On a university residential/dining hall project, we will be utilizing an "Eco-Digester", (an aerobic digester from BioHiTech), http://digesters.biohitech.com/platform/digesters, that uses microorganisms to break food waste down into liquid form, allowing it to be safely discharged through the sewer line, eliminating the need for trucking and landfills.
Does anyone have experience with this digester equipment in gaining a LEED credit? And if not, where do I begin to create a new Innovation credit?
Thanks! Harry
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
February 1, 2018 - 12:24 pm
Hi Harry,
I haven't used this approach alone as an ID credit, but I do have a v3 project that we plan on also having an aerobic digester, and plan on submitting it as part of a larger effort showcases several alternative waste strategies, using the related EBOM credit in the Innovation Catalog as a guide.
I have the feeling that your v4 project would likely have to use the O&M Starter Kit guidance that is in the Innovation Catalog for NC v4 projects.
https://www.usgbc.org/node/10401650?return=/credits/new-construction/v4/...
This is the updated approach for v4 where it combines 5 oft-used EBOM credits into one strategy where you're required to implement 2 of the 5 to earn an ID credit for NC projects.
Take a look at that and see if your project would be able to use it. Otherwise, you could attempt it alone, but you'd have to use the instructions in the ID section of the Reference Guide (Step by step section) on how to document an ID strategy and see if it would fly. If you take that route, you may want to consider submitting your intent to GBCI as a LEED Interpretation ($220) and see if they would accept it.
Harry Flamm
Senior Sustainability ConsultantStantec Architecture
20 thumbs up
February 1, 2018 - 5:31 pm
Emily,
Much appreciated. I'll dig deeper into your suggestions.
Harry
Anna Carpenter
AssociateHanbury
1 thumbs up
April 23, 2018 - 2:38 pm
We're working on a project looking into the same thing. Let me know what you found out! Thanks!
Han Qiang Ler
Mott MacDonald3 thumbs up
May 14, 2019 - 1:37 am
Hi all, just wondering is there anyone who is successful in obtaining this credit as an innovation? I happen to have a project which is likely to have this digester installed under LEED v4 or v4.1 Commercial Interiors. Look forward to any updates on this credit.
Thank you.