Check out the LEED Volume Program, now available for multiple LEED rating systems including LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED EBOM). The LEED Volume Program is available to organizations wishing to certify a large number of design and construction projects or existing buildings. It works by establishing verifiable guidelines that streamline the certification process without compromising LEED’s rigorous standards. The program simplifies the LEED documentation for multiple buildings, saving money and effort.
If your organization has integrated sustainable strategies such as a green cleaning or green purchasing policy or a uniform sustainable design practice, you can submit documentation once and then apply the approved LEED prototype credit to multiple building certifications. If you are beginning to establish sustainable practices, you can kick-start your LEED certification process by adopting green policies and design standards organization wide.
Planning to certify least 25 new construction, interior remodels or existing building projects? You could be a good candidate for the LEED Volume Program. Retailers and hoteliers with a prototypical building are well suited while the existing building volume certification program is compatible with a wider range of market sectors including commercial office, hospitality, retail, government, and higher education.
So how does the program work?
A little up-front time investment pays off over and over again through the LEED Volume Program’s implementation process. The program allows an organization to define a prototype by choosing a set of prerequisites and credits that are common to all the projects it plans to certify. These can be either technical (design and construction practices) or managerial (operational) uniform practices. The Green Building Certification Institute will “precertify” a prototype or a series of prototypes. Participants can then apply for certification of actual buildings, relying on the pre-approved documentation and providing additional information only for credits that differ from the prototype.
During the prototype process, participants must develop a quality control plan that outlines tools and processes to be used to consistently meet the LEED credit requirements. This is accompanied by an education plan to ensure green building strategies are understood and integrated across the organization.
For more information about the LEED Volume Program, visit www.usgbc.org/volume.