The LEED v4 Reference Guide offers three was of determining equipment efficiencies, distribution losses, and distribution pumping energy: Monitored data, engineering analysis, and default values. The monitoring and default value paths are fairly well explained. However, the engineering analysis method is not.

I am wondering, what would be included in an "engineering analysis" of a central plant. Specifically, the thermal distribution losses. Our client has fairly extensive monitoring for the plant itself, but little building-level metering. Without building metering, it is difficult to gauge losses between what comes out of the plant and what goes into the building. The only thing I can think of is a high-level evaluation of pipe quantity, sizes, insulation levels, and heat loss to come up with a general idea of distribution losses, but I'm not sure if this is an adequate "engineering analysis."

Does anyone have any further insight as to what an "engineering analysis" entails?