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EBOM-2009 EAc1:Optimize Energy Performance

ENERGY STAR vs PIf3 Occupant Count

Profile picture for user adattilo
Alexis Thompson
Building Scientist
Chelsea Group, Ltd.
LEEDuser Basic Member
43 thumbs up

Our project is currently pursuing LEED. We received an ENERGY STAR label for the 12-month period ending June 30th 2011 with a rating of 81. We plan to submit for our LEED certification in May 2012. The value that was used on our ENERGY STAR portfolio for that 12-month period for Workers on Main Shift was significanlty higher (7000) than the occupancy FTE count we are going to use on the Project Information Form 3 for our LEED submittal (4000). Just recently, upon beginning our pursuit of LEED, a new occupant count survey was conducted and it turned out to be much lower than the figure on the ENERGY STAR portfolio under which we received a stamped SEP and label. We want to submit our LEED application with the most accurate and up-to-date data however we are nervous that the LEED reviewer may see the difference and flag us for the inconsistency. Should we still submit with our active ENERGY STAR label/score, but use the more accurate occupant count on the PI form even though the numbers will be different? Or, in an effort to remain consistent, should we use the old occupant count (higher than actual occupancy) on the PI form so that it matches our ENERGYSTAR portfolio? Or, should we try an alternative compliance on the EA credit and not submit using the labeled score but another reflecting the new occupancy count? Your advice is appreciated! Thank you!!

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Tue, 12/13/2011 - 18:10

It is extremely important that you use consistent (accurate) numbers throughout your LEED EBOM application. Reviewers will likely ask questions, if your numbers are not consistent throughout the different credits. Secondly, you can’t use an Energy Star Portfolio Manager score from June 2011 unless your Performance Period ended in June (and in that case you would have needed to submit your application within 60 days). All credits must end within a week of each other (See the introduction section of the LEED EBOM 2009 Reference Guide. You will need to use your current Energy Star Portfolio Manager Score at the end of your Performance Period. Before you say wait, we are not eligible for a new energy star label, LEED EBOM does not require the official label from Energy Star; they require an official score. (The EPA Portfolio Manager website has an option of printing your score for purpose other then an energy star label). I would suggest you input your accurate FTE count into EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manger and see what your new score is. Continue to input your energy use every month. Your Energy Star Portfolio Manager score at the end of the performance period is the information you will need to submit with your application.
Profile picture for user adattilo
Alexis Thompson
Building Scientist
Chelsea Group, Ltd.
LEEDuser Basic Member
43 thumbs up

Fri, 12/16/2011 - 20:39

Thanks for the comment! I agree the reviewers will likely question inconsistencies in the data, based on review comments we have received on other properties. It is unfortunate that this property is experiencing inconsistencies since they are not intentional. I am confused by your statement about not being able to “use an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager score from June 2011”. Perhaps I wasn’t clear, this property has already received the ENERGY STAR Label. To meet the requirement of EA Pr2 using the streamlined path, a project building that has been ENERGY STAR-labeled within the 12 months preceding the LEED-EB: O&M application date, can simply “Provide the award certificate, congratulatory letter or similar official program correspondence confirming that the project building earned the label, the date of the label and the performance rating achieved in Portfolio Manager.” One other point of clarification, the window for the end of all performance periods was changed to 30 days in the November 3, 2010 Addenda to the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations and Maintenance. As anyone who has worked on an EBOM project can attest, even 30 days can be a challenge sometimes. Thanks again!

Wed, 12/28/2011 - 19:38

I apologize. I did not recall that in the newer version of LEED EBOM 2009 you are now allowed you to use the streamline path of just using your energy star certificate from the previous 12-month period at least for EAP2. If you are trying to earn points under EAC1 to be on the safe side, I would update your energy star portfolio manager with your new accurate occupancy data and see what you new energy star portfolio manager score is. This way you know how many points you can really count on achieving if your occupancy levels are questioned. It sounds like you have experience doing LEED EBOM so I am sure you already know this, but I would highly encourage the project to continue to work on lowering the buildings energy use and improving your buildings energy star portfolio manager score until you complete your performance period. In most cases, conducting and implementing results of retro-commissioning can pay for the whole LEED EBOM project with the reduced energy bills.

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