Hello!
I was wondering if it is allowed to use generic data for the Baseline and use EPD for the propsed building to show imporvements?
- For example, can we use a generic ready-mix concrete resource from OneClickLCA for the Baseline and substitute this to the corrisponding conrete with an EPD in the proposed buidling for the same building element?
Under "Define your Baseline" for MR C1 it says that " Lastly, the source, quality, and precision of the data should be the same in each case to create a valid comparison.". Does this mean that it is not allowed to use generic data for the Baseline. And, by extension, that LEED does not recognize EPD-based decision-making as an effort to reduce environmental impact? Or have I misunderstood the whole thing?
- Also, if it is okay to use generic data for the Baseline, is it then also okay to use conservative generic data or should it be typical generic data?
Baha Sadreddin
Global Technology Leader of Building PerformanceJacobs
3 thumbs up
March 11, 2022 - 1:52 pm
Hi Linn. If this is a U.S. based project, a reasonable method would be to use the NRMCA regional benchmarks for the project region as the baseline. Those mixes are representative of the "average" practices in the region for different strengths. Typically, it is not acceptable to make a baseline material "worse" than average practices to show added benefits in the proposed.
Best of luck to you,
Baha
Linn Stolt
1 thumbs up
March 14, 2022 - 5:23 am
Hi!
Thank you for your reply. This is a EU-based project, but I assume that it should be okay to use data from Ökobaudat then.