Remove existing text under “Campus Approach” and replace with “Ineligible.”
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SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser expert
Trista Little
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director
SPECIAL REPORT
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce ozone depletion and support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to climate change.
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
|
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) |
- 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%.
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.) |
Addenda
1/27/2017 – Updated: 1/30/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
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
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To reduce ozone depletion and support early compliance with the Montreal Protocol while minimizing direct contributions to climate change.
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
|
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) |
- 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%.
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.) |
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
Trista Little
LEED AP O+M, BD+C, Fitwel Ambassador
WSP USA
Project Director
