Context:
I submitted my design review, addressed all comments and even submitted an appeal. I have not accepted the appeal review yet - the timeline tab still has the appeal review option.
I did not submit the energy model during the design review because the energy model was not ready by the time the rest of the design credits where ready.
We are well into construction and the flooring credit we were pursuing is no longer an option due to a non-compliant floor being purchased and installed.
We had originally estimated one point for the energy model but the end result came out that we achieved two points.
Question:
I want just the energy model reviewed to confirm whether or not we can achieve the 2 points and forgo another more costly credit. I would normally defer this credit until the construction submission but I would rather know now. Would I submit this credit via an appeal? Would it only get one review or can I resubmit it during construction - and then would it get two reviews?
- I also realize that this question might invite more questions but I figure I will just start with the basics and then some back and forth. Thanks
Kristina Bach
VP of InnovationSustainable Investment Group
151 thumbs up
July 8, 2013 - 2:12 pm
I would think you could submit EAp2 for the first time via an appeal if you really wanted to (keeping in mind that EAp2 is one of their "complex credits" and will cost you $800/appeal rather than the $500/appeal)... I would think, however, that it would work just like a normal appeal. Meaning that it'd be a one-shot deal and you wouldn't have the ability to provide any clarifications without paying an additional round of appeal fees. That could start getting expensive if you need to provide clarifications to the model before they could verify that you'd at least get the 2-points you want....
Is your project threshold so tight that 1-point is make-or-break for the project? If it's not, I'd probably recommend waiting to submit EAp2 until the construction phase and let it get both rounds of review before you have any extra appeal costs. Are there any other less-expensive credits you could pursue at the same time to help have more of a buffer rather than spend a lot for points now (for example: making sure all your ID credits are all attempted, are you tracking better-than-expected in any of your MR credits, etc)?
Erika Duran
Sustainability ConsultantDagher Engineering
72 thumbs up
July 8, 2013 - 2:31 pm
Yes - the threshold is tight (MR's and ID's included in originally tally) - ultimately it is the client's decision whether or not to pursue this option or go for something more costly than the $800.00 or potentially $1600.00 + and with a greater degree of certainty - I want to present him with viable options and I think this would be one of them even though it isn't the traditional way of operating. Thanks.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
July 8, 2013 - 2:41 pm
I do not think you can appeal a credit before it has been submitted. Even if you could do so you do not want to do so for EAp2 especially since it only gets one review and most projects do not get EAp2 approved in one review. You will likely have to wait until the construction submission.
Contact GBCI and ask them for any other options.
Kristina Bach
VP of InnovationSustainable Investment Group
151 thumbs up
July 8, 2013 - 2:51 pm
You can definitely appeal something that has never been reviewed. The only time the system would stop you would be if you tried to appeal a construction-phase credit in the design-phase. Since EAp2 is a design-phase prerequisite, you'd be able to appeal it despite it never being submitted. It's similar to how the system works if you decided to add a brand-new credit after you finished your regular reviews and wanted to go for a few more points.
So it's definitely an option albeit an expensive option. I definitely agree with Marcus, however, that generally EAp2 rarely gets approved in a single review and you should definitely anticipate needing to provide clarifications/appeal multiple times if you go this route. That's why I also recommended waiting until the Construction-phase if at all possible.
I would probably recommend calling this a $1,600+ option to your client when you start comparing all your various options for moving forward as it is highly likely you'd be appeal EAp2 multiple times to verify those points you're after.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
July 8, 2013 - 3:38 pm
Yep on second thought you are probably right about the appeal Kristina.