Which type of credits must be met by every project submitting for a Pearl Rating?

Every project submitting for a Pearl Rating must meet the Required Credits. These credits represent essential criteria that a project must fulfill to achieve a specific level of sustainability recognition within the Estidama framework. The Required Credits are designed to ensure that fundamental sustainability principles are adhered to, such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and material usage. Achieving these credits indicates that a project meets minimum standards for environmental performance as evaluated by the Pearl Rating system.

In contrast, the other types of credits, such as Optional, Supplementary, and Voluntary Credits, serve different purposes. Optional Credits are additional credits that projects can pursue for further enhancement of sustainability but are not mandatory. Supplementary Credits may provide extra points towards overall ratings but also are not essential. Voluntary Credits, on the other hand, are entirely discretionary and do not carry any obligation for project compliance. Thus, while these credits can enhance a project’s sustainability profile, they do not replace the necessity of fulfilling the Required Credits to achieve a Pearl Rating.