There are new equipment types earning the Energy Star label on a regular basis. Any equipment type that fits into the LEED categories for equipment addressed by the credit should be included in credit calculations.
If you don't make any durable goods purchases during your regular performance period, you can extend the performance period for this credit back to include older qualifying purchases. Remember that the performance period for any prerequisite or credit can last for a maximum of 24 months, at the discretion of the project team, but all performance periods must overlap and terminate within 30 days of each other.
The audit cannot be performed during times when occupancy is below 50%. If occupancy levels fluctuate during the performance period, be sure to conduct the audit when occupancy is above 50% or the results will not be eligible for this credit.
It may be tempting to determine a baseline irrigation use by using the calculation methodology for Option 2 and then compare that value to the actual metered irrigation data but that is not allowed. The calculation methodology must be consistent between the baseline and installed cases.
A new "landscape budget method" has been added for this credit through the November 2010 LEED addenda. This method could be very useful for teams that are close to meeting the buffer zone requirement, but having some difficulty. If a project is meeting 3 of 4 requirements but can't meet the fourth, it can do the following calculation to demonstrate compliance. As a baseline calculation, calculate the area of site disturbance that would take place if you met all four of the requirements exactly.
For building types covered by Energy Star but located outside the U.S., use Case 1. Portfolio Manager proivdes a list of non-U.S. locations, but it is not complete. If the location for an international project is not listed, consult ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Appendices B and B to determine a comparable U.S. city.
