- What options do I have to certify my existing building or interior space?
- How should a project team decide between using v4 or v4.1 O+M?
- What is the difference between an 'initial' certification and a 'recertification'?
What options do I have to certify my existing building or interior space?
Currently, LEED v4 O+M and LEED v4.1 O+M are open for registration. Please find additional information on pursuing LEED O+M. Be sure to see the section titled "For new projects" under the "How certification works" section at the bottom of the page. If you like the idea of a more streamlined path to certification then we recommend trying the v4.1 O+M Beta. Also, if you are looking to certify an interior space v4.1 O+M: Interiors is the way to go since LEED v4 O+M is only available for whole building projects.
Key resources:
Note: Unlike v4, in v4.1 there are not separate adaptations based upon building or space use. Instead, there are only two adaptations: one for 'Existing Buildings' (EB) and another for 'Interiors'.
Updated 11/11/2022
How should a project team decide between using v4 or v4.1 O+M?
Both options have their advantages, but if you like the idea of a more streamlined path to certification then we recommend trying the v4.1 O+M Beta. One new thing you’ll see in LEED v4.1 is that we’ve introduced performance-based prerequisites for Location and Transportation, Materials and Resources, and Indoor Environmental Quality. LEED v4.1 gives more weight to credit requirements that are directly measurable by the project. 90 of the total points are allocated to the prerequisites that have a calculated performance score, based on actual building data. The remaining 10 points were distributed across the remaining credits with equal weight (1 point each). For more details, see the LEED v4.1 O+M Beta Guide and other resources on USGBC's v4.1 page.
If there is uncertainty about how the project would score in v4.1, we suggest that as a first step you create a free test project to learn more about the Arc platform and see how your project may score. You can create a new project through these three simple steps:
Step 1: Navigate to arcskoru.com and login with your User Account (same as your LEED Online login) or create a new account.
Step 2: Select "Projects" in the upper right corner, then the “+ Add a Project” button. Enter the Project Details, checking “This is a test project”, and then submit.
Step 3: Select "Data" and begin entering data. We suggest starting with "Building Settings".
If your team decides to pursue v4.1 O+M, fortunately, you will not need to enter this data again. You can register your LEED Online project via Arc by going to "Project Tools" and clicking on "LEED Certifications" (note: we recommend unchecking "this is a test project" from Manage > Project prior to this). From there click on "Register for LEED Certification". That way the data will stay with the project.
Updated 10/5/2022
What is the difference between an 'initial' certification and a 'recertification'?
Initial certification is any first-time application and achievement of any LEED certification. Recertification is a subsequent certification after a project has received an initial certification, and it results in a LEED O+M rating. Note: Unlike the Design & Construction rating systems (i.e., BD+C and ID+C), LEED O+M offers both Initial and Recertification approaches. Please see 'Choosing a recertification approach' for more about the recertification options in v4 and v4.1 O+M.