LEED CREDIT
SPECIAL REPORT
WSP
SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser’s viewpoint
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
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
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
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
|
SI units
|
Calculation definitions for |
Calculation definitions for |
|---|---|
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 |
LCODP: Lifecycle Ozone Depletion Potential |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge |
Life: Equipment Life |
Life: Equipment Life |
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 |
Calculation definitions for |
|---|---|
| (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) |
What does it cost?
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 »Frequently asked questions
|
How can I determine the leakage rate of my equipment? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
Should all commercial refrigerant equipment be accounted for, including both upright and under-counter? What about walk-in refrigerators? Ice makers? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
I'm working on a renovation project and we'll be keeping some of the existing equipment. Should we include these systems in our calculations? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
What is the required timeline for completing a CFC phase-out for this credit? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
The refrigerant type I need to enter is missing from the credit form. What should I do? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
Are HCFC or HFC refrigerants considered CFC-based refrigerants? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Addenda
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?
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.
Documentation toolkit
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.
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.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
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
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
|
SI units
|
Calculation definitions for |
Calculation definitions for |
|---|---|
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 |
LCODP: Lifecycle Ozone Depletion Potential |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential |
LCGWP: Lifecycle Direct Global Warming Potential |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant |
GWPr: Global Warming Potential of Refrigerant |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant |
ODPr: Ozone Depletion Potential of Refrigerant |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate |
Lr: Refrigerant Leakage Rate |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss |
Mr: End-of-life Refrigerant Loss |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge |
Rc: Refrigerant Charge |
Life: Equipment Life |
Life: Equipment Life |
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 |
Calculation definitions for |
|---|---|
| (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) |
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 »In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
|
How can I determine the leakage rate of my equipment? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
Should all commercial refrigerant equipment be accounted for, including both upright and under-counter? What about walk-in refrigerators? Ice makers? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
I'm working on a renovation project and we'll be keeping some of the existing equipment. Should we include these systems in our calculations? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
What is the required timeline for completing a CFC phase-out for this credit? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
The refrigerant type I need to enter is missing from the credit form. What should I do? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
|
Are HCFC or HFC refrigerants considered CFC-based refrigerants? The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
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?
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.
WSP
