Discover the 60/40 rule for selecting the most appropriate LEED rating system for your green building project. Learn how to optimize your LEED certification process.
Table of Contents
Question
What is the percentage rule when making a decision on the rating system that is most appropriate to use for a project?
A. 30/70 rule
B. 40/60 rule
C. 50/50 rule
D. 60/40 rule
Answer
D. 60/40 rule
Explanation
The percentage rule is a method to determine the most appropriate LEED rating system for a project when several rating systems may be applicable. To use this rule, first assign a rating system to each square foot or square meter of the building, and then choose the most appropriate rating system based on the resulting percentages.
The 60/40 rule is a guideline used in the LEED certification process to determine the most appropriate rating system for a project. This rule states that if a project has 60% or more of its gross floor area (excluding parking) dedicated to a specific space type, such as office, retail, or school, then the project should use the LEED rating system that corresponds to that space type.
For example, if a project has 65% of its gross floor area dedicated to office space, it should use the LEED for New Construction and Major Renovations (LEED-NC) rating system, which is designed for office buildings and other commercial spaces. On the other hand, if the remaining 35% of the project’s gross floor area is dedicated to a different space type, such as retail, the project team can choose to use the LEED for Retail rating system for that portion of the project.
By following the 60/40 rule, project teams can ensure that they are using the most appropriate LEED rating system for their project, which can help streamline the certification process and maximize the potential for achieving a higher level of LEED certification.
The entire gross floor area of a LEED project must be certified under a single rating system and is subject to all prerequisites and attempted credits in that rating system. The percentage rule states that if one rating system covers more than 60% of the gross floor area, that rating system should be used.
If no rating system covers more than 60% of the gross floor area, but one covers more than 40%, then that rating system should be used. If no rating system covers more than 40% of the gross floor area, then the project team can choose any applicable rating system. Therefore, the answer is B. 40/60 rule.
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