Hello, I have been following the leeduser site and still trying to understand EAc5.1 and EAc5.2. I have been using them differently due to not having a clear explanation of the credits at usgbc. The typical projects that the credits will apply to are 10 to 12 story new office buildings where the owner finishes the core of each floor with the expectation that the future tenants will occupy partially of fully each floor space. There are two questions I would like you to answer if possible.
EA5.2 (3 points) future tenant
As I understand it, we only need to show the infrastructure so future tenants can sub-meter their space. By saying infrastructure I mean, to show on our design riser conduit trough electrical closets to wherever the building software will collect all the tenant sub-meter information, to show location of future tenant sub-meters typically in each electrical closet and (2)junction boxes in each electric closet for cable splicing and tenant sub-metering.
1. Is the following good enough for the three points needed? If not please explain what will be needed.
Our approach to EAc5.2 is that future tenant(s) load, future meters or future C/Ts tied to BAS(Building Automation System) were to have the capability to capture and monitor future tenant space loads as follows per tenant floor:
- tenant’s future lighting
- tenant’s future HVAC
- tenants plug loads
EA5.1 (3 points) base
For this credit there are two methods that I have been using and needed your help on. The 1st method is expensive for the owner and the 2nd seems too simple but doable.
1st method
For base building and Measurement and Verification purposes the meters are separated into:
a. (1) for BB elevators
b. (as needed) BB Exterior lighting (separate ones for different voltages 120V and 277V)
c. (as needed) BB Parking garage lighting (separate ones for different voltages 120V and 277V)
d. (as needed) BB Domestic Water Heaters
e. (as needed) BB Non-minimum ventilation parking garage fans (separate ones for different voltages 120V and 277V)
For base building core loads the meters were separated for each floor:
a. (1) meter for BB core lighting on all floors
b. (1) meter for BB core mechanical loads on all floors
c. (1) meter for BB core plug loads on all floors
d. (1) meter for BB core water heater on all floors
The Plan above describes how these loads will be separately measured which should meet the intend of this credit.
The 2nd method:
Is to provide CT meter(s) that can be included in each switchboard, can measure the building’s total house loads and can be tied to BAS. This can measured and verified periodically to see how the building behaves during different seasons. The building will try to improve efficiency by making adjustments at different times on lighting, mechanical, plug loads and water heater loads and then measure and verify via meters in order to compare the results.
2. Is the 2nd method good enough for the three points needed? If not please explain what will be needed.
I would appreciate your response to these 2 credits as it will help us make better recommendation to our clients.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5909 thumbs up
October 19, 2015 - 4:59 pm
5.2 - you need the infrastructure and a Plan. The Plan contents are spelled out in the Reference Guide.
5.1 - There is rarely any value in pursuing this credit for most CS projects. It is usually just point hunting. That said, the first method has the potential to work, the second does not. You need to gather enough data to allow you to calibrate the energy model which is then used to verify energy savings. You need to write a M&V Plan in compliance with the IPMVP. Explaining how to do that here would require a very lengthy explanation.