Feature image credit: City of Missoula Parks and Recreation.
Are you planning to achieve SITES certification for your project by the end of 2022? Plan ahead and stick to a timeline to complete all the key steps in your SITES certification process.
First, understand the timelines associated with each step in the certification process. Here is an overview of the review process and timeline associated with each review path.
Standard review path
The standard review path is where a project submits its entire application (i.e., all the prerequisites and credits the project is pursuing).
- GBCI preliminary review of documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
- Project team response to preliminary review comments: Depends on how quickly your team responds; GBCI suggests responding within four weeks (20 business days).
- GBCI final review of documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
Split review path
The split review—designed to let you know if your project is on the right path—allows you to submit part of your application at the end of your project’s design phase (typically Sections 1–6 in the SITES v2 rating system) and the rest at the end of construction (typically Sections 7–10 in the SITES v2 rating system).
- GBCI preliminary review of design-related documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
- Project team response to design preliminary review comments: Depends on how quickly your team responds; GBCI suggests responding within four weeks (20 business days).
- GBCI final review of design-related documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
- GBCI preliminary review of construction-related documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
- Project team response to construction preliminary review comments: Depends on how quickly your team responds; GBCI suggests responding within four weeks (20 business days).
- GBCI final review of construction-related documentation: Five weeks (25 business days)
To be certified by the end of the 2022 calendar year, project teams should submit according to the timeline below. Please note that GBCI is closed each year from Nov. 24 to 25 for the Thanksgiving holiday and Dec. 26 to Jan. 2. for winter break. These closure dates are factored in to the estimated timeline.
Timeline for SITES certification by Dec. 31
|
Certification Process Step |
Recommended Date for Submission |
GBCI Estimated Return Date |
|
Complete registration process |
Sept. 5–Sept. 16 |
n/a |
|
Standard: Submit all documentation for preliminary review Split: submit construction-related documentation for construction preliminary review (Note: design preliminary review submissions at this time will not be eligible for an end-of-year certification return) |
Sept. 16 |
Oct. 20 |
|
Standard: Submit all documentation for final review Split: Submit construction-related documentation for construction final review(Note: design preliminary review submissions at this time will not be eligible for an end-of-year certification return) |
Nov. 17 |
Dec. 23 |
All registration and certification fee payments must clear before GBCI begins a review of a project. The timelines above assume that no mid-review clarifications or appeal reviews are necessary. If needed, a limited number of expedited reviews are available for an additional fee. Expedited reviews can reduce the overall review timeline by half. The availability of expedited review timelines is based on GBCI capacity. If you are requesting an expedited review, contact GBCI as soon as possible and at least 10 business days prior to submitting your application.
If your project intends to pursue the split review path and has not yet submitted for design preliminary review, you will not be able to certify your project by the end of this year without pursuing expedited reviews for an additional fee, as availability allows.
GBCI is here to help, so regardless of your certification goal date, be sure to let us know so we can advise you in planning your journey to SITES certification. Project teams hoping to achieve review milestones by a certain date should inform GBCI of their specific needs as early as possible.
More resources
Access guidance and resources. You can also download our free SITES Rating System document for more information about prerequisites and credits for SITES certification.
Check out our articles page to learn more in depth about how to prepare for SITES certification, whether you are eligible for SITES certification and the advice you need to get started on your SITES journey.