Thanks to Tristan for getting me to the right forum on this, I will also be reading the guide but will post this question for any feedback the forum might have...
Our project in question is a new 14 story (+4 underground parking) office building of 15,000 sq meters being added to an existing office building of 12 stories and approximately the same area. The project is in Beijing, China. The owner's intent is to certify the new building portion as LEED Gold but not certify the existing building portion which will see some renovation, as the required energy and other upgrades would be beyond the current budget means. Owner's current design intent is as follows:
The buildings are physically connected on twelve floors but the airspace is always separated by doors at corridor connections.
The existing building plant chiller will provide approximately 60% of the chilled water capacity for the new building's use.
The existing building plant will also provide 100% of the new building's heating water capacity.
100% of the air movement capacity for the new building will be provided by new air handlers in the new building (as well as some natural ventilation).
100% of the domestic hot water for the new building will be provided by new hot water units, though they will be located in the existing building.
100% of the electrical capacity will be provided either by the utility company or by solar panels on the roof in percentages later determined in design.
The short question is: will we be allowed to certify the new portion and not the existing portion, as long as we clearly define with sound logic what portions of the site, water, and energy systems apply to the new building only? Does anyone see any clear problems?
We will be looking at this in great detail of course - defining what portion of the site applies to the new building, making sure the existing building systems that supply the new building don't fail on any prerequisites such as CFC's (or get replaced), including the new building geometry in the energy model such that it shades / reflects / etc. energy to/from the new building, and addressing the issue for each an every credit. There will of course be more specific questions that come up, I just wanted to ask if others have past experience with this issue and/or anyone sees immediate problems.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
November 23, 2012 - 10:17 am
Jeremy, given the detail in your question I was wondering if you have any specific points you're hoping for clarification on, after having read through the MPR2 supplemental guidance?
Jeremy Theodore
Senior Project ArchitectSHW Group
7 thumbs up
December 4, 2012 - 5:46 pm
Thank you for your response Tristan. I suppose I feel confident about most of the portions of the question, less confident about two portions... Maybe I can phrase it this way for yes/no/depends sorts of answers to each part by anyone who has experience with them:
To ceritify a new building addition (horizontally connected) to a 2 building complex (non certified), but not certify the two existing buildings to be renovated, are the following characteristics acceptable?
An existing plant in one of the existing buildings will supply the heating water for the HVAC system in the new building?
An existing plant in one of the existing buildings will supply 60% of the cooling water for the HVAC system in the new building, and will be supplemented with a new chiller in the new building?
(The rest I am more certain of, assuming yes, please comment if you disagree or need more information to answer a specific question)
Physical horizontal connection by corridors with doors between the buildings in those corridors?
Completely separate air environments, separated by walls or doors at corridors?
Completely separate air handlers for the new building, located in the new building and supplemented by natural ventilation?
Completely separate and new domestic hot water for the new builing, located in the new building?
Completely separate electrical systems in the new building, supplemented by solar panels located on the new building?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
December 4, 2012 - 8:16 pm
Jeremy, it seems clear that you don't meet the requirements of the supplemental guidance part I --> 2) a) separate mechanical systems, in order to have a separate LEED project.However, since you're relatively close to meeting the overall requirements, you could contact GBCI, and/or submit a CIR, to get a definite ruling from them.
Jeremy Theodore
Senior Project ArchitectSHW Group
7 thumbs up
December 5, 2012 - 10:39 am
Isn't that one of 3 optiions under 2) "treating energy systems" for I. "all attached buildings... options 2a, 2b, 2c?
Option 2c = "shared central systems located inside the structures in question" and gives the guidance for "all attached buildings" projects like this? As in, the conceptual guidance is in the LEED CI EAc1.3 Option 2, but it applies to all "all attached buildings" under the NC rating system since this information is being given within the NC MPR2 guidance page?
Then when I visit EAc1.3, it speaks about how separate spaces sharing the same plant require modeling of the whole structure (which would account for differences in energy use that result from the interaction of the spaces), with the LEED space's use separately "metered" within the model to account for it alone as the portion being judged for certification?
Let me know if I'm missing something or you disagree.
There's also reference in NC to the "Treatment of District or Campus Thermal Energy" document, some relevant discussion there.
At any rate, we are reviewing these in greater detail and it does seem a CIR might be the best way to get clarity when we are ready, I just thought I would ask if others had experience with this or saw something we are not.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11477 thumbs up
December 5, 2012 - 10:52 am
Right, you've got three options there, so the key for your project right now is evaluating those three and seeing if you can make one of them work.