Audit FAQs

IN THIS ARTICLE

The Audit Process Overview

The audit process occurs in two cycles and is performed by a third-party auditor. The Ready Audit takes place upon completion of construction and if successful, results in a “Ready” designation that may be used by the project to highlight progress toward the intended certification. The Final Audit occurs following a 12-month performance period with continuous occupancy and if successful, the Final Audit leads to a Certification ruling. If a project does not pass either a Ready or Final Audit, the project will need to Appeal to complete the audit.

Will I interact with the auditor?

Project teams will not have direct contact with the auditor. All audit questions are to be directed to Living Future via the Certification inbox: lbc.certication@living-future.org.

What is the difference between Ready and Final Audit?

Every certification begins with a Ready Audit. The Final Audit will only proceed after the Ready designation status has been awarded and the project has completed the 12-month performance period.

The Ready Audit documentation includes all non-performance based project documentation and Final Audit documentation contains performance data (following a 12 month performance period).

A successful Ready Audit results in a Ready Designation ruling. A successful Final Audit results in a Certification ruling.

When can I submit for Ready Audit?

Project teams can submit for Ready Audit once the project has completed construction and uploaded all required Ready Audit documentation in Portal.

Please refer to the Program Manual for the documentation requirements for each audit.

When can I start my project’s performance period?

The performance period can be started at any point once the project is “fully occupied.” A project is considered fully occupied when 85% of the gross building area is occupied and the project is being used for its intended use.  

When can I submit for Final Audit?

Project teams can submit for Final Audit once the project has achieved Ready designation, completed its 12-month performance period, and uploaded all required Final Audit documentation in Portal. All projects must submit for Final Audit ahead of the program's sunset dates.

Should your team need more time to get up to full occupancy or commission equipment to demonstrate compliance, please contact lbc.certification@living-future.org to inform Living Future of the anticipated delay.

Where and how do teams submit for Audit?

All teams submit project documentation through the Portal. The Portal will only display the documentation requirements required for either the Ready or Final Audit, depending on the project’s status. For 3.0 and 3.1 projects with the option of a single audit, all fields will be shown at the time of submission. Once the project team has uploaded all of the relevant audit documentation, clicking “Request Invoice for Certification Fee” will generate a request for the Certification invoice. Once the invoice is paid, the should review the application to make sure all tasks are complete, then click “Submit”. Living Future will assign a third-party auditor, and the audit review can begin.

How long does an Audit take?

Each audit cycle (Ready Audit or Final Audit) consists of three stages and takes three months, on average, to complete. The process and timing of the Ready and Final Audits are the same:

  1. Preliminary review - the auditor will review the submission and submit Clarification Requests within approximately three weeks
  2. Clarification Requests - teams have 30 days to respond to the auditor’s Clarification Requests. If the team does not respond within this timeframe, the review will be closed out and will be required to Appeal to complete the audit phase. Teams may be granted two additional 30-day extensions by approval only. Contact lbc.certification@living-future.org for approval.
  3. Final review - the auditor will review the team’s responses, supporting documentation, and submit a final ruling within approximately three weeks

What are “Clarification Requests”?

After a preliminary review of the submission, the auditor submits their Clarification Requests, which gives the project team a chance to resolve documentation issues or answer questions of concern before the auditor makes their determination for Ready designation or a Final Certification Ruling.

The team has 30 days to respond to the auditor’s Clarification Requests. If the team does not respond within this timeframe, the review will be closed out and will be required to Appeal to complete the audit phase. Teams may be granted two additional 30-day extensions by approval only. Contact lbc.certification@living-future.org for approval.

Click here to learn more about Clarification Requests.

What happens if I need a Request for Ruling during the audit process?

Project teams are required to have all Requests for Rulings or alternative pathways approved prior to the start of an audit. If a project team requires a Request for Ruling be reviewed mid-audit, Living Future charges a $1,000 fee per Imperative or requirement to accommodate this change in process. Teams can navigate here to submit a Mid-Audit Request for Ruling. Payment does not guarantee an affirmative ruling.

Learn more about Requests for Rulings.

What if we fail our Ready or Final audit? What’s next?

If the project team fails audit and/or does not agree with the final ruling (at the Ready Audit or Final Audit phases), the team must initiate the Certification Ruling Appeal by contacting lbc.certfications@living-future.org within 15 business days of receiving the Final Certification Ruling.

For more information on Appeals, please visit this page.

What is a site visit? Is one required for every audit?

Site visits are not required for Zero Carbon and Zero Energy projects. For Core and LBC projects, Living Future reserves the right to require a virtual or in-person site tour before the Certification decision is made.

What can I expect during a virtual site visit?

During the tour, the project team may need to answer additional clarification questions posed by the auditor. Living Future will coordinate virtual tours at a time convenient to the project team and the auditor. Project teams must have access to a device with a quality camera and reliable Wi-Fi, and the auditor will need access to anything within the project boundary. Teams should ensure knowledgeable parties are present for the tour to answer the auditor’s questions. Failure to provide access to all areas within the project boundary and/or failure to maintain a consistent, quality video connection may result in additional fees to cover the added staff and auditor time to reschedule the audit. At this time, Living Future no longer conducts in-person site audits. 

What if we want to include an Imperative after the Audit?

For LBC 3.0/3.1 Petal and 4.0 Petal projects, Imperatives that were not included in the original Certification review and have not been submitted for formal review as part of the original Certification application are not eligible for review through the Certification Ruling Appeal process. These Imperatives must be submitted for initial review as additional Imperatives/Petals. Contact lbc.certification@living-future.org to discuss the pricing and process for review of additional Imperatives/Petals. 

Guidelines for sharing news about your Ready designated or Certified status

Check out our guidelines for sharing the news about your Ready Designation here and your Certification status here!

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