Log in

Search form

LEED v4
Existing Retail
Energy and Atmosphere

Enhanced refrigerant management

LEED CREDIT

Retail-EBOM-v4 EAc8: Enhanced Refrigerant Management 1 point

See all forum discussions about this credit »
View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »

SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Trista Brown

LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador

WSP USA
Project Director

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.

Requirements

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


LCGWP

+

LCODP

x

105

≤

13

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)
Meet Option 1 or 2 for all HVAC systems. Stores with commercial refrigeration systems must comply with the following.
  • Use only non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.
  • Achieve an average HFC refrigerant charge of no more than 1.75 pounds of refrigerant per 1,000 Btu/h (2.72 grams of refrigerant per kW) total evaporator cooling load.
  • Achieve a store-wide annual refrigerant emissions rate of no more than 15%.
Alternatively, stores with commercial refrigeration systems may provide proof of attainment of EPA GreenChill’s silver-level store certification for fully operational food retail stores. 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 »

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?

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.)

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?

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.)

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?

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.)
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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."
Campus Applicable
No
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.”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017
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.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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

Trista Brown

LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador

WSP USA
Project Director

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.

Requirements

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


LCGWP

+

LCODP

x

105

≤

13

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)
Meet Option 1 or 2 for all HVAC systems. Stores with commercial refrigeration systems must comply with the following.
  • Use only non-ozone-depleting refrigerants.
  • Achieve an average HFC refrigerant charge of no more than 1.75 pounds of refrigerant per 1,000 Btu/h (2.72 grams of refrigerant per kW) total evaporator cooling load.
  • Achieve a store-wide annual refrigerant emissions rate of no more than 15%.
Alternatively, stores with commercial refrigeration systems may provide proof of attainment of EPA GreenChill’s silver-level store certification for fully operational food retail stores.

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:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

My building uses a variable refrigerant flow system. Do I have to account for refrigerant in the piping runs in the credit 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.)

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?

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.)

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?

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.)
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."
Campus Applicable
No
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.”
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/8/2017
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.

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Trista Brown

LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador

WSP USA
Project Director

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Retail-EBOM-v4 EAc8 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit