Log in
LEED v4.1

Schools – New Construction

Integrative Process
Integrative Process

LEED CREDIT

Schools-NC-v4.1 IPc1: Integrative process 1 point

See all forum discussions about this credit »
View the LEED v4 version of this credit »

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser expert

Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

Frank advice from LEED experts

LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, identify and use opportunities to achieve synergies across disciplines and building systems. Use the analyses described below to inform the owner’s project requirements (OPR), basis of design (BOD), design documents, and construction documents.

Discovery:
Choose two of the following to analyze:
Energy-Related Systems
Establish an energy performance target (EUI) no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
  • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
  • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
  • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
  • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)
Perform a preliminary “simple box” energy modeling analysis before the completion of schematic design that explores how to reduce energy loads in the building and accomplish related sustainability goals by questioning default assumptions. Assess strategies associated with each of the following, as applicable:
  • Site conditions. Assess shading, exterior lighting, hardscape, landscaping, and adjacent site conditions.
  • Massing and orientation. Assess how massing and orientation affect HVAC sizing, energy consumption, lighting, and renewable energy opportunities.
  • Basic envelope attributes. Assess insulation values, window-to-wall ratios, glazing characteristics, shading, and window operability.
  • Lighting levels. Assess interior surface reflectance values and lighting levels in occupied spaces.
  • Thermal comfort ranges. Assess thermal comfort range options.
  • Plug and process load needs. Assess reducing plug and process loads through programmatic solutions (e.g., equipment and purchasing policies, layout options).
  • Programmatic and operational parameters. Assess multifunctioning spaces, operating schedules, space allotment per person, teleworking, reduction of building area, and anticipated operations and maintenance.
Water-Related Systems
Perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design that explores how to reduce potable water loads in the building, reduce the burden on municipal supply or wastewater treatment systems, and accomplish related sustainability goals. Assess and estimate the project’s potential nonpotable water supply sources and water demand volumes, including the following, as applicable:
  • Indoor water demand. Assess flow and flush fixture design case demand volumes, calculated in accordance with WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction.
  • Outdoor water demand. Assess landscape irrigation design case demand volume calculated in accordance with WE Credit Outdoor Water-Use Reduction.
  • Process water demand. Assess kitchen, laundry, cooling tower, and other equipment demand volumes, as applicable.
  • Supply sources. Assess all potential nonpotable water supply source volumes, such as on-site rainwater and graywater, municipally supplied nonpotable water, and HVAC equipment condensate. Analyze how nonpotable water supply sources can contribute to the water demand components listed above.
Assessment for Resilience
Conduct a risk assessment of any identified natural or environmental hazards affecting the project site(s) and building function out of the following:
  • Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge
  • Flooding
  • Hurricane and High Winds
  • Earthquake
  • Wildfire
  • Drought
  • Landslides
  • Extreme Heat
  • Winter Storms
Demonstrate how the risk assessment influenced the project design and enhanced the project’s resilience to natural disasters, disturbances, and changing climate conditions; provide reasoning for not addressing any identified hazards.
    Social Equity
    Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, review and then complete the LEED Project Team Checklist for Social Impact in order to assess and select strategies to address issues of inequity within the project and its community, team and supply chain. Through research and consultation with key stakeholders, ensure that all responses within the Checklist are ultimately documented as “Yes” or “No,” and complete all sections for Stakeholders and Goals.
    Health & Well-being
    Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, use the following steps to inform the design and construction documents:
    • Establish health goals. Set clear and specific goals to promote the health of core groups, including:
      • Building occupants and users
      • Surrounding community
      • Supply chain
    Develop a statement of health goals for each population, including a summary of how this health goal relates to the highest priority health need for each population.
    • Prioritize design strategies. Select specific design and/or programming strategies to address the project’s health goals. This could be accomplished by holding a stand-alone “health charrette” or by integrating health considerations into an existing green charrette.
    • Anticipate outcomes. Identify expected impacts on population health behaviors and outcomes associated with the project’s prioritized design strategies
    Implementation:
    Develop a Project Team Letter. Provide a dated letter on the letterhead of the Integrative Process Facilitator that summarizes the team’s integrative process approach and describes the difference that this integrative approach made in terms of improving project team interaction and project performance.
    • Describe the approach developed by the project team for engaging a clearly defined and manageable integrative design process beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases.
    • The letter must include a separate summary for each issue area analyzed by the project team, describing how the analysis informed the design and building form decisions in the project’s OPR and BOD and the eventual design of the project. Describe the most important goals for each issue area and provide clear guidance on how to evaluate the project’s impact on the selected goals.
    The creation of this letter should be a team effort facilitated by the Integrative Process Facilitator. The letter must be signed by all principal project team members and made available to key stakeholders including, but not limited to the owner(s), facility manager(s), tenant(s), and community members. Describe how the letter was distributed to these stakeholders and/or made publicly available. See all forum discussions about this credit »

    What does it cost?

    Cost estimates for this credit

    On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

    Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

    This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

    Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

    Addenda

    4/21/2023Updated: 5/9/2023
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    In the first sentence under Energy Related Systems, add "(EUI)" after "energy performance target"

    Replace the Site Selection with the following:

    "Assessment for Resilience

    Conduct a risk assessment of any identified natural or environmental hazards affecting the project site(s) and building function out of the following:
    • Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge
    • Flooding
    • Hurricane and High Winds
    • Earthquake
    • Wildfire
    • Drought
    • Landslides
    • Extreme Heat
    • Winter Storms

    Demonstrate how the risk assessment influenced the project design and enhanced the project’s resilience to natural disasters, disturbances, and changing climate conditions; provide reasoning for not addressing any identified hazards."
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    4/9/2021Updated: 4/19/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Edit the Intent to read as: "To support high-performance, cost-effective, equitable project outcomes through an early analysis of the interrelationships among systems."
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    7/25/2019Updated: 3/1/2021
    Reference Guide Correction
    Description of change:
    IP credit Integrative Process

    Under the heading "Energy-Related Systems" add the following text:
    "Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
    • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
    • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)"

    EA credit Optimize Energy Performance

    Delete the following requirement:
    "Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
    • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
    • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)"

    EA credit Optimize Energy Performance, Step by Step:

    Delete bullet point "Establish an energy use intensity (EUI) target no later than schematic design using one of the required metrics noted".
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    7/25/2019Updated: 3/1/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    IP credit Integrative Process

    Under the heading "Energy-Related Systems" add the following text:
    "Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
    • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
    • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)"

    EA credit Optimize Energy Performance

    Delete the following requirement:
    "Establish an energy performance target no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
    • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
    • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)"

    EA credit Optimize Energy Performance, Step by Step:

    Delete bullet point "Establish an energy use intensity (EUI) target no later than schematic design using one of the required metrics noted".
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    7/25/2019Updated: 3/1/2021
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Remove Exemplary Performance section and move to the Reference Guidance
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    Yes
    11/9/2020Updated: 12/1/2020
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Under Discovery, add "Choose two of the following to analyze:"

    Before "Water Related Systems", delete AND

    After "Water Related Systems" add the following:

    "Site Selection

    Before site selection, analyze project goals to identify and select the building site or base building that will provide the most opportunities and fewest barriers for project. Assess at least two potential locations or base building options, taking into consideration at least the following:
    • Building site attributes. Assess the building’s location and site design characteristics.
    • Transportation. Assess the tenant occupants’ transportation needs for commuting to and from the site, including convenient access to alternative transportation that meets occupants’ needs.
    • Occupant and community well-being. Assess the building’s ability to provide daylight and views, indoor air quality, and other indoor environmental quality characteristics. Identify community assets and the proximity of vulnerable populations surrounding the project. Assess the project’s ability to provide positive social, economic, and environmental benefits for existing community members, as well as any potential negative impacts.

    Social Equity

    Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, review and then complete the LEED Project Team Checklist for Social Impact in order to assess and select strategies to address issues of inequity within the project and its community, team and supply chain. Through research and consultation with key stakeholders, ensure that all responses within the Checklist are ultimately documented as “Yes” or “No,” and complete all sections for Stakeholders and Goals.

    Health & Well-being

    Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, use the following steps to inform the design and construction documents:
    • Establish health goals. Set clear and specific goals to promote the health of core groups, including:
    o Building occupants and users
    o Surrounding community
    o Supply chain
    Develop a statement of health goals for each population, including a summary of how this health goal relates to the highest priority health need for each population.
    • Prioritize design strategies. Select specific design and/or programming strategies to address the project’s health goals. This could be accomplished by holding a stand-alone “health charrette” or by integrating health considerations into an existing green charrette.
    • Anticipate outcomes. Identify expected impacts on population health behaviors and outcomes associated with the project’s prioritized design strategies
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    11/10/2020Updated: 11/25/2020
    Reference Guide Correction
    Description of change:
    Under Beta Update, revise second sentence of second paragraph to read as: "Project teams are better able to demonstrate the difference between the standard approach and the integrative approach for key issue areas like energy and water, as well as broader concepts at the frontier of the green building movement like site selection, social equity, and health and well-being.

    Add the following under Further Explanation:

    "Project teams may choose additional lenses through which to demonstrate the outcomes and benefits of an integrative process which include: site selection, social equity, and/or health & well-being. "

    Delete entire Exemplary Performance section
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    No
    7/25/2019Updated: 11/6/2020
    Rating System Correction
    Description of change:
    Remove Exemplary Performance section and move to the Reference Guidance
    Campus Applicable
    No
    Internationally Applicable:
    Yes
    See all forum discussions about this credit »

    Documentation toolkit

    The motherlode of cheat sheets

    LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

    LEEDuser expert

    Marcus Sheffer

    7group / Energy Opportunities
    LEED Fellow

    Get the inside scoop

    Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.

    USGBC logo

    © Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

    Requirements

    Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, identify and use opportunities to achieve synergies across disciplines and building systems. Use the analyses described below to inform the owner’s project requirements (OPR), basis of design (BOD), design documents, and construction documents.

    Discovery:
    Choose two of the following to analyze:
    Energy-Related Systems
    Establish an energy performance target (EUI) no later than the schematic design phase. The target must be established using one of the following metrics:
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of site energy use
    • kBtu per square foot-year (kWh per square meter-year) of source energy use
    • pounds per square foot-year (Kg per square meter-year) of greenhouse gas emissions
    • energy cost per square foot-year (cost per square meter-year)
    Perform a preliminary “simple box” energy modeling analysis before the completion of schematic design that explores how to reduce energy loads in the building and accomplish related sustainability goals by questioning default assumptions. Assess strategies associated with each of the following, as applicable:
    • Site conditions. Assess shading, exterior lighting, hardscape, landscaping, and adjacent site conditions.
    • Massing and orientation. Assess how massing and orientation affect HVAC sizing, energy consumption, lighting, and renewable energy opportunities.
    • Basic envelope attributes. Assess insulation values, window-to-wall ratios, glazing characteristics, shading, and window operability.
    • Lighting levels. Assess interior surface reflectance values and lighting levels in occupied spaces.
    • Thermal comfort ranges. Assess thermal comfort range options.
    • Plug and process load needs. Assess reducing plug and process loads through programmatic solutions (e.g., equipment and purchasing policies, layout options).
    • Programmatic and operational parameters. Assess multifunctioning spaces, operating schedules, space allotment per person, teleworking, reduction of building area, and anticipated operations and maintenance.
    Water-Related Systems
    Perform a preliminary water budget analysis before the completion of schematic design that explores how to reduce potable water loads in the building, reduce the burden on municipal supply or wastewater treatment systems, and accomplish related sustainability goals. Assess and estimate the project’s potential nonpotable water supply sources and water demand volumes, including the following, as applicable:
    • Indoor water demand. Assess flow and flush fixture design case demand volumes, calculated in accordance with WE Prerequisite Indoor Water Use Reduction.
    • Outdoor water demand. Assess landscape irrigation design case demand volume calculated in accordance with WE Credit Outdoor Water-Use Reduction.
    • Process water demand. Assess kitchen, laundry, cooling tower, and other equipment demand volumes, as applicable.
    • Supply sources. Assess all potential nonpotable water supply source volumes, such as on-site rainwater and graywater, municipally supplied nonpotable water, and HVAC equipment condensate. Analyze how nonpotable water supply sources can contribute to the water demand components listed above.
    Assessment for Resilience
    Conduct a risk assessment of any identified natural or environmental hazards affecting the project site(s) and building function out of the following:
    • Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge
    • Flooding
    • Hurricane and High Winds
    • Earthquake
    • Wildfire
    • Drought
    • Landslides
    • Extreme Heat
    • Winter Storms
    Demonstrate how the risk assessment influenced the project design and enhanced the project’s resilience to natural disasters, disturbances, and changing climate conditions; provide reasoning for not addressing any identified hazards.
      Social Equity
      Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, review and then complete the LEED Project Team Checklist for Social Impact in order to assess and select strategies to address issues of inequity within the project and its community, team and supply chain. Through research and consultation with key stakeholders, ensure that all responses within the Checklist are ultimately documented as “Yes” or “No,” and complete all sections for Stakeholders and Goals.
      Health & Well-being
      Beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases, use the following steps to inform the design and construction documents:
      • Establish health goals. Set clear and specific goals to promote the health of core groups, including:
        • Building occupants and users
        • Surrounding community
        • Supply chain
      Develop a statement of health goals for each population, including a summary of how this health goal relates to the highest priority health need for each population.
      • Prioritize design strategies. Select specific design and/or programming strategies to address the project’s health goals. This could be accomplished by holding a stand-alone “health charrette” or by integrating health considerations into an existing green charrette.
      • Anticipate outcomes. Identify expected impacts on population health behaviors and outcomes associated with the project’s prioritized design strategies
      Implementation:
      Develop a Project Team Letter. Provide a dated letter on the letterhead of the Integrative Process Facilitator that summarizes the team’s integrative process approach and describes the difference that this integrative approach made in terms of improving project team interaction and project performance.
      • Describe the approach developed by the project team for engaging a clearly defined and manageable integrative design process beginning in pre-design and continuing throughout the design phases.
      • The letter must include a separate summary for each issue area analyzed by the project team, describing how the analysis informed the design and building form decisions in the project’s OPR and BOD and the eventual design of the project. Describe the most important goals for each issue area and provide clear guidance on how to evaluate the project’s impact on the selected goals.
      The creation of this letter should be a team effort facilitated by the Integrative Process Facilitator. The letter must be signed by all principal project team members and made available to key stakeholders including, but not limited to the owner(s), facility manager(s), tenant(s), and community members. Describe how the letter was distributed to these stakeholders and/or made publicly available.

      In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

      • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
      • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
      • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
      • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
      • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
      • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

      LEEDuser expert

      Marcus Sheffer

      7group / Energy Opportunities
      LEED Fellow

      See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Schools-NC-v4.1 IPc1