Hi!
Am I right that there is no prescriptive option available for residential multiunit buildings of more than 4 floors?
I understand that the Advanced Buildings™ Core Performance™ Guide is not applicable to residential.
Therefore I will have to go for Option 3: Energy Modelling, right?
Let us say we have 55 residential multiunit buildings with 4 floors or more, we will have to do an energy model for 90% of the 55 buildings, correct?
Thanks!
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Casey Studhalter
Project Manager, LEEDUSGBC
1 thumbs up
February 9, 2015 - 2:49 pm
Hi Juliane,
You are correct that the Advanced Buildings Core Performance Guide is not applicable to residential applications. You don't say how many floors your buildings have. Depending on their height, you may have the following options:
- Guided by the ruling in LEED Interpretation #10289 (http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=10289), GIBp2 and GIBc2 can use the residential path for multiunit buildings up to five stories tall (as opposed to the three story maximum originally stipulated). 90% of the buildings must achieve a HERS index of at least 75.
Or
- Perform a LEED-compliant energy model. If the building in question is between 4 and 8 stories, this can be performed using the specifications listed under the LEED BD+C: Multifamily Midrise rating system MEAc1 (http://www.usgbc.org/node/2740123?return=/credits/mid-rise/v2008). Otherwise, you would need to follow the guidelines for LEED NC.
Casey
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
February 10, 2015 - 9:24 am
Hi Casey, thanks a lot for your input.
This helps a lot. We actually do not know yet what the precise amount of stories for each building is, therefore I need to look at different options.
I understand also that I will need a LEED Homes Green Rater under any circumstances, if Multifamily Midrise which follows Whole Building Energy Modlling Path (for 4 to 8 stories) or the LEED Homes which follows the HERS index Path (for 1 to 3 stories) or the Multifamily Midrise which follows the HERS index (4 and 5 stories)?
So as I read it the 4 and 5 story building have two options, either go for the HERS INDEX or Whole Building Modelling under the LEED for Midtrise buildings system.
I understand that the LEED Green Rater can also help with the HERS rating, if he or she is Energy Rater. I furthermore understand that the Green Rater will do on-site tests like blower door test to verify the design performance. This goes for both LEED homes and LEED midtrise.
Hope I am not mixing things up.
Thanks
Juliane
Casey Studhalter
Project Manager, LEEDUSGBC
1 thumbs up
February 11, 2015 - 3:26 pm
Yes, you are correct that multiunit residential buildings up to 5 stories can use either of the two approaches you summarized.
A green rater is not required to satisfy the GIBc2 credit requirements, but may be very helpful in performing the necessary analyses. Should you choose to pursue LEED for Homes certification for those buildings as well, then you would be required to engage a green rater.
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
February 12, 2015 - 1:34 am
Thanks Casey,
There are a lot of parameters.,
For ND GIBc2 i do not need a green rater although i would use the HERS index, but if i additionally go for a buildings certificate in either Homes or Homes Multifamily Midtrise I have to engage one, right?
Casey Studhalter
Project Manager, LEEDUSGBC
1 thumbs up
February 12, 2015 - 10:26 am
Yes, that's correct.