Hot Tip

To meet the next point threshold, identify power-hungry appliances that are in need of replacement within the next year, like copiers, printers, and refrigerators and target them for replacement or efficiency upgrade before project completion. 

If used equipment was labeled Energy Star at the time it was purchased, but is not in the current list anymore, it can be listed as an Energy Star product. However, all new products purchased at the time of construction should be Energy Star labeled. 

Performing your calculations early on will tell you if the project owner needs to specify more Energy Star labeled equipment for the new spaces. 

If an Energy Star product is purchased as a replacement for older, less efficient equipment, you can assign it the higher rated power of the original product for the purposes of your calculation. Doing that gives these replacement products more weight in the calculations. The replacement must be purchased between project registration and when the project is submitted for certification. 

The rated power can also be derived from listed ratings in volts and amps, which you multiply to obtain watts. Use the equation Watts = Amps x Volts. 

HVAC, lighting, and building envelope products are excluded from calculations for this credit.

Your list has to include only equipment that is installed new or purchased within the LEED-CI project scope; existing equipment may be excluded (note that this is a change from the original 2009 release of the rating system—see the Bird's Eye View for more detail).

Depending on the extent and type of remediation required, it is possible that some site features may be affected. For example, it may be less expensive to cap contaminated soils with concrete, leaving no room for landscaping or stormwater infiltration.

If you’re approaching this credit from the perspective of SSp2: Enviornmental Site Assessment and have already remediated a site to meet the requirements of a Phase II ESA for that prerequisite, this credit is automatic. The documentation is the same as is required for this credit.

It is helpful to discuss potential building changes (such as installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures) early in the negotiations so that the base building team has time to adjust and implement the necessary changes by the time the CI project is completed.