The 2024 update to LEED v4 splits the points into energy cost (site/source) and GHG emissions similar to LEED v4.1 Optimize Energy Performance Credit. My question is as follows:
Do GHG calculations apply the GHG emissions coefficients for each energy source to the site energy or the source energy?
I would assume that the GHG emissions coefficients are applied to the source energy because the emissions factor is based on how much GHG is released when creating the energy at the utility plant. This is more correctly applied to the source energy rather than the site energy. However, LEED v4.1 documentation says: "Rather than using utility rates, use the appropriate greenhouse gas emission coefficients for each energy source". This means that the GHG emissions factor/coefficient would replace the utility rates (which are applied to site energy). Therefore, that would result in GHG emissions being calculated off the building site energy and not the source energy. Additionally, the MEPC for v4.1 calculates the source energy in the "Performance Outputs Tab". However, if you manually check the GHG emissions savings calculation in that tab, it also calculates GHG emissions savings based on site energy and not source energy.
As it has previously been stated, has it been confirmed that LEED v4 will follow the same calculation process outlined in LEED v4.1 and utilize site energy for all GHG emissions savings?
