Buildings continue to be the largest consumers of energy, by sector, in the U.S. The USGBC is constantly looking for new and innovative ways to address this. Through the LEED Pilot Credit Library, often referred to as “LEED’s test kitchen,” project teams can test-run innovative, energy-saving, proposed LEED credits that have the potential to make a big impact.
First, some background: The LEED Pilot Credit Library is a collection of LEED credits that are available for testing but have not yet become part of the LEED rating system. Project teams can earn LEED points by completing these credits and then sharing their findings. The information that these project teams share is crucial to the refinement of the proposed credits and their adoption into the LEED rating system. Each innovative and cutting-edge addition drives the industry to higher levels of sustainability. Plus, project teams can earn up to five LEED credits by trying out the pilot credits—so utilizing pilot credits benefits the industry and the development of the rating system as well as LEED projects and the teams behind them.