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Pilot credits and pilot alternative compliance paths (ACPs)

  • Updated

What are pilot credits?

Pilot credits are proposed credits that are used to test and evaluate a strategy before they can be considered for incorporation into the LEED consensus process for approval by USGBC membership.

Pilot credits are open for at least one year. At the one-year mark, USGBC staff compiles all feedback from users including survey responses, project documentation, LEEDuser forum discussions, and registration stats to determine the best course of action for the pilot credit.

Based on this feedback, the Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs) and Pilot Credit Committee make a recommendation for the next steps. Options include keeping the credit open for additional feedback, modifying the credit language and keeping it open, closing the pilot credit, moving the pilot credit to the innovation catalog for continued use as an innovation point, and consideration for inclusion in future versions of LEED.

For more information about these and the continuous improvement process of LEED, see the Foundations of LEED document.

What is the difference between a pilot credit and a pilot alternative compliance path (ACP)?

A pilot alternative compliance path (ACP) is a pilot credit that can be used in place of one of the existing LEED credits. For example, the Alternative Energy Performance Metric ACP can be used in place of EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance, EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, and EA Credit Renewable Energy Production. The number of points available is specified in each Pilot ACP, but typically you can earn some or all points available for the corresponding credit by substituting the Pilot ACP and meeting the requirements. Pilot ACPs are usually testing credits that achieve a similar intent to an existing credit through a new strategy.

Standard pilot credits, on the other hand, are each worth 1 point, and that point is earned within the Innovation category. These are typically ideas and strategies that are entirely new to LEED.

How do I know which pilot credits my project can use?

Please see our Pilot Credit Library, and use the filters at the top to select your project's rating system and version. The resulting list shows pilot credits that are both open and closed to new registrations. Use the filters on the left to select only open pilot credits and/or open pilot ACPs. 

What happens if a project team registers for a pilot credit and later decides not to pursue the credit?

You do not need to take any action — pilot credit registration is not binding. If you decide not to pursue a pilot credit (or change your mind after the initial review) you may replace it with another strategy.

Can I earn a pilot credit if I tried to achieve the credit requirements, but failed?

No. While it is valuable to receive this feedback, your project must meet the requirements to achieve the pilot credit, as with any other LEED credit.

How can my project register for a new pilot credit or pilot ACP?

LEED v2009 project teams may contact us with the project ID and pilot credit name to register. These projects will receive a registration confirmation email that should be saved and uploaded to the project as documentation.

LEED v4.1 O+M projects may register using the pilot credit registration form: https://www.usgbc.org/pilot-credit-registration. These projects will receive a registration confirmation email that should be saved and uploaded to the project as documentation.

All other LEED v4 and v4.1 projects may register for pilot credits and pilot ACPs in LEED Online using the following instructions:

  1. Log into LEED Online
  2. Navigate to your project’s scorecard (Credits tab)
  3. Scroll down to the Innovation Credit Category, and select “Attempted” from the Innovation credit dropdown
  4. Click on “Innovation” to expand the credit
  5. Click on the “Pilot Credits” button. pilot_credits.png
  6. A list of all applicable, open pilot credits and pilot ACPs will appear. Click the check box for each pilot credit or pilot ACP you’d like to register for
    • Projects may register for an unlimited number of pilot credits, however, the amount awarded is dependent on the points available under the Innovation credit category
  7. Click register to save your selections

Projects that register for pilot credits in LEED Online do not receive an email confirming registration, since these credits are confirmed in the Pilot credits tab.

How do I document compliance with a pilot credit?

To earn a pilot credit the project must do the following:

Register for specific pilot credit(s).

Use the INc: Innovation credit form to document pilot credit. Upload the following:

  1. Your pilot credit survey completion email.
  2. The credit-specific documentation outlined under the submittals section of the pilot credit page.
    • Some pilot credits indicate that teams must participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum. This is encouraged, but not required, and teams do not need to provide evidence demonstrating that they have participated in the forum.

LEED for Homes projects should submit documentation.

Confirm that the credit is ready to submit as you would for other credits.

Where can I find the pilot credit survey link for documenting my pilot credit?

A link to the appropriate survey can be found in the listing for the credit in the LEED Pilot Credit Library. Select the appropriate credit, then find the appropriate survey number range in the 'General Pilot Documentation Requirements' section.

I registered for a pilot credit that is now closed. Where can I find the language?

Closed pilot credits and closed pilot ACPs can be found by using the filters on the left side menu of the Pilot Credit Library. 

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