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Credit language
Requirements
Establishment
Option 1. No refrigerants or low-impact refrigerants (1 point)
Do not use refrigerants, or use only refrigerants (naturally occurring or synthetic) that have an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of zero and a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 50.
OR
Option 2. Calculation of refrigerant impact (1 point)
Select refrigerants that are used in heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) equipment to minimize or eliminate the emission of compounds that contribute to ozone depletion and climate change. The combination of all new and existing base building and tenant HVAC&R equipment that serve the project must comply with the following formula:
IP units
LCGWP |
+ |
LCODP |
x |
105 |
≤ |
100 |
|
SI units
|
Calculation definitions for
LCGWP + LCODP x 105 ≤ 100
(IP units) |
Calculation definitions for
LCGWP + LCODP x 105 ≤ 13
(SI units) |
LCODP = [ODPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life |
LCODP = [ODPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life |
LCGWP = [GWPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life |
LCGWP = [GWPr x (Lr x Life +Mr) x Rc]/Life |
LCODP: Lifecycle Ozone Depletion Potential
(lb CFC 11/Ton-Year) |
LCODP: Lifecycle Ozone Depletion Potential
(kg CFC 11/(kW/year)) |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential
(lb CO2/Ton-Year) |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential
(kg CO2/kW-year) |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant
(0 to 12,000 lb CO2/lbr) |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant
(0 to 12,000 kg CO2/kg r) |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant
(0 to 0.2 lb CFC 11/lbr) |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant
(0 to 0.2 kg CFC 11/kg r) |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate
(2.0%) |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate
(2.0%) |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss
(10%) |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss
(10%) |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge
(0.5 to 5.0 lbs of refrigerant per ton of gross AHRI rated cooling capacity) |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge
(0.065 to 0.65 kg of refrigerant per kW of AHRI rated or Eurovent Certified cooling capacity) |
Life: Equipment Life
(10 years; default based on equipment type, unless otherwise demonstrated) |
Life: Equipment Life
(10 years; default based on equipment type, unless otherwise demonstrated) |
For multiple types of equipment, calculate a weighted average of all base building HVAC&R equipment, using the following formula:
IP units |
|
SI units |
∑ ( LCGWP + LCODP x 105 ) x Qunit |
≤ 100 |
∑ ( LCGWP + LCODP x 105 ) x Qunit |
≤ 13 |
Qtotal |
Qtotal |
Calculation definitions for
[ ∑ (LCGWP + LCODP x 105) x Qunit ] / Qtotal ≤ 100
|
Calculation definitions for
[ ∑ (LCGWP + LCODP x 105) x Qunit ] / Qtotal ≤ 13
|
| (IP units) |
(SI units) |
Qunit = Gross AHRI rated cooling capacity of an individual HVAC or refrigeration unit (Tons) |
Qunit = Eurovent Certified cooling capacity of an individual HVAC or refrigeration unit (kW) |
Qtotal = Total gross AHRI rated cooling capacity of all HVAC or refrigeration |
Qtotal = Total Eurovent Certified cooling capacity of all HVAC or refrigeration (kW) |
Performance
None.
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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.
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Frequently asked questions
My building uses a variable refrigerant flow system. Do I have to account for refrigerant in the piping runs in the credit calculations?
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We haven’t experienced any refrigerant leakage in our systems for the past 5 years. Can we use a refrigerant leakage rate of 0% in the calculations?
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The refrigerant type I need to enter is missing from the credit form. What should I do?
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Are HCFC or HFC refrigerants considered CFC-based refrigerants?
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We don’t control tenant supplied supplemental cooling equipment for uses like server closets, data centers, etc. Are we required to address the tenant equipment for the credit?
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Addenda
7/10/2020 – Updated: 6/10/2021
Form Update
Description of change: Under Option 2 of the v4 BD+C/ID+C credit form and v4 O+M credit form for EA credit Enhanced Refrigerant Management:
In the Table for Mechanical cooling and refrigeration equipment, under the column "Refrigerant", add "Other (specify)" as the last option in the drop-down list.
Next to the table, add margin note: "Projects that select "Other" must provide documentation of the ODPr and the GWPr values for the refrigerant."
Internationally Applicable: No
1/27/2017 – Updated: 1/30/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change: Remove existing text under “Campus Approach” and replace with “Ineligible.”
Internationally Applicable: Yes
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry: What capacity is to be used for centrifugal chillers that, due to their selection conditions, cannot operate at AHRI standard conditions?
The AHRI flow rates are based on capacity. This leads to circular calculation since AHRI standard conditions are dependent on capacity, but capacity is the desired output. How does the project team resolve this circular calculation?
Ruling: To determine the Gross AHRI rated cooling capacity (tons) of an individual HVAC or refrigeration unit that cannot operate at AHRI standard conditions, use the design and selected conditions of the equipment drawing or schedule. Enter this cooling capacity in the Qunit (tons) column in Table. Mechanical and Cooling and Refrigeration Equipment in the credit form.
To determine unit capacity in tons for centrifugal chillers that cannot operate at AHRI standard conditions, use selected flow rates for the evaporator, and use standard AHRI temperatures established for the individual HVAC or refrigeration unit.
Internationally Applicable: Yes
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Documentation toolkit
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