# Navigating BESS
# Projects Tab
The projects tab serves as a portfolio of all projects you own or have access to. Use the search and filter menus to find an existing project.
To create a new (blank) project, select 'New project'.
Once you have created a project you can:
- Edit it
- Publish it
- View an existing published version
- Copy it (Save As to a new version or new project), or
- Delete it (draft versions only)
# Project Sidebar
Within a BESS project, the left sidebar serves as a useful summary and can also be used to navigate around BESS. It shows:
- Overall score. Determined by the category scores, factoring in the weighting of each category. See Scoring for more info.
- BESS Engine
- Project Name
- Address and Council
- Project ID
- Project Status
- Whether the project is accessible to council
- Options to View Report, Save As and Publish
- Your Bookmarks
- Project Profile
- Category scores
- Credit scores (expanded when category page is open)
- Supporting Evidence requirements
# Accessible to Council
All new projects are by default 'Not accessible to council'.
Select 'Yes' here to grant the relevant council access to your project while it is still in progress (draft). This may be useful if you are seeking assistance from council prior to publishing your BESS report.
All published BESS reports can be viewed by the council in which they are located.