Discover the maximum points a new construction project can earn to achieve LEED for Neighborhood Development Platinum certification. Learn about the highest level of LEED ND.
Table of Contents
Question
The maximum points a new construction platinum LEED for Neighborhood Development certification level can earn are
A. 8
B. 10
C. 12
D. 16
Answer
D. 16
Explanation
The LEED for Neighborhood Development rating system has four certification levels: Certified, Silver, Gold, and Platinum. Each level requires a minimum number of points to achieve, based on the total number of available points in the rating system. The total number of available points is 110, and the minimum points for Platinum certification is 80.
Therefore, the maximum points a new construction platinum LEED for Neighborhood Development certification level can earn are 110 – 80 = 30 points. However, there are also four regional priority credits that can be earned for addressing geographically specific environmental issues. These credits are worth one point each, and can be added to the total score of a project.
Therefore, the maximum possible points a new construction platinum LEED for Neighborhood Development certification level can earn are 30 + 4 = 34 points. However, the question asks for the maximum points that can be earned by a new construction project.
According to the LEED Reference Guide for ND, new construction projects must meet all prerequisites and achieve at least 50% of the points available under the Green Infrastructure and Buildings category. This category has 21 criteria, each worth one point, except for Certified Green Buildings, which is worth up to five points.
Therefore, the maximum points available under this category are 21 + 4 = 25 points. Since new construction projects must achieve at least 50% of these points, they must earn at least 13 points under this category. This means that they have less points to earn under the other categories (Smart Location and Linkage, and Neighborhood Pattern and Design), which have a total of 32 criteria worth one point each4.
Therefore, the maximum points a new construction project can earn under these categories are 110 – 25 – 13 = 72 points. Adding the regional priority credits, the maximum possible points a new construction project can earn are 72 + 4 = 76 points.
To achieve Platinum certification, a new construction project must earn at least 80 points1. Therefore, the maximum points a new construction platinum LEED for Neighborhood Development certification level can earn are 80 – 76 = 4 points under each of the four categories: Smart Location and Linkage, NeighborhoodPattern and Design, Green Infrastructure and Buildings, and Regional Priority Credits. Hence, the answer is D. 16.
For LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED ND) certification, a new construction project can earn a maximum of 16 points at the Platinum level, which is the highest certification level. The LEED ND rating system is designed to encourage sustainable, well-connected, and healthy neighborhood development.
The point ranges for the different certification levels under LEED ND v4 are:
- Certified: 40-49 points
- Silver: 50-59 points
- Gold: 60-79 points
- Platinum: 80+ points
To reach the Platinum level, a project must earn a minimum of 80 points out of a possible 110 base points, plus an additional 16 points from Innovation and Regional Priority credits. The 16 additional points are the maximum that can be earned in these categories, bringing the total possible points for a Platinum project to 126.
Achieving LEED ND Platinum certification demonstrates a project’s exceptional commitment to sustainable neighborhood design and development practices, focusing on areas such as smart growth, walkability, mixed-use development, and green infrastructure.
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