What does 'Intents' refer to in the LEED rating system?

• A. The section describing the project budget.
• B. The numerical score assigned to a credit.
• C. The section that describes the sustainability goals and environmental benefits of the credit/prerequisite and explains why the credit exists.
• D. The documentation required for audit.

Answer: (C)

Intents describe the purpose behind a credit or prerequisite—the sustainability goals and environmental benefits it aims to achieve and why the credit exists. This framing helps project teams plan and justify pursuing the credit and guides reviewers in understanding the objective of the credit. It isn’t about the budget, the numeric score, or the audit documentation. For example, a credit aimed at reducing indoor water use would state the intent as conserving potable water and lowering the building’s water footprint, not how many points it yields or what documents are needed.