters and surveys > settings > more settings if not already selected.

1. Energy Performance

Projects have two options to report energy performance. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018.

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2. Use a 1-year time period (reporting period) and if applicable use time-weighted occupancy. The reporting period is aligned for energy performance and water performance.

The system will calculate time-weighted occupancy based on the occupancy values provided. Time-weighted occupancy values are calculated as follows.

Example:
Reporting Period: June 1, 2019, through May 31, 2020
June 1, 2019, through February 29, 2020: 600 occupants (274 days of the reporting period)
March 1, 2020, through May 31, 2020: 10 occupants (92 days of the reporting period)
Calculation: ((600*274) + (10*92))/(274+92) = 452 occupant Enter 453 occupants.

2. Water Performance

Projects have two options to report water performance. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018.

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2. Use a 1-year time period (reporting period) and if applicable use time-weighted occupancy. The reporting period is aligned for energy performance and water performance.

The system will calculate time-weighted occupancy based on the occupancy values provided. Time-weighted occupancy values are calculated as follows.

Example:
Reporting Period: June 1, 2019 through May 31, 2020
June 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020: 600 occupants (274 days of the reporting period)
March 1, 2020 through May 31, 2020: 10 occupants (92 days of the reporting period)
Calculation: ((600*274) + (10*92))/(274+92) = 452 occupants

3. Waste Performance

Projects have two options to report on waste performance. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2. Conduct a waste audit during COVID-19 conditions. The date for this action should be within 3 years of the reporting period established for energy and water performance. Enter waste audit results and occupancy at the time of the waste audit, and the system will calculate the waste performance score based on actual occupancy at the time of the audit.

4. Transportation Performance

Projects have two options to report on transportation performance. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018.

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2. Conduct the survey during COVID-19 conditions.The date for this action should be within 3 years of the reporting period established for energy and water performance. Account for full-time occupant transportation behavior experienced through one or a combination of the following:
    • Survey onsite occupants to reflect transportation behavior to the building
    • Use the additional information field in Arc to attest to the number of regular occupants that are teleworking instead of coming to the project
  • Option 2 is available for all projects (unoccupied buildings as well as buildings with partial or full, occupancy). The minimum required response rate is based upon the occupancy at the building on the day the survey was conducted.

To enter survey data for surveys conducted outside of the LEED Online or Arc, contact gbci.org/contact.

5. Indoor Environmental Quality Performance

Projects have a few options to report on indoor environmental quality performance.

5.1 Occupant satisfaction survey

Projects have two options to conduct occupant satisfaction survey. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018.

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2. For buildings with partial or full occupancy, conduct the survey with the on-site occupants ONLY to reflect their satisfaction with the building environment during COVID-19. The date for this action should be within 3 years of the reporting period established for energy and water performance.

To enter survey data for surveys conducted outside of the LEED Online or Arc, contact gbci.org/contact.

The minimum required response rate is based upon the occupancy at the building on the day the survey was conducted.

5.2 Indoor air quality evaluation (for CO2 Score and TVOC Score)

Projects have two options to conduct indoor air quality evaluation. Project teams may use performance data from a 1-year time period (“reporting period”) beginning any time after January 1, 2018.

  • Option 1. Select a reporting period prior to experiencing occupancy reductions due to COVID-19. The reporting period should be aligned for all categories.
  • Option 2a. Indoor air quality testing may be conducted during partially occupied conditions. Test in the occupied areas that are most representative of the entire project. It is acceptable to perform testing in spaces that are operating with lower occupancy to accommodate physical distancing. The date for this action should be within 3 years of the reporting period established for energy and water performance.
  • Option 2b. For buildings that are unoccupied, TVOC measurements may be conducted in areas of the building representative of spaces occupied prior to COVID-19 that are operating at close to typical ventilation conditions. CO2 measurements taken in unoccupied buildings may not be used to calculate the CO2 score. The date for this action should be within 3 years of the reporting period established for energy and water performance.

Updated 10/5/2022

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