See all forum discussions about this credit »
LEEDuser expert
Christopher Schaffner
LEED Fellow, PE, WELL AP
The Green Engineer
CEO & Founder
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
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
The intent of this pilot alternative compliance path is to allow an alternate metric for documenting performance improvement when using Option 1. Whole Building Simulation as the compliance path in EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance, EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, and EA Credit On-site Renewable Energy and to provide USGBC comparative data on metrics for energy performance. The ACP does not change any other aspect of the referenced prerequisites and credits.
Requirements
EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance / EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance
Comply with all requirements of Option 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation. Calculate and report a metric from each of the required categories identified below. Refer to the credit specific documentation requirements below for details on the reporting requirements. For all metrics: unbundled RECs for the project building may not be used to adjust the source-to-site factors, GHG emission factors, Primary Energy Factors, or TDV Energy factors. For each energy source serving the building, the source-to-site factors, GHG emission factors, Primary energy factors, or TDV energy factors must be identical for the Baseline and Proposed building models. REQUIRED CATEGORIES:- Energy Sources. Complete one of the following (Required for all projects).
- Source energy. The total source energy consumption shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using source energy. Use the national average ENERGY STAR Source-Site Ratios for each building energy source from the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy for projects in the U.S. and Canada. For international projects, use the U.S. source-to-site ratios or published source-to-site ratios for the country or multi-country region where the project is located.
- Primary energy. The total primary energy shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using the primary energy. Primary Energy Factors for each building energy source shall be determined consistently with ISO Standard 16346:2013 and published for the country or multi-country region where the project is located.
- Local Equivalent. Alternate methods of calculating primary source energy factors will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the primary source energy factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred. The narrative must address how the primary source energy factors account for extraction, transportation, transmission, generation efficiency, and losses (as applicable) from the point of extraction to delivery to the project site.
-
Greenhouse gas emissions. The total greenhouse gas emissions, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents, shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Complete one of the following (Required for all projects):
- Energy Star Factors: Greenhouse gas emission factors for each building energy source shall be determined from the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Greenhouse Gas Emissions using the national or regional averages (no credit may be claimed for offsite green power when using this approach). Applicable only for projects in the U.S. and Canada.
- ISO 16346:2013: Greenhouse gas emission factors for each building energy source shall be determined consistently with ISO Standard 16346:2013 and published for the country or region where the project is located. Applicable internationally, including projects in the U.S. and Canada.
- The Climate Registry: Buildings that receive energy from sources with Utility Specific Emission Factors that are verified by the Climate Registry within the last three years from the date of project registration are permitted to use the most recent emissions factors and apply them to the project’s energy use.
- Local Equivalent: Alternate methods of calculating emissions from site energy sources will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the emissions factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
-
Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) Energy: The total TDV energy shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using TDV energy. Complete one of the following (Required for projects in California; optional for projects outside of California):
- Time Dependent Valuation factors must be calculated consistently with the Time Dependent Valuation of Energy for Developing Building Energy Efficiency Standards published in 2011.
- Local Equivalent: Alternate methods of calculating TDV factors from site energy sources will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the TDV factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
EA Credit On-Site Renewable Energy
Provide calculations demonstrating the percent renewable generation calculated using cost as a metric (where cost is calculated consistent with the methodology used for EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance. Provide supplemental calculations for percent renewable generation for each of the additional metrics reported for EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum energy performance (Energy Sources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and if applicable – TDV Energy). Provide a narrative describing how the renewable energy value in the numerator was calculated for each metric.Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit Specific
EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance / EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance
Provide all standard documentation required for each of the credits submitted. Additionally for every project provide:- EApc95 Documentation Spreadsheet along with the uploads referenced in the spreadsheet and below. The spreadsheet and supporting documentation must include:
- A brief narrative describing why the selected performance metric(s) were chosen and how the selected metric(s) were used to influence decisions around energy use in the design process.
- Cost: The baseline building performance cost and proposed building performance cost (calculated as currently required under EAp2), and the percentage cost improvement. Include information on the utility rates used, or (if applicable) the state or national average costs used in lieu of specific utility rates.
- Site Energy: The baseline site energy consumption and proposed site energy consumption (calculated as currently required under EAp2), and the percentage site energy improvement.
- Peak Demand: The baseline annual and monthly peak electric demand and the proposed annual and monthly peak electric demand, and the percentage improvement in annual peak demand.
- Energy Sources: The baseline and proposed building performance, and percentage savings using the “Energy Sources” metric described above. Provide the source energy or primary energy factors used and documentation demonstrating that the Source-Site Ratios are calculated consistently with the method provided in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy or ISO 16346:2013. Alternatively, if a local equivalent has been used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the source / primary energy factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
- Greenhouse Gas emissions: The baseline and proposed Greenhouse Gas emissions, and the percentage improvement in greenhouse gas emissions. Provide documentation demonstrating that the Greenhouse Gas emission factors are calculated consistent with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, or ISO 16346:2013, or that utility specific factors for each energy source serving the project have been verified by the Climate Registry within the last three years from the date of project registration and are the most current available. Alternatively, if a local equivalent is used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the emissions factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations.
- Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) Energy: If the project is located in California, or opts to provide TDV Energy calculations, provide the total baseline and proposed TDV energy consumption calculated in accordance with California Energy Commission publications, and the percentage improvement in TDV energy consumption using this method. If not calculated automatically within approved California Title-24 software, provide a narrative indicating how the TDV hourly factors were modeled, and a link to or copy of the document that lists those factors. If a local equivalent is used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the TDV factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations.
EA Credit On-Site Renewable Energy
Provide calculations demonstrating the percent renewable generation calculated using cost as a metric (where cost is calculated consistent with the methodology used for EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance). Provide supplemental calculations for percent renewable generation for each of the additional metrics reported for EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum energy performance (Energy Sources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and if applicable – TDV Energy). Provide a narrative describing how the renewable energy value in the numerator was calculated for each metric.Survey Questions
Complete survey questions here
- Which energy performance metric was selected by the project team?
- Energy Sources
- Source Energy
- Primary Energy
- Local Equivalent Primary / Source Energy. Please describe:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Time Dependent Valuation
- California TDV Factors using approved Title-24 software
- California TDV Factors without approved Title-24 software
- Local Equivalent TDV Factors. Please describe.
- Please summarize briefly the reason why the metric selected was chosen (note that a narrative must still be uploaded to LEED Online for this documentation requirement)?
- How likely are you to select the same performance metric for future projects?
- Is there an energy performance metric not included that the project team used to influence the design?
- Was the project team able to obtain the information necessary to calculate Primary Energy?
- Was the project team able to obtain the information necessary to calculate TDV Energy?
- If no to either of the previous two questions, did the project team receive a response to the energy data transparency advocacy letter that was sent?
- For this project, was the credit intent (“To reduce environmental and economic harms associated with excessive energy use”) better demonstrated by metrics than by using cost as the sole metric of performance?
Changes
- 6/1/2016: Added language: "Calculate and report all metrics identified below. Refer to the credit specific documentation requirements below for details on the reporting requirements." Added spreadsheet for documenation
- 7/25/2017: Reduce total number of metrics that project teams must calculate: cost; energy source; GHG; TDV (CA only) Exclude unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) from all calculations Permit submission of local factors, including, but not limited to a local utility Require teams to average the two highest-performing metrics to calculate percentage energy improvement and points achieved under Option 1. Whole Building Energy
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 »Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
The intent of this pilot alternative compliance path is to allow an alternate metric for documenting performance improvement when using Option 1. Whole Building Simulation as the compliance path in EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance, EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance, and EA Credit On-site Renewable Energy and to provide USGBC comparative data on metrics for energy performance. The ACP does not change any other aspect of the referenced prerequisites and credits.
Requirements
EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance / EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance
Comply with all requirements of Option 1. Whole Building Energy Simulation. Calculate and report a metric from each of the required categories identified below. Refer to the credit specific documentation requirements below for details on the reporting requirements. For all metrics: unbundled RECs for the project building may not be used to adjust the source-to-site factors, GHG emission factors, Primary Energy Factors, or TDV Energy factors. For each energy source serving the building, the source-to-site factors, GHG emission factors, Primary energy factors, or TDV energy factors must be identical for the Baseline and Proposed building models. REQUIRED CATEGORIES:- Energy Sources. Complete one of the following (Required for all projects).
- Source energy. The total source energy consumption shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using source energy. Use the national average ENERGY STAR Source-Site Ratios for each building energy source from the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy for projects in the U.S. and Canada. For international projects, use the U.S. source-to-site ratios or published source-to-site ratios for the country or multi-country region where the project is located.
- Primary energy. The total primary energy shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using the primary energy. Primary Energy Factors for each building energy source shall be determined consistently with ISO Standard 16346:2013 and published for the country or multi-country region where the project is located.
- Local Equivalent. Alternate methods of calculating primary source energy factors will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the primary source energy factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred. The narrative must address how the primary source energy factors account for extraction, transportation, transmission, generation efficiency, and losses (as applicable) from the point of extraction to delivery to the project site.
-
Greenhouse gas emissions. The total greenhouse gas emissions, in terms of carbon dioxide equivalents, shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using carbon dioxide equivalent emissions. Complete one of the following (Required for all projects):
- Energy Star Factors: Greenhouse gas emission factors for each building energy source shall be determined from the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Greenhouse Gas Emissions using the national or regional averages (no credit may be claimed for offsite green power when using this approach). Applicable only for projects in the U.S. and Canada.
- ISO 16346:2013: Greenhouse gas emission factors for each building energy source shall be determined consistently with ISO Standard 16346:2013 and published for the country or region where the project is located. Applicable internationally, including projects in the U.S. and Canada.
- The Climate Registry: Buildings that receive energy from sources with Utility Specific Emission Factors that are verified by the Climate Registry within the last three years from the date of project registration are permitted to use the most recent emissions factors and apply them to the project’s energy use.
- Local Equivalent: Alternate methods of calculating emissions from site energy sources will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the emissions factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
-
Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) Energy: The total TDV energy shall be calculated for the baseline building performance rating and for the proposed building performance rating, and the percentage improvement shall be determined using TDV energy. Complete one of the following (Required for projects in California; optional for projects outside of California):
- Time Dependent Valuation factors must be calculated consistently with the Time Dependent Valuation of Energy for Developing Building Energy Efficiency Standards published in 2011.
- Local Equivalent: Alternate methods of calculating TDV factors from site energy sources will be considered on a case by case basis. Please provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the TDV factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
EA Credit On-Site Renewable Energy
Provide calculations demonstrating the percent renewable generation calculated using cost as a metric (where cost is calculated consistent with the methodology used for EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance. Provide supplemental calculations for percent renewable generation for each of the additional metrics reported for EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum energy performance (Energy Sources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and if applicable – TDV Energy). Provide a narrative describing how the renewable energy value in the numerator was calculated for each metric.Submittals
General
Register for the pilot credit- Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
- Complete the feedback survey:
Credit Specific
EA Prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance / EA Credit Optimize Energy Performance
Provide all standard documentation required for each of the credits submitted. Additionally for every project provide:- EApc95 Documentation Spreadsheet along with the uploads referenced in the spreadsheet and below. The spreadsheet and supporting documentation must include:
- A brief narrative describing why the selected performance metric(s) were chosen and how the selected metric(s) were used to influence decisions around energy use in the design process.
- Cost: The baseline building performance cost and proposed building performance cost (calculated as currently required under EAp2), and the percentage cost improvement. Include information on the utility rates used, or (if applicable) the state or national average costs used in lieu of specific utility rates.
- Site Energy: The baseline site energy consumption and proposed site energy consumption (calculated as currently required under EAp2), and the percentage site energy improvement.
- Peak Demand: The baseline annual and monthly peak electric demand and the proposed annual and monthly peak electric demand, and the percentage improvement in annual peak demand.
- Energy Sources: The baseline and proposed building performance, and percentage savings using the “Energy Sources” metric described above. Provide the source energy or primary energy factors used and documentation demonstrating that the Source-Site Ratios are calculated consistently with the method provided in the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy or ISO 16346:2013. Alternatively, if a local equivalent has been used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the source / primary energy factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations that have occurred.
- Greenhouse Gas emissions: The baseline and proposed Greenhouse Gas emissions, and the percentage improvement in greenhouse gas emissions. Provide documentation demonstrating that the Greenhouse Gas emission factors are calculated consistent with the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, or ISO 16346:2013, or that utility specific factors for each energy source serving the project have been verified by the Climate Registry within the last three years from the date of project registration and are the most current available. Alternatively, if a local equivalent is used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the emissions factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations.
- Time Dependent Valuation (TDV) Energy: If the project is located in California, or opts to provide TDV Energy calculations, provide the total baseline and proposed TDV energy consumption calculated in accordance with California Energy Commission publications, and the percentage improvement in TDV energy consumption using this method. If not calculated automatically within approved California Title-24 software, provide a narrative indicating how the TDV hourly factors were modeled, and a link to or copy of the document that lists those factors. If a local equivalent is used, provide a narrative and any relevant background data explaining how the TDV factors were developed and any third-party review of those calculations.
EA Credit On-Site Renewable Energy
Provide calculations demonstrating the percent renewable generation calculated using cost as a metric (where cost is calculated consistent with the methodology used for EAp2: Minimum Energy Performance). Provide supplemental calculations for percent renewable generation for each of the additional metrics reported for EA Prerequisite 2: Minimum energy performance (Energy Sources, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and if applicable – TDV Energy). Provide a narrative describing how the renewable energy value in the numerator was calculated for each metric.Survey Questions
Complete survey questions here
- Which energy performance metric was selected by the project team?
- Energy Sources
- Source Energy
- Primary Energy
- Local Equivalent Primary / Source Energy. Please describe:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Time Dependent Valuation
- California TDV Factors using approved Title-24 software
- California TDV Factors without approved Title-24 software
- Local Equivalent TDV Factors. Please describe.
- Please summarize briefly the reason why the metric selected was chosen (note that a narrative must still be uploaded to LEED Online for this documentation requirement)?
- How likely are you to select the same performance metric for future projects?
- Is there an energy performance metric not included that the project team used to influence the design?
- Was the project team able to obtain the information necessary to calculate Primary Energy?
- Was the project team able to obtain the information necessary to calculate TDV Energy?
- If no to either of the previous two questions, did the project team receive a response to the energy data transparency advocacy letter that was sent?
- For this project, was the credit intent (“To reduce environmental and economic harms associated with excessive energy use”) better demonstrated by metrics than by using cost as the sole metric of performance?
Changes
- 6/1/2016: Added language: "Calculate and report all metrics identified below. Refer to the credit specific documentation requirements below for details on the reporting requirements." Added spreadsheet for documenation
- 7/25/2017: Reduce total number of metrics that project teams must calculate: cost; energy source; GHG; TDV (CA only) Exclude unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) from all calculations Permit submission of local factors, including, but not limited to a local utility Require teams to average the two highest-performing metrics to calculate percentage energy improvement and points achieved under Option 1. Whole Building Energy
LEEDuser expert
Christopher Schaffner
LEED Fellow, PE, WELL AP
The Green Engineer
CEO & Founder
