Understanding the ID Credits and Exemplary Performance Credits (or Extra Credit) in the LEED AP Exam can be a little confusing. I’ll try and break it down for you.
The Points
As you should know, there is a maximum of 69 possible points in the LEED building certification process. There are 6 categories – each with a different amount of points possible (see WIMSEE.) For this example, we’re going to use the Sustainable Sites category, as illustrated below:
Yes – I drew it on a post-it note (and yes, a really cool blue marble-looking one =P). First, notice how SSP1 shows no points possible because it’s a prerequisite (meaning mandatory). Therefore, this credit does not count toward the 14 total points in the sustainable sites category. Now for the good stuff:
- Each Sustainable Sites credit (besides SSP1) is worth one point and one point only.
- Some Sustainable Sites credits, as you can see, have exemplary performance “possibilities.” This means that the credits you see with a “yes” are eligible to satisfy the Innovation in Design (the 6th category) credits. It does not mean that you’ll gain extra points in the Sustainable Sites category.
- “…What?”
Ok, let me break it down even further from the Innovation in Design side of it:
- The Innovation in Design category (the “I” in WIMSEE) has two parts:
- ID 1.1 through 1.4 (this is the part we’re focusing on)
- ID 2 -LEED Accredited Professional
- ID 1.1, ID 1.2, ID 1.3, and ID 1.4 are each 1 point. Where do those points come from? By satisfying the requirements for exemplary performance in any of the “yes” categories in the LEED rating system. Get it? That means there are only 4 points total that can be achieved through the Exemplary Performance of LEED credits, even though you see nine categories on the note with a “yes” – and that’s just one category. So – when certifying a building, a team has many options to fulfill the ID1.1 thru 1.4 credits, they just have to decide what their focus is on.
Using SS5.1 – Site Development: Protect or Restore Habitat, for example:
- SS 5.1 states that on previously developed sites we must restore impervious surfaces and keep 50% of the site as native vegetated land. To achieve exemplary performance, we must restore impervious surfaces and keep 75% of the site as native vegetated land. If we do this, we have reached the appropriate threshold for achieving 1 of the 4 ID points.
Besides earning ID points by achieving exemplary performance, there is one additional method to gain points for ID 1.1 thru ID 1.4: innovative performance
- points can be earned in this fashion by doing something “quantifiable in terms of its environmental benefits” that is NOT covered by any existing LEED credit. Examples include:
- educational outreach programs
- high content of fly ash in concrete
- implementing green housekeeping procedures
- using low-emission furniture and furnishings
- integrated pest management for organic landscaping
Other Pointers for the Exam:
- Applying for ID credits is done via LEED Online.
- When submitting, follow the same guidelines as the Credit Equivalent Process: identify the proposed credit intent, include compliance requirements, submittals, plus a narrative of strategies or technologies used to meet the requirements
- USGBC evaluates these credits on a case-by-case basis.
- ID credits are not awarded for use of technology, product, or design strategy if it otherwise contributes to the achievement of an existing LEED credit.
- It’s generally a good idea to explore precedents (previous IDs and CIRs from other projects)
I’ll be posting another handy-dandy chart showing which ALL credits that have exemplary performance thresholds within the next couple of days. Does anyone have anything to add? Would you like to see a specific topic covered in a future post? If so, please comment below. Cheers!
26 Comments On This Post
DEAR PAT,
PLEASE UPDATE YOUR EXEMPLARY PERFORMANCR CREDITS TABLE.PLEASE REMOVE SS8
FROM THE TABLE.PLEASE UPDATE AS NO.
I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE LEED EXAM NEAR FUTURE.
YOU ARE DOING VERY GOOD JOB.I WISH YOU ALL
THE BEST ON EXAM ON MONDAY.
THANK YOU ,
RAO KONERU
Thanks RAO for noticing that for me. Thanks for the wishes too! Let me know if you find any other mistakes or have any other questions. Best of luck to you with your studies!
Hey Pat,
I think SSc2 Development density gives 1 ID for doubling density. You might want to include that one. Thanks!
… Get it? That means there are only 4 points total that can be achieved through the Exemplary Performance of LEED credits, even though you see nine categories on the note with a “yes” – and that’s just one category. So – when …
With the change SS8 to “no” change the word nine in the paragraph above to “eight”
Thanks for your advice on Exemplary Credits.
There is a sample exam question that asks which category offers the most opportunity for exemplary performance credits.
I chose Sustainable Sites, because it’s got 8 possible opportunities for exemplary performance credits over Materials & Resources, which I’m pretty sure has only 5. Is there a quick tabulation available that shows all the categories and all the possible exemplary credits for each?
Thanks in advance… yet again!
The way I see it,
SS has 6 possible exemplary credits
WE has 2
EA has 3
MR has 6
EQ has 1
SS credit 4 has 4 sub credits but you can only get 1 exemplary credit for SSc4, not 1 for each sub credit. That’s a total of 18 chances to get the 4 exemplary credits.
Does anyone agree or disagree?
Dave, your chart is correct except for EQ. Remember 8.2 can achieve ID credit on a case-by case basis. This, in addition to 8.1 (95% daylighting) is a total of 2 for EQ. So the possible ECredits are:
SS 6: 2, 4, 5.1, 5.2, 7.1, 7.2
WE 2: 2, 3.2
EA 3: 1, 2, 6
MR 6: 2.2, 3.2, 4.2, 5.2, 6, 7
EQ 2: 8.1, 8.2
Back to studying….
You are beautiful!!! Thank you for clearing it… I was confused. And not sure if I had it right before.
How is renewable energy calculated???
Is it by divide by annual electric energy cost from propose enerergy cost?
I think there are 7 pts available in SS. For 4.1, there is a point for creating a comprehensive management plan, but also a point for additional train or bus stops near the site. This was mentioned in the errata.
Hi, Pat,
You put “… even though you see nine categories on the note with a “yes” – and that’s just one category.”
A question. So if I have YES for all 8 Exemplary Performance under SS, I still gain only 1 point under ID?
Thanks.
Richard
Pat….
I can’t believe the timing. I am studying for the AP exam to be taken on the 19th of Feb. I was just going through the ID section and was confused when I read that you can only get a total of 4 credits for exemplary performance and you have to submit them under the ID section, even though there are so many ways to get extra points. Your post completely cleared up the confusion. The max number of credit points is 69 period. No extra credits above that even if you satisfy ALL the exemplary credits possible. Thanks
Pat,
I passed the LEED exam yesterday and would like thank you for your efforts. I purchased yor study guide and audio files which were both very helpful in my preparation. Your website is also the most informative website I was able to find throughout my studies. I am relieved that the exam is over and I can finally take those audio files off of my ipod. Thanks again and good luck with all of your future endevours.
Ryan
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
This site and the easy way you have the 4 ID points explained for doing any 4 of the available EP’s, helped me finally “click” that one away in my head.
I aced the test, with no small help from an advanced version of WIMSEE and the advice here to spend the ‘tutorial’ time doing a “brain dump” of everything I could think of onto the scratch pad. Basically, I wrote a full height-of-the-page version and filled in all the numbers for every point I could.
OH…heads up: memorize how many gallons-per-use for each fixture, gpm for faucets, and how many times a woman uses them per day, to find the total gallons per woman used. 😉
Rich, LEED AP
Can you apply for and get an ID point for another issue in your project that does not happen to be an expansion of any of the previous credits? theoretically? Or do all four ID credits HAVE to be exemplary as described in each section?
Jessie.
Id credits can be awarded for doing one of two things.
1. Exceeding the requirements of applicable credits by either doubling a credits compliance threshold (ie. 5% renewable materials in lieu of 2.5%); or achieving the next incremental percentage (ie. 30% locally extracted, processed, and manufactured materials would be the next incremental increase to earn MRC5 because 1 pt = 10%, 2 pts = 20%, and 1 ID credit for 30%).
2. The second way to earn an ID credit is to come up with a new green strategy which is NOT already addressed by a LEED credit. Basically, you create your own credit. The submittal process requires you to provide narratives for proposed intent, requirements, strategies, and submittals (for quantifying data). The strategy you come up with must be something that is applicable to other types of projects as well. However, just because an ID credit works for one project does not guarantee that it will work for another project.
Jessie:
Oops I got my ID credits mixed up. MRC5 actually requires 40% for an ID credit so it is a bad example for the incremental percentages. A better example would be MRC4 which is infact 1 pt = 10%, 2 pts = 20%, and 1 ID credit for 30%
Sorry for the mixup.
I have a question about ID credit 1.
This is related to Innovative aspect and not the exemplary perf. aspect.
What options other than substantial increse in use of fly ash in concrete and green recycle program in a building does one get innovative design points?
This includes bothe the innovation aspect and also all the Exp. performance credits
Pat explains this pretty well in the ID section
wannabe,
This is a good reference:
http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/LEEDdocs/IDcredit_guidance_final.pdf
Thanks Jana, This info is really helpful
Regarding Exemplary Performance points, there’s a comment that says SS has 7 Exemplary Performance Innovation Points available.
I believe it’s 6.
SS C4.1 has an EP point for doubling the commuter rails
OR
doubling the bus stops and bus lines with a minimum of 200 rides per day
OR – and this applies to 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,and 4.4
Institute a comprehensive transportation management plan that demonstrates a quantifiable reduction in personal automobile use through the implementation of multiple alternative options.
It’s confusing since you could get an EP point under 4.1 for say doubling the bus lines and then another under 4.2-4.4 for the management plan.
But from what I have read it seems all EP Innnovation points under SS C4 are OR functions.
The reference guide does state that “Projects may be awarded one innovation point for Exemplary Performance in Alternative Transportation.”
If it is just one point, EP for SS = 6
Can you break down the acronym SWIMEE again. I cant find it on the website.
Found it!
S all design but 5.1, 7.1 and p1
W all design
I 1= D 2=c
M all construction but p1
Eq all design but 3 and 4
Ea all design but pl 3 5 6
Please correct me if Im wrong. Going off of memory here. Trying to prep for test at end of month!!
Please revise Exemplary Credit blue post-it chart to show:
SSc2
clarify whether 2 pts poss in SSc4
Thankee.
Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. 🙂 Cheers! Sandra. R.
I am taking the Canadian test on Friday and would love to see this new chart because the reference guide doesn’t say which credits you can get ID with or not. And I’m finding so many Canadian practice tests with USGBC questions or completely wrong answers in them, I can’t decide if they are helping me or not! Absolutely capital work on this site though, now we just need a Canadian edition 🙂