Hi,
We have submitted two Existing Building Projects under Campus for Review to LEED. We have had the following query under EAp1 & EAc1 for both the buildings. The Review reads...
The results of the ASHRAE Level 1 audit are not from the two years preceding the project application. Projects which have completed a Level 1 assessment more than two years preceding the project application submittal and within the last five years, are not required to repeat the assessment, but the audit report and findings must be updated. Provide updated ASHRAE Level 1 audit results to integrate any significant changes in operating practices or building systems, as well as to reflect changes in energy costs since the original audit was completed.
Our Audit was conducted in April 2018 and the same report was submitted. Our Performance period for the Energy Credit started in May 2019 and ended with April 2020. Due to the Pandemic, we couldn't submit our project earlier. Considering that our Audit was within 2 years for the Performance Period, can anyone clarify what or how we need to answer this query. Project is a Manufacturing facility with not much operational variations.
Trista Brown
Project DirectorWSP USA
449 thumbs up
January 4, 2021 - 8:54 pm
Hi Krithikha - I recommend providing a separate document that describes any changes to operations or updates to calculation since the original audit. For example, the financial cost and savings (and payback period) might have changed for identified ECMs if energy costs have changed. Another example is any difference in financial savings if the building were to meet the target index.
If absolutely nothing has changed, you could provide a narrative that clarifies how the project doesn't experience operational variations due to building type, explains that costs and savings have remained the same, and also details the impact of the pandemic on your project's submittal timeline.
But, if you can identify anything within the original report that deserves to be updated, it will be easier for GBCI to confirm you have done your due diligence to review and update it, and they can more easily approve the prerequisite documentation.
Hope that's helpful!
Krithikha Muthukrishnan
PartnerGreen Sketch Consultants
2 thumbs up
January 7, 2021 - 1:11 am
Thanks Trista.
We had an extension in submission timeline as the entire factory was closed due to COVID and we couldn't get a few key documents in time for our planned submission. Had we proceeded as planned, we should have been able to submit within the 2 year window. We have written a narrative to the effect and also written down a few small changes. I hope it should be good.
Thanks again!