Our project has combined off-site and on-site renewable energy sources. The total threshold is over 98%. As per LEED Manual, the threshold has to be 100% in order to be awarded the exemplary performance point. However, the LEED Online form has a bit more vague definition - "For
projects with a combination of on- and off-site renewable energy, must meet
the next threshold of credit achievement and be less than 100%" which we may qualify for.
My queries:
1) What does GBCI mean with the statement "must meet the next threshold of credit achievement"? One of our sources (off-site) comprises about 94% of the total energy used in the project. Does this satisfy the criteria on "next threshold"?
2) Does the total of over 98% sourced from combined renewables satisfy the "less than 100%" criteria?
Hoping for your assistance.
thank you and regards,
Pabs
Charles Nepps
NH Green Consulting97 thumbs up
October 23, 2016 - 11:47 am
I agree the criteria for exemplary performance a bit vague, however I believe when you complete the credit form, and indicate that "The project team is pursuing exemplary performance of EA Credit 4.", the form should automatically tell you the points you've achieved and whether or not you get the EP point. My feeling is that you would have to have at least 13.5% (next threshold) on site renewables to achieve EP, but that's only a guess.
Pablo Fortunato Suarez
Principal ESD Consultant/ArchitectGreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture
253 thumbs up
October 23, 2016 - 12:39 pm
Thank you Charles. I tried changing the figures to get different scenarios but there is no change in the form/any indication of exemplary performance point. In one scenario I removed the off-site renewable and plugged in a value that would make it 13.5% and even 20% on-site renewables - no change. I guess that's the disadvantage with the new online form - it does not automatically indicate a points total or a prompt if the thresholds achieved merit exemplary performance point.
Will await other advise.
Charles Nepps
NH Green Consulting97 thumbs up
October 23, 2016 - 12:58 pm
What confuses me is when you click that you are pursuing EP, a message comes up that states:"Exemplary performance may be available for projects that provide a minimum equivalent calculated combination of 37% on-site and off-site renewable energy." But I can't find any resource that says how to calculate the "equivalent calculated combination"; I'm sure someone out there has the answer. You might also try asking the GBCI directly; they have always been very good about answering my questions over the years!
Pablo Fortunato Suarez
Principal ESD Consultant/ArchitectGreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture
253 thumbs up
October 24, 2016 - 12:19 am
Thanks again Charles. I believe the 37% threshold for combined on-site and off-site renewable energy criteria for exemplary performance appears in the LEED EB:O+M v3 2009 manual.
It seems the LEED Online form (new) I'm using doesn't have an option to click on exemplary performance. It just shows a box the heading Exemplary Performance and the % generated from inputs to off-site and on-site renewables, and a sum of the %; conditions are written on the side as well.
Cheers