The Reference Guide for this credit in both LEED v4 and v4.1 say "Analyze efficiency measures during the design process and account for the results in design decision making." However, the following sentence from the LEED v4 Reference Guide was removed from the LEED v4.1 Reference Guide: "Project teams pursuing the Integrative Process credit must complete the basis energy analysis for that credit before conducting the energy simulation." Since that sentence was removed in LEED v4.1, it seems to me that that if an energy model was used to analyze load reduction strategies in compliance with the IP credit, no additional energy modeling is required for the Optimize Energy Performance credit other than a final comparison of the Proposed and Baseline Energy Performance. Is this correct? If you interpret this differently, what language in the LEED v4.1 Reference Guide supports your interpretation?
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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5912 thumbs up
May 14, 2021 - 2:58 pm
Not sure why that was removed but the essential nature of the analysis referenced for the IP credit is significantly different than the nature of the analyis required for Optimize Energy Performance (OEP). There is a fundamental principle in LEED - you generally don't get credit in the system for doing nothing. The IP credit analysis should focus on predesign or maybe conceptual design analysis. The OEP analysis should focus on schematic design decision-making relative to load reduction and HVAC options. While the IP analysis can be focused on load reductions too the specifics of that analysis during predesign are different. A good overview of the distinction can be found in ASHRAE Standard 209.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
532 thumbs up
May 17, 2021 - 8:05 am
Marcus, my favorite LEED points come from doing nothing.
No greenfield onsite prior to project development = 1 LEED point.
No parking = 1 LEED point.
No landscaping / No irrigation system = 2 LEED points.
No cooling towers on system 7&8 building = 2 LEED points.
No refrigerant = 1 LEED point.
This is the list I scrape through as I onboard project teams....and we usually pick up a few points before even getting started with schematic/concept discussions.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5912 thumbs up
May 17, 2021 - 9:50 am
Hi David - I would view it differently. What you describe is not "doing nothing" it is avoiding doing things that cause harm. It is the Tao - doing by not doing. That's something very important! But there is a big difference between doing by not doing and getting credit for not doing a modeling cycle. One is in alignment with the credit requirement, the other is not. ;-)