I cannot get the nameplate power from an Energy Star residential refrigerator used for a commercial project. I called the manufacturer, checked the manuals, etc. no luck. Can I calculate the rated power in wattage from the published voltages times the amps? Really, it makes little difference - we have 100% energy star appliances whatever the number here is.
Bigger question - shouldn't this credit be determined by predicted kWh / year and not rated power? Annual expected usage is what Energy Star uses to rate products and what makes sense given the intent of the credit.
Same big question for lighting - actual predicted usage (with controls, etc) is what should count - not LPD.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
December 3, 2012 - 11:43 am
The idea is to isolate the scheduled run time from the overall power. Power is a design issue, energy use is an operational issue. Since schedules vary considerably it is more difficult to do comparisons.
Michele Helou
PrincipalSage Design & Consulting
72 thumbs up
February 11, 2013 - 8:28 pm
sorry, not sure I agree with you Marcus. Designing a low energy building is all about understanding operational issues and offering effective options for occupants to be able to lower their energy use.
but on to more LEED nitty gritty - can you or anyone out there tell me whether LEED CI EAp2 and EAc1.4 still exempts existing equipment from being Energy Star rated? A review just back holds the prereq and credit pending with only the following comment:
'Please revise the Energy Star rated calculations to include all installed eligible equipment and appliances'
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
February 12, 2013 - 10:33 am
I was not stating my opinion on one vs the other, I was stating why I thought it is the way it is from a comparative perspective. This is a design based credit in a design based rating system. At this point there are no occupants to offer operational solutions. Design professionals understand W/sf but not kWh/sf. So that is why it is the way it is in my opinion.
You make a good point about understanding operational issues related to energy use. Not sure how much influence these calculations have since they are just a prediction and the real bottom line is in the actual operation. Just like an energy model the true value of making a prediction is when you compare it to the actual data and learn from it. Just making the prediction has very limited value in my expereince.
It is my understanding that only newly purchased equipment counts. This was a change awhile back. I have argued in the past that all the existing equipment should count. Operationally the organization should have already been purchasing Energy Star equipment. To let a project buy one new copier and exempt the rest of what they are going to use makes no sense to me.
Suzanne Painter-Supplee, LEED AP+ID&C
PrincipalSEESolutions LLC
126 thumbs up
April 19, 2013 - 10:47 pm
Agreed, the equipment actually USED is what is vital. In the case of commercial kitchens, it's a shame that old equipment can be re-used and the job isn't penalized, particularly when it comes to dishwashers, where the water usage has dropped dramatically. Example, over 300 gallons/hour down to 112-126. E/S standard is based on gallons per rack, one rack, 2.5 people approx. and idle energy, which is like "breaktime" for a dishwasher, because it isn't running. Dishwashers are frequently leased from chemical companies, however, and end up NIC, but their water and power are generally listed in the job.
Danna Richey
Energy Analyst and Sustainability ConsultantNewcomb & Boyd
2 thumbs up
November 8, 2018 - 2:57 pm
LEED Interpretation 10400 outlines an alternative option to use kWh instead of kW.