What are LEED's MPRs?
MPRs or Minimum Project Requirements are eligibility measures without which a project cannot pursue LEED certification. There are three of them.
In order to be eligible for LEED, a project must:
Be a permanent structure on an existing site
At no time can a project that is designed to be relocated qualify for LEED certification. Impermanent structures are therefore not eligible. However, prefabricated and modular structures may be eligible once installed as a permanent structure on a LEED site.
The site must also be existing, preceding development. This means that even artificial land can be considered as a wharf or jetty, provided that it pre-exists the development that aims for LEED certification. Under no circumstances can a site specifically created for development be eligible for LEED.
Use a reasonable LEED boundary
The LEED boundary must include any development induced by the construction of the project and its operation such as parking lots, sidewalks, septic tank, water treatment or even landscaping and gardens. It is not admissible to exclude an area from the site in order to increase its chances of meeting LEED criteria.
You can also include plots of the site which are not physically connected to the initial site but which have a role in the operation of buildings such as showers and changing rooms, bicycle racks for users or a source of energy generation. The site may also include or exclude buildings, eligible or not, which will not pursue LEED certification.
In all cases, the built project, that is to say the gross floor area, cannot be less than 2% of the LEED delineation site.
Have a minimum floor space
A project must have a minimum gross area in order to be able to pursue LEED certification. This area depends on the certification system established.
For new construction, major or existing renovation projects, the gross area should not be less than 93 m².
For projects only pursuing certification under the Interior Design rating system, they must reach a minimum of 22 m².
For projects under Homes rating system, no minimum surface area is allocated. However, it is necessary that the dwelling contain the spaces necessary for its characterization of a dwelling in accordance with international housing codes and must therefore include permanent spaces in order to live, sleep, eat, cook and have recourse to sanitary and catering needs.
Want to know if your project is LEED compliant? Consider a LEED feasibility study. Learn more here.
LEED BLOG SERIES
Our LEED Blog series have been developed for project managers and architects who work on projects with a LEED certification objective. This LEED Blog summarizes everything you need to know about LEED for a good implementation and a successful certification process. Don't forget to go through our numerous resources to help you guide your clients towards a successful LEED certification!
See the next post: How to Certify Several Buildings under LEED? How to Certify Several Buildings under LEED?
