The Intent of this credit is to set a minimum performance level for energy systems.
Requirements: The project must comply with: ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004
There are a few calculations required for this credit, no Exemplary Performance points available, and the documentation is part of the Design Submittal.
The Intent of this credit is to make sure that the building’s energy systems are installed correctly and performing to the owner’s, design, and construction requirements.
Requirements: There are 6 required items in order to achieve this credit:
1. Designate a Commissioning Authority (CxA) to lead the completion of the Commissioning process.
2. The owner must document the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) - The Design team must complete the Basis of Design (BOD) - The CxA shall review.
3. Incorporate Commissioning requirements into the construction documents.
4. Develop and implement a Commissioning Plan.
5. Verify installation and performance.
6. Complete a Commissioning report.
This is a Prerequisite and must be completed to achieve any of the LEED certification rankings for a building. This credit is part of the Construction submittal.
Today, buildings cause large amount of pollution through their energy consumption. Buildings consume about 68% of the electricity generated in the United States. This electricity is not usually produced by “green” resources - most of the electricity is generated from using fossil fuels which further deplete our source of limited fossil fuels and also add to the growing problem of global warming, along with pollute our atmosphere with chemicals known to cause health problems.
Intent: Maximize efficiency of water systems to reduce the amount of water needed from the utility.
Requirements: The building must use 30% less water than the calculated baseline (not including irrigation) in order to achieve this credit. The baseline is calculated after meeting the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
Approach: Employ various strategies, including dry fixtures such as composting toilets and waterless urinals. Use occupant sensors, stormwater capturing systems along with graywater reuse systems.
Referenced Standard: The Energy Policy Act (EPAct) of 1992.
Exemplary Performance points are available for buildings that increase the requirement to 40%. There are plenty of Calculations necessary for the design submittal of this credit.
Intent: Maximize efficiency of water systems to reduce the amount of water needed from the utility.
Requirements: The building must use 20% less water than the calculated baseline (not including irrigation) in order to achieve this credit. The baseline is calculated after meeting the Energy Policy Act of 1992.
The Intent of this credit is to lower the amount of wastewater generated by buildings.
Requirements: Option 1 - Reduce potable water use for sewage conveyance by 50%. Option 2 - Treat 50% of the wastewater on-site and use or infiltrated on-site.
There are extensive Calculations that must completed with the Design Submittal. There is an Exemplary Performance available for buildings that eliminate the use of potable water for sewage conveyance or treat 100% of wastewater on-site.
The Intent of this credit is to completely eliminate the use of potable water in landscaping purposes.
Requirements: The requirements of this credit is pretty obvious - not use any potable water at all for landscaping or irrigation purposes.
Approach: Select plant species that use less water or need no irrigation at all, install efficient irrigation such as drip systems, use captured rainwater, use recycled wastewater, or use water from a public agency that is for non potable uses.
Just like all the Water Efficiency credits, this credit is part of the Design Submittal. This credit has no exemplary performance points available.
The Intent of this credit is to limit or completely eliminate the use of potable water in landscaping purposes.
Requirements: The requirements of this credit is pretty obvious - reduce potable water consumption for irrigation by 50% from a calculated mid-summer baseline.
Approach: Select plant species that use less water or need no irrigation at all, install efficient irrigation such as drip systems, use captured rainwater, use recycled wastewater, or use water from a public agency that is for non potable uses.
The first thing to note is that all of the Water Efficiency Credits are part of the Design Submittal. These credits are designed to help reduce the need and use of potable water for buildings. The main ways that this is achieved is by recycling greywater, capturing rain water and using more efficient fixtures such as waterless urinals and water closets.
Intent: Minimize light pollution from interior and exterior building lighting systems.
Requirements: There are 4 different compliance paths which are delegated by your lighting zone. The zones are: LZ1 - Dark (Park and Rural Settings), LZ2 - Low (Residential Areas), LZ3 - Medium (Commercial/Industrial, High-Density Residential), LZ4 - High (Major City Centers, Entertainment Districts). The requirements vary from zone to zone.
Referenced Standard: “ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004, Energy Standard for Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential - Lighting, Section 9 (without amendments)”
There are no Exemplary Performance points available for this credit. There are several involved calculations required for the Design Submittal.