- Does LEED for Communities replace LEED-ND?
- What is the difference between LEED for Neighborhood Development and LEED for Cities and Communities?
Does LEED for Communities replace LEED-ND?
No, the two rating systems can be used in unison at a project team’s discretion. As LEED for Communities is in beta and, therefore, subject to change, a crosswalk comparing the two rating systems is currently unavailable. Project teams are encouraged to review the rating system requirements and conduct a scorecard analysis of the two systems to identify how the strategies and intents align with the project’s sustainable development goals.
LEED-ND is appropriate for projects that are to be designed and constructed. A LEED-ND project would include measures that would result in sustainable and high-performance development based on three aspects: smart location and linkage, neighborhood pattern and design, and green infrastructure and buildings. If your project has been completed for more than three years, then it is not eligible to pursue LEED-ND.
LEED for Communities v4.1 comprehensively captures Integrated Planning, Natural Systems, Transportation and Land-use, Water, Energy and GHGs, Materials and Resources, and Quality of Life for actionable outcomes and improved performance for communities. Evaluation is done on data and documentation provided on prerequisites and credits focusing on assessment, planning, policies, strategies, outcomes, and performance. If you are interested in comprehensively planning for a new/retrofit community or improving performance at a community- or campus-wide level, LEEDv4.1 for Communities would be a better fit.
Updated October 18, 2022
What is the difference between LEED for Neighborhood Development and LEED for Communities?
The LEED v4 for Neighborhood Development Rating System (LEED-ND) is a separate rating system from LEED v4.1 for Communities (LfC) with distinct goals and outcomes for certified projects, so while they are complementary to each other in many ways, they are not classified as counterparts.
LEED-ND
The LEED-ND Rating System's core elements are based on creating traditional neighborhoods and supporting multi-modal travel. A LEED-ND project would focus on the owner's choices in site selection, sustainable neighborhood design elements, and building and infrastructure performance based on three aspects: Smart Location and Linkage, Neighborhood Pattern and Design, and Green Infrastructure and Buildings. LEED-ND is appropriate for projects that are to be designed and constructed and is not applicable to existing projects.
LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities
The LEED for Cities and LEED for Communities Rating Systems allow entire cities or municipalities (new or existing) to pursue certification using a data-driven approach. They comprehensively capture Integrated Planning, Natural Systems, Transportation and Land-use, Water, Energy and GHGs, Materials and Resources, and Quality of Life for actionable outcomes and improved performance for communities. Evaluation is done on data and documentation provided on prerequisites and credits focusing on assessment, planning, policies, strategies, outcomes, and performance.
Project owners tend to be local governments versus developers, and categories include education, equitability, and prosperity among the project's population. In general, the rating systems follow a pattern of determining baselines and establishing goals, strategies, and long-term tracking mechanisms to meet the project's ongoing performance goals.
Rating system documents and guidance
Please review the LEED-ND, LEED for Cities, and LEED for Communities Rating Systems and their guidance for details so that you can select the appropriate rating system for your project: