Log in

Search form

LEED v4.1

Core and Shell
Energy and Atmosphere
Fundamental Refrigerant Management

LEED CREDIT

CS-v4.1 EAp4: Fundamental Refrigerant Management Required

See all forum discussions about this credit »
View the LEED v4 version of this credit »

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Pamela Mendez

WSP

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser’s viewpoint

Frank advice from LEED experts

LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.

Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To reduce ozone depletion and global warming potential and support early compliance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to climate change.

Requirements

Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) or hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems. When reusing existing HVAC&R equipment, complete a comprehensive CFC and/or HCFC phase-out conversion before project completion. Phase-out plans extending beyond the project completion date will be considered on their merits. Existing small HVAC&R units (defined as containing less than 0.5 pound [225 grams] of refrigerant) and other equipment, such as standard refrigerators, small water coolers, and any other equipment that contains less than 0.5 pound (225 grams) of refrigerant, are exempt.

See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

Addenda

4/9/2021 – Updated: 4/19/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
EA prerequisite Fundamental Refrigerant Management
- revise the Intent to read as follows: "To reduce ozone depletion and global warming potential and support early compliance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, while minimizing direct contributions to climate change."

EA credit Enhanced Refrigerant Management
- revise the Intent to read as follows: "To eliminate ozone depletion and global warming potential, and support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol, including the Kigali Amendment, while minimizing direct contributions to climate change."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/9/2020 – Updated: 2/3/2021
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated to align with v4.1 November 2020 Addenda
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/10/2020 – Updated: 11/25/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
1. Delete the phrase "There are no substantive changes to prerequisite requirements;", capitalize the R in "Refer", and add the words "edits and" after the words "with the following".

2. Add new section "Behind the Intent:". Below the section header add the following text:
"Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) have shorter atmospheric lives than CFCs, but they still contribute to ozone depletion. Similar to CFCs, HCFCs have phase-out dates scheduled under the Montreal Protocol.

Both HCFCs and CFCs must be addressed to meet this prerequisite."

"Wherever CFCs are mentioned in the LEED v4 reference guide, the guidance also applies to HCFCs."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/10/2020 – Updated: 11/25/2020
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
In the first sentence of the requirements, add "or hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) -" after "Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)" and before "based refrigerants..."

In the sentence that begins "When reusing existing HVAC&R equipment", add "and/or HCFC" after "a comprehensive CFC" and before "phase-out conversion before project completion".
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Documentation toolkit

The motherlode of cheat sheets

LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Pamela Mendez

WSP

Get the inside scoop

Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To reduce ozone depletion and global warming potential and support early compliance with the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to climate change.

Requirements

Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) or hydro chlorofluorocarbon (HCFC)-based refrigerants in new heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems. When reusing existing HVAC&R equipment, complete a comprehensive CFC and/or HCFC phase-out conversion before project completion. Phase-out plans extending beyond the project completion date will be considered on their merits. Existing small HVAC&R units (defined as containing less than 0.5 pound [225 grams] of refrigerant) and other equipment, such as standard refrigerators, small water coolers, and any other equipment that contains less than 0.5 pound (225 grams) of refrigerant, are exempt.

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Pamela Mendez

WSP

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about CS-v4.1 EAp4