Track overall operating costs for the project building over the performance period and record the costs associated with significant sustainability actions taken during the performance period.
Collect the overall operating costs of the project building for the previous five years (or length of building occupancy, whichever is shorter). Use the categories and line items specified in the LEED Online credit form for detail on the type of information that is required.
Establish a procedure for tracking and recording the operating costs of the project building during the performance period. You’ll also need to be able to describe the costs of any improvements made during the performance period that will affect ongoing operational costs.
Moving forward, you’ll also need to provide data for costs associated with sustainability improvements and LEED project costs incurred during the performance period. The overall goal is to assess how sustainability initiatives and technologies impact building operating costs over time. Any credit that incurs costs or savings throughout your entire LEED project must be represented in this performance period cost data.
Early on in your LEED certification process, consider pursuing this credit. It’s primarily an accounting exercise to collect historical financial data detailing year-to-year expenses in the following areas:
During occupancy, watch for visible signs of mold growth and musky odors, signs of moisture damage or discoloration, and locate the source. On a regular basis:
Conduct the thermal comfort survey in compliance with IEQc7.2: Thermal Comfort—Verification and log complaints. Determine if corrective action measures are required.
Verify that HVAC set points are properly adjusted to limit RH at or below 60%. Make sure the operations staff understands the importance of the given set points.
