ID category in LEED-NC
New sustainable technologies and strategies are continuously being introduced to the building market. Some provide better performance than the requirements of existing LEED credits, while others have not yet been included in LEED guidelines. The ID category is included in LEED guidelines to recognise and reward the use of such technologies and strategies (USGBC, 2009).
The ID category in LEED-NC includes a total of five points that are distributed among two subcategories: IDc1 – innovation in design and IDc2 – LEED Accredited Professional (LEEDw AP). The IDc1 subcategory allows a maximum of five points and these points can be achieved through two options (USGBC, 2009):
(1) Exemplary performance option: points in this option can be earned by going above and beyond the requirements set by LEED-NC for certain regular credits. Table I provides a listing of LEED-NC credits available for the exemplary