This column was updated on November 19, 2014 (it was first published on October 13th, 2013).
Out with the old, in with the new.
With the rollout of LEED v4 currently underway, LEED project teams should be mindful of the LEED-NC v2.2 and 2009 sunset dates.
As every new version of LEED launches, USGBC initiates a process to phase out the previous version of the rating system. This process begins by establishing a date for closing registration. After the registration closure date, GBCI will no longer take new project registrations under the previous version of LEED.
Once the registration closure date is established, all projects registered under the previous version of LEED become subject to a deadline for either achieving certification or upgrading to the new version of LEED.
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| Figure from the LEED® Certification Policy Manual (issued January 1, 2012).
Source: Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) |
In accordance with the latest version of the LEED Certification Policy Manual (issued January 1, 2012), “After the close of registration of a rating system, projects that are registered under a particular rating system shall be allowed to proceed through the LEED certification process until the occurrence of the rating system sunset date…”
After the sunset date, projects registered under the previous version of LEED are no longer active in the LEED project database and their registration status is no longer valid.
The LEED Certification Policy Manual also states, “The sunset date for any rating system shall occur no sooner than six (6) years after the close of registration for that rating system.”
Moreover, GBCI “reserves the right to cancel any registered project that remains inactive, as determined solely by GBCI.”
So, what are the registration closure dates and certification sunset dates for LEED NC v2.2 and 2009?
The latest version of the LEED Certification Policy Manual states the following:
LEED-NC v2.2 – Registration Opened: November 15, 2005
LEED-NC v2.2 – Registration Closed: June 27, 2009
LEED-NC v2.2 – Application Sunset Date: June 27, 2015
LEED-NC 2009 – Registration Opened: April 27, 2009
LEED-NC 2009 – Registration Closed: TBD
LEED-NC 2009 – Application Sunset Date: TBD
Moreover, on October 29, 2014, USGBC announced that it will allow LEED users to register projects under the LEED 2009 rating system until October 31, 2016. (The original date for LEED 2009 registration to close was June 15, 2015.)
In accordance with the LEED Certification Policy Manual, the sunset date for LEED 2009 would presumably occur no sooner than October 31, 2022.
However, according to LEEDuser.com, the sunset date for v2009 rating systems will NOT change with the LEED v2009 extension. So the last day projects registered under v2009 can submit for certification remains June 30, 2021.
Therefore, we can lean on the following dates:
LEED v2.2 – Application Sunset Date: June 27, 2015
LEED 2009 – Registration Closed: October 31, 2016
LEED 2009 – Application Sunset Date: June 30, 2021