Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 1: fundamental commissioning of the building energy systems; required

intent

Verify that the building's energy related systems are installed, calibrated and perform according to the owner's project requirements, basis of design, and construction documents

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 1: fundamental commissioning of the building energy systems; required

benefits of commissioning

benefits of commissioning include reduces energy use, lower operating costs, resuced contractor callbacks, better building documentation, improved prodictivity and verification that the systems perform in accordance with the owners project requirements.

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 1: fundamental commissioning of the building energy systems; required

Requirements

The following commissioning process activities shall be completed by the commissioning team, in accordance with the LEED for New Construction 2.2 Reference Guide.

1) Designate an individual as the Commissioning Authority (CxA) to lead, review and oversee the completion of the commissioning process activities.
a) The CxA shall have documented commissioning authority experience in at least two building projects.

b) The individual serving as the CxA shall be independent of the project’s design and construction management, though they may be employees of the firms providing those services. The CxA may be a qualified employee or consultant of the Owner.

c) The CxA shall report results, findings and recommendations directly to the Owner.
d) For projects smaller than 50,000 gross square feet, the CxA may include qualified persons on the design or construction teams who have the required experience.

2) The Owner shall document the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR). The design team shall develop the Basis of Design (BOD). The CxA shall review these documents for clarity and completeness. The Owner and design team shall be responsible for updates to their respective documents.

3) Develop and incorporate commissioning requirements into the construction documents.

4) Develop and implement a commissioning plan.

5) Verify the installation and performance of the systems to be commissioned.

6) Complete a summary commissioning report.

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 1: fundamental commissioning of the building energy systems; required

Commissioned Systems

Commissioning process activities shall be completed for the following energy-related systems, at a minimum:

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Heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems (mechanical and passive) and associated controls
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Lighting and daylighting controls
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Domestic hot water systems
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Renewable energy systems (wind, solar etc.)

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 1: fundamental commissioning of the building energy systems; required

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Owners are encouraged to seek out qualified individuals to lead the commissioning process. Qualified individuals are identified as those who possess a high level of experience in the following areas:

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Energy systems design, installation and operation
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Commissioning planning and process management
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Hands-on field experience with energy systems performance, interaction, start-up, balancing, testing, troubleshooting, operation, and maintenance procedures
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Energy systems automation control knowledge
Owners are encouraged to consider including water-using systems, building envelope systems, and other systems in the scope of the commissioning plan as appropriate. The building envelope is an important component of a facility which impacts energy consumption, occupant comfort and indoor air quality. While it is not required to be commissioned by LEED, an owner can receive significant financial savings and reduced risk of poor indoor air quality by including building envelope commissioning.

(The LEED for New Construction 2.2 Reference Guide provides guidance on the rigor expected for this prerequisite for the following: )

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Owner’s project requirements
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Basis of design
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Commissioning plan
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Commissioning specification
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Performance verification documentation
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Commissioning report

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 2: Minimum Energy Performance Required

Intent

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 2: Minimum Energy Performance Required

Requirements

Design the building project to comply with both—

The mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4 and 10.4) of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 (without amendments); and
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The prescriptive requirements (Sections 5.5, 6.5, 7.5 and 9.5) or performance requirements (Section 11) of ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 (without amendments).

Energy and Atmosphere: prereq 2: Minimum Energy Performance Required

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Design the building envelope, HVAC, lighting, and other systems to maximize energy performance. The ASHRAE 90.1-2004 User’s Manual contains worksheets that can be used to document compliance with this prerequisite. For projects pursuing points under EA Credit 1, the computer simulation model may be used to confirm satisfaction of this prerequisite.

If a local code has demonstrated quantitative and textual equivalence following, at a minimum, the U.S. Department of Energy standard process for commercial energy code determination, then it may be used to satisfy this prerequisite in lieu of ASHRAE 90.1-2004. Details on the DOE process for commercial energy code determinationcan be found at www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm.

Energy and Atmosphere 3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required

Intent

Energy and Atmosphere 3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required

Requirements

Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants in new base building HVAC&R systems. When reusing existing base building HVAC equipment, complete a comprehensive CFC phase-out conversion prior to project completion. Phase-out plans extending beyond the project completion date will be considered on their merits.

Energy and Atmosphere 3: Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required

Potential Technologies and Strategies

When reusing existing HVAC systems, conduct an inventory to identify equipment that uses CFC refrigerants and provide a replacement schedule for these refrigerants. For new buildings, specify new HVAC equipment in the base building that uses no CFC refrigerants.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Intent

Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Requirements

Option 1

Select one of the four compliance path options described below. Project teams documenting achievement using
any of these options are assumed to be in compliance with EA Prerequisite 2.

NOTE: LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26th, 2007 are required to achieve at least two

(2) points under EAc1.
OPTION 1 — WHOLE BUILDING ENERGY SIMULATION (1–10 Points)
Demonstrate a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared to the baseline
building performance rating per ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004 by a whole building project simulation

using the Building Performance Rating Method in Appendix G of the Standard. The minimum energy cost
savings percentage for each point threshold is as follows:
New Buildings Existing Building Renovations Points
10.5%                    3.5%                              1
14%                         7%                              2
17.5%                      10.5%                          3
21%                        14%                             4
24.5%                     17.5%                           5
28%                        21%                             6
31.5%                        24.5%                        7
35%                         28%                            8
38.5%                      31.5%                          9
42%                         35%                           10

* Note: Only projects registered prior to June 26, 2007 may pursue 1 point under EAc1.
Appendix G of Standard 90.1-2004 requires that the energy analysis done for the Building Performance Rating Method include ALL of the energy costs within and associated with the building project. To achieve points using this credit, the proposed design—

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must comply with the mandatory provisions (Sections 5.4, 6.4, 7.4, 8.4, 9.4 and 10.4) in Standard 90.12004;
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must include all the energy costs within and associated with the building project; and

must be compared against a baseline building that complies with Appendix G to Standard 90.1-2004. The default process energy cost is 25% of the total energy cost for the baseline building. For buildings where the process energy cost is less than 25% of the baseline building energy cost, the LEED submittal must include supporting documentation substantiating that process energy inputs are appropriate.

For the purpose of this analysis, process energy is considered to include, but is not limited to, office and general miscellaneous equipment, computers, elevators and escalators, kitchen cooking and refrigeration, laundry washing and drying, lighting exempt from the lighting power allowance (e.g., lighting integral to medical equipment) and other (e.g., waterfall pumps). Regulated (non-process) energy includes lighting (such as for the interior, parking garage, surface parking, façade, or building grounds, except as noted above), HVAC (such as for space heating,space cooling, fans, pumps, toilet exhaust, parking garage ventilation, kitchen hood exhaust, etc.), and service water heating for domestic or space heating purposes.

For EA Credit 1, process loads shall be identical for both the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating. However, project teams may follow the Exceptional Calculation Method (ASHRAE 90.1-2004 G2.5) to document measures that reduce process loads. Documentation of process load energy savings shall include a list of the assumptions made for both the base and proposed design, and theoretical or empirical information supporting these assumptions.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Requirements

Option 2: Prescriptive compliance path: ASHRAE Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small
Office Buildings 2004 (4 Points)  

Comply with the prescriptive measures identified in the Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide developed by the New Buildings Institute. The following restrictions apply:

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Buildings must be under 100,000 square feet.
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Buildings may NOT be health care, warehouse or laboratory projects.
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Project teams must fully comply with Sections One, Design Process Strategies, and Two, Core Performance Requirements.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Requirements

Option 3: Prescriptive compliance path: Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide
(2-5 Points)

Comply with the prescriptive measures identified in the Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide
developed by the New Buildings Institute. The following restrictions apply:

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Buildings must be under 100,000 square feet.
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Buildings may NOT be health care, warehouse or laboratory projects.
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Project teams must fully comply with Sections One, Design Process Strategies, and Two, Core Performance Requirements.
Minimum points achieved under Option 3 (2-3 points):

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Three (3) points are available for all office, school, public assembly, and retail projects under 100,000 square feet that comply with Sections One and Two of the Core Performance Guide.
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Two (2) points are available for all other project types under 100,000 square feet (except health care, warehouse, or laboratory projects) that implement the basic requirements of the Core Performance Guide

Additional points available under Option 3 (up to 2 additional points):

Up to two (2) additional points are available to projects that implement performance strategies listed in Section Three, Enhanced Performance. For every three strategies implemented from this section, one point is available.
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Any strategies applicable to the project may be implemented except:
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3.1-Cool Roofs
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3.8-Night Venting
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3.13-Additional Commissioning

These strategies are addressed by different aspects of the LEED program and are not eligible for additional points under EA Credit 1.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Requirements

Option 3: Prescriptive compliance path:Advanced Buildings Benchmark™ Basic Criteria
and Prescriptive Measures (1 Point)

Note: projects registered after June 26, 2007 may not use this option Comply with the Basic Criteria and Prescriptive Measures of the Advanced Buildings Benchmark™ Version 1.1 with the exception of the following sections: 1.7 Monitoring and Trend-logging, 1.11 Indoor Air Quality, and 1.14 Networked Computer Monitor Control. The following restrictions apply:
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Project teams must fully comply with all applicable criteria as established in Advanced Buildings Benchmark for the climate zone in which the building is located.

Energy and Atmosphere: credit 1: Optomize Energy Performance 1-10 Points

two points mandatory for all LEED for New Construction projects registered after June 26, 2007

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Design the building envelope and systems to maximize energy performance. Use a computer simulation model to assess the energy performance and identify the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures. Quantify energy performance as compared to a baseline building.

If a local code has demonstrated quantitative and textual equivalence following, at a minimum, the U.S. Department of Energy standard process for commercial energy code determination, then the results of that analysis may be used to correlate local code performance with ASHRAE 90.1-2004. Details on the DOE process for commercial energy code determination can be found at www.energycodes.gov/implement/determinations_com.stm.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 2: On-Site
Renewable Energy 1-3 Points

Intent

Encourage and recognize increasing levels of on-site renewable energy self-supply in order to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 2: On-Site
Renewable Energy 1-3 Points

Requirements

Use on-site renewable energy systems to offset building energy cost. Calculate project performance by expressing the energy produced by the renewable systems as a percentage of the building annual energy cost and using the table below to determine the number of points achieved.

Use the building annual energy cost calculated in EA Credit 1 or use the Department of Energy (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database to determine the estimated electricity use.
(Table of use for different building types is provided in the Reference Guide.)

% Renewable Energy           Points
2.5%                                     1
7.5%                                     2
12.5%                                    3

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 2: On-Site
Renewable Energy 1-3 Points

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Assess the project for non-polluting and renewable energy potential including solar, wind, geothermal, low-impact hydro, biomass and bio-gas strategies. When applying these strategies, take advantage of net metering with the local utility.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning

Intent

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning

Requirements

Implement, or have a contract in place to implement, the following additional commissioning process activities in addition to the requirements of EA Prerequisite 1 and in accordance with the LEED for New Construction 2.2 Reference Guide:

1. Prior to the start of the construction documents phase, designate an independent Commissioning Authority (CxA) to lead, review, and oversee the completion of all commissioning process activities. The CxA shall, at a minimum, perform Tasks 2, 3 and 6. Other team members may perform Tasks 4 and 5. 
 

a. The CxA shall have documented commissioning authority experience in at least two building projects.

b. The individual serving as the CxA shall be—
  i. independent of the work of design and construction;
  ii. not an employee of the design firm, though they may be contracted through them;
  iii. not an employee of, or contracted through, a contractor or construction manager holding construction contracts; and
  iv. (can be) a qualified employee or consultant of the Owner.

c.The CxA shall report results, findings and recommendations directly to the Owner.

d. This requirement has no deviation for project size.

2. The CxA shall conduct, at a minimum, one commissioning design review of the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR), Basis of Design (BOD), and design documents prior to mid-construction documents phase and back-check the review comments in the subsequent design submission.

3. The CxA shall review contractor submittals applicable to systems being commissioned for compliance with the OPR and BOD. This review shall be concurrent with A/E reviews and submitted to the design team and the Owner.

4. Develop a systems manual that provides future operating staff the information needed to understand and optimally operate the commissioned systems.

5. Verify that the requirements for training operating personnel and building occupants are completed.

6. Assure the involvement by the CxA in reviewing building operation within 10 months after substantial completion with O&M staff and occupants. Include a plan for resolution of outstanding commissioning-related issues.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 3: Enhanced Commissioning

Potentential Technologies and Strategies

Although it is preferable that the CxA be contracted by the Owner, for the enhanced commissioning credit, the CxA may also be contracted through the design firms or construction management firms not holding construction contracts.

The LEED for New Construction 2.2 Reference Guide provides detailed guidance on the rigor expected for following process activities:

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Commissioning design review
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Commissioning submittal review
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Systems manual

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management

Intent

Reduce ozone depletion and support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to global warming.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management

Requirements

Option 1

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management

Requirements

Option 2

Select refrigerants and HVAC&R that minimize or eliminate the emission of compounds that contribute to ozone depletion and global warming. The base building HVAC&R equipment shall comply with the following formula, which sets a maximum threshold for the combined contributions to ozone depletion and global warming potential:

LCGWP + LCODP x 105 = 100

Where:
LCODP = [ODPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life
LCGWP = [GWPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life
LCODP: Lifecycle Ozone Depletion Potential (lbCFC11/Ton-Year)
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential (lbCO2/Ton-Year)
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant (0 to 12,000 lbCO2/lbr)
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant (0 to 0.2 lbCFC11/lbr)
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate (0.5% to 2.0%; default of 2% unless otherwise demonstrated)
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss (2% to 10%; default of 10% unless otherwise demonstrated)
Rc: Refrigerant Charge (0.5 to 5.0 lbs of refrigerant per ton of cooling capacity)
Life: Equipment Life (10 years; default based on equipment type, unless otherwise demonstrated)

For multiple types of equipment, a weighted average of all base building level HVAC&R equipment shall beapplied using the following formula:
[ S (LCGWP + LCODP x 105) x Qunit ] / Qtotal = 100
Where:
Qunit = Cooling capacity of an individual HVAC or refrigeration unit (Tons)

Qtotal = Total cooling capacity of all HVAC or refrigeration Small HVAC units (defined as containing less than 0.5 lbs of refrigerant), and other equipment such as standard refrigerators, small water coolers, and any other cooling equipment that contains less than 0.5 lbs of refrigerant,are not considered part of the “base building” system and are not subject to the requirements of this credit.

AND

Do not install fire suppression systems that contain ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, HCFCs or Halons).

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 4: Enhanced Refrigerant Management

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Design and operate the facility without mechanical cooling and refrigeration equipment. Where mechanical cooling is used, utilize base building HVAC and refrigeration systems for the refrigeration cycle that minimize direct impact on ozone depletion and global warming. Select HVAC&R equipment with reduced refrigerant charge and increased equipment life. Maintain equipment to prevent leakage of refrigerant to the atmosphere.
Utilize fire suppression systems that do not contain HCFCs or Halons.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 5: Measurement and Verification

Intent

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 5: Measurement and Verification

Requirements

Develop and implement a Measurement & Verification (M&V) Plan consistent with Option D: Calibrated Simulation (Savings Estimation Method 2), or Option B: Energy Conservation Measure Isolation, as specified in the International Performance Measurement & Verification Protocol (IPMVP) Volume III: Concepts and Options for Determining Energy Savings in New Construction, April, 2003.
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The M&V period shall cover a period of no less than one year of post-construction occupancy.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 6: Green Power

Intent

Encourage the developnent and use of gridp source, renewable energy technologies on a net zero pollution basis

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 6: Green Power

Requirements

Provide at least 35% of the building’s electricity from renewable sources by engaging in at least a two-year renewable energy contract. Renewable sources are as defined by the Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) Green-e products certification requirements.

DETERMINE THE BASELINE ELECTRICITY USE
Use the annual electricity consumption from the results of EA Credit 1.
OR
Use the Department of Energy (DOE) Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) database to determine the estimated electricity use.

Energy and Atmosphere: Credit 6: Green Power

Potential Technologies and Strategies

Determine the energy needs of the building and investigate opportunities to engage in a green power contract.
Green power is derived from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass or low-impact hydro sources. Visit www.green-e.org for details about the Green-e program. The power product purchased to comply with credit requirements need not be Green-e certified. Other sources of green power are eligible if they satisfy the Green-e program’s technical requirements. Renewable energy certificates (RECs), tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), green tags and other forms of green power that comply with Green-e’s technical requirements can be used to document compliance with EA Credit 6 requirements.