I just received review comments back on MRp1 that I simply can't validate. I'd appreciate any help or advice that might be out there. Otherwise, I think I'm going to champion this one and push back a little.
The project is a cold, dark warehouse, similar to numerous other threads on this forum. We produced very comprehensive tenant guidelines document that was accepted for SSc9. It contained verbiage about supporting and encouraging tenants to incorporate a recycling program that is taken directly from the C&S guidelines in the reference guide. This credit doesn't have an option for the tenant lease agreement and the guidance here further supports our research that the owner is required to support tenant programs, but not mandate them.
However.......the project received this review comment:
Please provide documentation demonstrating that the LEED-CS project building has provided locations for tenant-installed recycling collection and storage facilities. Additionally, provide a revised Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines and/or a copy of the Tenant Sales and/or Lease Agreement which includes binding language and has been signed by the Owner and future tenant(s), if known. Ensure that the legally binding document confirms that the collection and storage of recyclable materials has been addressed and includes recycling of all required materials, such that spaces within the scope of anticipated tenant work shall comply with the requirements of this prerequisite when completed.
Any thoughts out there? Is this a reviewer issue? I looked for interpretations or addenda that I might have missed but I don't see anything that added a binding lease agreement requirement for this credit.
Michelle Rosenberger
PartnerArchEcology
519 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 6:41 pm
Hi Tiffany,
Yes, I believe this is a reviewer issue. I have been around this block with the USGBC directly. Below is the email response that I used for my last two cold dark shell projects.
"Ultimately they need to demonstrate that they’ve met the credit intent. In the case of a cold, dark warehouse, we do not have any requirements as to how this must be physically accommodated inside of the building. We do require that recycling be addressed in tenant guidelines and that if they design/construct an exterior recycling or trash storage area that it be large enough to accommodate reasonable expected needs for recycling purposes.
They cannot build an area for trash only without accommodating recycling.
I agree that there is no benefit in creating possible interior plans. If they are not designing/building the exterior trash/recycling enclosure they are likely to have identified a couple of possible locations for it (as it simply must be
accommodated somewhere convenient on site), so it seems likely that they could call out possible locations for the enclosure and speak to the fact that it is large enough to accommodate both trash and recycling."
My documentation complied with a basic mention in the Tenant Guidelines and nothing in the Lease agreement. Push back.