At a glance
What the symbols mean
- (+)Can contribute towards points or creditsThe module delivers some or all of the analysis or evidence the criterion is scored on.
- →Provides design directionThe module shapes the design decision; the credit is earned once the team develops the design in detail and documents it.
- •Provides the data basisThe module supplies some or all of the underlying data; the team interprets it and produces the evidence required to claim the point.
- –No contributionNothing in this scheme that the module speaks to.
The symbol beside each criterion is C4B’s strongest contribution to it; the symbols beside the modules show what each module contributes on its own.
- 8LEED requirements supported
- 2(+) Can contribute towards points or credits
- 4→ Provide design direction
- 2• Provide the data basis
Coming soon: contributions to 2 more LEED requirements, from modules that are not live yet.
| C4B | Criterion | C4B modules that contribute |
|---|---|---|
| (+) | IP credit Integrative Process1 pt |
|
| (+) | SS credit Site Assessment1 pt |
|
| • | SS credit Rainwater Managementup to 3 pts |
|
| → | EA prerequisite Minimum Energy Performanceprerequisite |
|
| → | EA credit Optimize Energy Performanceup to 18 pts |
|
| • | EA credit Grid Harmonization2 pts |
|
| → | EA credit Renewable Energyup to 5 pts |
|
| → | MR credit Building Life-Cycle Impact Reductioncoming soonup to 5 pts |
|
| → | EQ credit Thermal Comfort1 pt |
|
| → | EQ credit Daylightcoming soonup to 3 pts |
|
Integrative process
Integrative Process
C4B modules used
- (+)Preliminary Energy Balance
- (+)Energy Use: Orientation and Aspect Ratio Optimization
- (+)Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- •Location Information and Data Summary
- (+)Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
A preliminary energy balance at concept stage — the early “simple box” analysis the Energy-Related Systems option asks for. It covers massing and orientation, shading, thermal comfort ranges and site conditions, and gives an early energy use intensity to set the target from. Current and future climate data also support the Assessment for Resilience option.
What the team completes
Set and document the energy performance target (EUI). Add the envelope and lighting assessments to the energy analysis. Choose a second analysis — the water budget or the resilience assessment — and show how both fed into the owner’s project requirements and basis of design.
Data to obtain: For the resilience option: flood, seismic and wildfire hazard data from local authorities.
Sustainable sites
Site Assessment
C4B modules used
- (+)Location Information and Data Summary
- (+)Sun Path Diagrams
- (+)Annual and Daily Wind Rose Diagrams
- (+)Outdoor Comfort (UTCI)
- •Precipitation Overview
- •Climate Zone
- (+)Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
The complete Climate section of the site survey: solar exposure and shading opportunities, seasonal sun angles, prevailing winds, and monthly precipitation and temperature ranges. Precipitation data also informs the rainwater reuse opportunities asked for under Hydrology.
What the team completes
Complete the remaining survey sections and compile the survey document, showing how it informed site design decisions. C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain, which change sun, shade and wind on the site.
Data to obtain: Topography, flood hazard areas and water bodies, vegetation, soils, human use and human health effects of the site.
Rainwater Management
C4B modules used
- (+)Precipitation Event Intensitycoming soon
- •Precipitation Overview
- •Project Summary report
What C4B contributes
Monthly precipitation and the intensity of rainfall events at the site. Coming soon: the site-specific rainfall depths for the percentile events the credit is scored on — the 80th, 85th and 90th percentile for 1, 2 or 3 points.
What the team completes
Design the low-impact development and green infrastructure measures — infiltration, retention, rainwater reuse — that keep the chosen event on site. The civil engineer determines the rainfall depth of the percentile event, calculates the retained volume and documents the design.
Energy and atmosphere
Minimum Energy Performance
C4B modules used
- →Preliminary Energy Balance
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
What C4B contributes
Early load reduction through passive strategies and a preliminary energy balance, so the design starts from a lower demand before the systems are sized.
What the team completes
Demonstrate compliance with a whole-building energy simulation to ASHRAE 90.1-2016 Appendix G, or through the prescriptive path, produced by the energy modeller.
Optimize Energy Performance
C4B modules used
- →Preliminary Energy Balance
- →Energy Use: Orientation and Aspect Ratio Optimization
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →Suggested Focus for Reducing Overall Carbon Emissionscoming soon
What C4B contributes
A preliminary energy balance and an orientation and aspect-ratio comparison at concept stage, and passive strategy recommendations — so variants can be compared while changes are still cheap. A view of where the largest carbon savings lie is coming soon.
What the team completes
Points are awarded on the improvement shown in the whole-building energy model to ASHRAE 90.1 Appendix G. The energy modeller builds and runs the model and the MEP team designs the final systems; C4B’s figures are preliminary and set the direction for them.
Grid Harmonization
C4B modules used
- •Country Grid Carbon Intensity Assessment
- •PV and Wind Energy Potential: Yearly Distributioncoming soon
What C4B contributes
The country’s grid carbon intensity, showing how carbon-intensive the power the building draws is. The yearly profile of on-site PV and wind generation, showing when the building would draw from or relieve the grid, is coming soon.
What the team completes
Enrol in a demand response programme covering at least 10 % of on-peak demand, design automated load shedding or shifting, and include demand response in commissioning. On-site generation alone does not earn this credit.
Data to obtain: Demand response programmes offered by the local utility.
Renewable Energy
C4B modules used
- →PV Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potential
- →Optimal PV Panel Orientation
- →Wind Energy: Aggregate Yearly Potentialcoming soon
- →Geothermal Potential
- →PV and Wind Energy Potential: Yearly Distributioncoming soon
What C4B contributes
The yearly potential of on-site PV and geothermal energy and the optimal PV orientation — how much of the demand the site can realistically cover. The wind potential and the spread of generation across the year are coming soon.
What the team completes
Design and install the systems and calculate the share of total energy cost they offset. Where the site cannot reach the target, procure renewable energy under a qualifying contract. C4B does not model the existing context: account for the neighbouring buildings, trees and terrain, which shade the roof and facades, change the wind at the site and lower the yield.
Materials and resources
Building Life-Cycle Impact Reductioncoming soon
C4B modules used
- →Suggested Focus for Reducing Overall Carbon Emissionscoming soon
- •Country Average Embodied / Operational Energy Ratioscoming soon
What C4B contributes
Coming soon: country-average embodied and operational energy ratios and a recommended focus for reducing carbon, showing whether materials or operation should get the design team’s attention first.
What the team completes
Commission a whole-building life-cycle assessment with an ISO 14044 tool, comparing the design with a baseline building across the required impact categories.
Data to obtain: Material quantities and environmental product data for the LCA.
Indoor environmental quality
Thermal Comfort
C4B modules used
- →Typical Hourly Temperature, Humidity and Adaptive Comfort
- →Passive Design Strategies for Indoor Environments
- →Technical Comfort Strategies
What C4B contributes
The comfort band for the site under ASHRAE 55, ISO 7730 and EN 16798, with passive and technical strategies that widen it.
What the team completes
Design HVAC and envelope to meet ASHRAE 55 (or ISO 7730 / EN 16798-1), document the comfort calculations, and provide thermal comfort controls for occupants.
Daylightcoming soon
C4B modules used
- →Daylight Analysiscoming soon
What C4B contributes
Coming soon: an annual daylight analysis of a representative room per facade — spatial daylight autonomy (sDA 300/50 %) and annual sunlight exposure (ASE 1000,250 h) to IES LM-83 — showing which window sizes and shading devices reach the credit thresholds while the design is still open.
What the team completes
Simulate every regularly occupied space of the design to IES LM-83 for option 1, provide glare-control devices in every regularly occupied space, and document how any space with ASE above 10 % is designed to address glare.
Data to obtain: Surface reflectances, the visible light transmittance of the glazing, and the buildings and trees that obstruct sky or sun.
Working with C4B on a LEED project
- Run the site in C4B early
Enter the project location at pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open.
- Share the PDF report and the module outputs
Pass the PDF report and the individual module outputs to the design team, energy modeller and LEED assessor or consultant.
- Work through “What the team completes”
It is the checklist of what remains for each criterion: the analyses, designs and data that turn C4B’s contribution into an awarded credit.
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Frequently asked questions
Can C4B earn LEED points on its own?
C4B contributes the analysis, design direction or data behind each criterion. Every point is earned by the project team and confirmed by the assessor on the evidence submitted.
Is C4B endorsed by USGBC?
No. C4B is independent of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and is not a LEED-approved tool. It produces climate, energy and comfort analysis that the team uses and submits as part of its own evidence; the assessor decides what it is worth.
Why do some LEED values say “up to”?
Some credits are awarded on a sliding scale, such as Optimize Energy Performance (up to 18 points) or Rainwater Management (up to 3 points). The guide shows the maximum the credit can award; how much of it the project earns depends on the performance the team demonstrates.
When should we run C4B on a LEED project?
At pre-design or concept stage, while orientation, form and the energy concept are still open. Enter the project location, share the PDF report and the individual module outputs with the design team, energy modeller and LEED assessor or consultant, then work through what the team completes for each criterion.
Sources
Values are LEED points out of 110, as listed on the LEED v4.1 BD+C scorecard for New Construction. Where a credit is awarded on a sliding scale, the maximum is shown. LEED v4.1 BD+C Guide, U.S. Green Building Council, November 2025. Criteria not listed here are outside what the platform addresses. LEED is a trademark of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Other certification guides
BREEAM International NC v7.1 certification guide
The nine BREEAM issues C4B supports today, from thermal comfort and natural hazards to the energy strategy, low carbon design and flood risk; visual comfort is coming soon.
DGNB New Construction 2023 certification guide
The nine DGNB criteria C4B supports today: the climate risk analysis, climate resilience, thermal comfort, energy and the PV potential of the envelope; visual comfort is coming soon.
VERDE Edificios 2030 certification guide
The eight VERDE Edificios 2030 indicators C4B supports today: climate risk, bioclimatic design, energy, renewables and comfort; daylight is coming soon.
Certification contribution by module
The full table: for every live module and every scheme, the criteria behind each symbol and the points, credits or score share they carry.