LEED Online - Combined or Split Submittal?
LEED credits are divided into two categories – Design and Construction. Most design credits can be documented as soon as you have 100% or IFC Construction Documents. Construction credits will require backup from the contractor and the construction process to complete.
Design credits in aggregate constitute approximately 2/3 of the available points in the system. And LEED certification does eventually come down to points earned. However, the reality is that early in the design and construction process there are many unknowns and decisions still to be made.
Many projects, particularly those with ambitious certification goals, are anxious to determine how many design points they can really count on. Uncertainty around the energy model results is typically one of the most significant issues. When that is the case, a design submittal may be desired.
Another reason to undertake a Split submittal is a project that is phased and will go on hold for a long duration between Design and Construction. Wrapping up the design phase with a Design submittal can provide the design team with a definitive place to pause the process. However, a project that goes on hold for a long period after design is also likely to have significant changes when it does resume, so keep in mind the potential rework that comes with already submitted Design credits.
There is still some flexibility. You don’t have to submit every design credit to initiate a Design submittal. Any design credits that you defer can be submitted with the Construction round of review. But the more of them you leave on the table unreviewed, the less certainty you are gaining.
Things to consider:
· Not all Design credits can be documented before submittals are available.
· There is a nominal cost difference in the certification review fees when you do a Split.
· It can be difficult to corral some of the Prerequisite design documentation early in the process.
· If design credits change later in the process, you will have to revise the credit and resubmit them with the Construction review.