First public comment draft of LEED v5 BD+C/ID+C: Energy and Atmosphere

See my comments below (sorry, used the wrong account)

See my comments below (sorry, used the wrong account)

Minimum Energy Efficiency - "Comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2019 with addendum cr." Does this mean ONLY addendum cr, or all addenda issues prior to, and inclusive of, addendum cr?

It seems odd to not include all ASHRAE addenda, as we are required to comply with all LEED Reference Guide addenda. There are corrections and improvements alway being made, specifically addendum av (thermal bridging) is a critical update to ASHRAE 90.1-2019

Enhanced Commissioning Option 1 is listed as 1-2 points. But under Option 1, Path 2 (BECx) is shown as 1-4 points. Is BECx worth 2 points or 4 points? Why is it a range - what determines if you get 1 point or 2 (or 4) points?

Fundamental and Enhanced Commissioning 

Fundamental commissioning requirements for the CFR and Colntinuing O&M plan- Note that recent reviews have kicked back the point if the manual and CFR is not written exactly as shown in the description, or if the TOC is not detailed exactly as shown in the prerequisite description.  Local energy code may require different format that includes essentially the same information and project specifications often dictate information contained in the documents.  It is absurd that two separate documents need to be produced to conform to LEED format.  Recommend that language be added that if the information contained in the TOC or submitted manuals (additional documentation supporting special circumstances) is substantially compliant, that the points be awarded.

EA Credit: Renewable Energy

Option 1. Renewable supply or procurement

The sentence, "A maximum of four points are awarded as the sum of points documented for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 in Table 1 based on the percentage of total annual base building site energy use, where base building energy use is defined as the greater of the estimated site energy consumption from base building energy meters or 25% of the total predicted building energy use", is somewhat confusing. Is it possible to define the bold, italicized terms and offer an example to illustrate how the point system works?

Enhanced and Ongoing Commissioning && Reduce Peak Thermal Loads

The air leakage testing is required for Enhanced Commissinoing for Building Enclosure and it under Reduce Peak Thermal Loads under Option 1. Infiltration and balanced ventilation.

Is it meant to appear in two credits?

Will there be any guidance on the Energy Performance credits from LEED v4/v4.1 to LEED v5. Alberta Infrastructure's Technical Design Requirements have a requirement for new-build schools and offices to achieve 12 points under Optimize Energy Performance under LEED v4.1. Under Option 2. Energy Simulation, what would that equate two?

Operational Carbon Projection and Decarbonization Plan - Option 2

This is going to become empty promises as LEED consultant will copy and past from the last project. Should there not be design requirements to demonstrate the owner's commitment.

• Is the electrical capacity of the building sized to handle future electriciation. Many existing buildings can't even cope with added EV chargers.
• Is there space in the mechanical room for additional equipment, such as central heat pumps for the shoulder season.

Electrification

I really appreciate these credits and, in my opinion, they represent a move in the right direction. I just know that there is one potential ambiguity that people will almost certainly need clarification on and you may want to include language about it in the standard. When the credit says the equipment “must have a combined weighted average COP of at least 2”, it’s unclear exactly how the weighting is calculated. Initially, I thought it was weighted by heating load but I realized that you could also mean weighted by floor area served. Also, if it is weighted by load, it’s particularly unclear whether it is weighted by peak heating load or by annual average heating load. The two methods can give you drastically different weighting. Some clarification here will go a long way towards smoothing out implementation and enforcement of these credits.

Will elevators need to be included in the project overall (Division 14) as they are included in credits as conveyance systems are included in Plug, Process, Regrigeration and Conveyance Equipment criteria?

Is a zEPI ACP planned for LEED v5? It would be good to have a reference like a zEPI score that shows a clear comparision with the energy targets.