Our project is registered under the LEED v4, but we have substituted the EAc5 and EAc7 with the EA credit Renewable Energy from LEED v4.1, we intend to use the Tier 2 and purchase Green-e Energy certificates.
The LEED v4.1 EA credit Renewable Energy states that “Tier 2 renewable energy may be accounted for in the GHG emissions metric in EA credit Optimize Energy Performance. Calculate avoided GHG emissions by using the renewable energy asset’s hourly generation profile and the hourly GHG emissions profile of the renewable energy asset’s grid. Where hourly data are not available, calculate avoided GHG emissions using the emissions factors defined in EA prerequisite Minimum Energy Performance”.
Our path for the EA prerequisite and EA credit is Option 1 - Whole-Building Energy Simulation. We used the ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2010 and our results are based on energy cost, as specified by LEED v4. The LEED 4.1 is now based on the ASHRAE Standard 90.1–2016 and the results are based on GHG emissions reductions.
We would like to know if there is a way to use the Green-e energy certificates to obtain some points on the EA credit Optimize Energy Performance on LEED v4.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5934 thumbs up
February 24, 2022 - 6:20 pm
No these do not contribute to points under the v4 Optimize Energy Performance credit.
Luis Andrade
2 thumbs up
March 31, 2025 - 5:01 am
Hi Marcus,
When working on a V4 post March-24 project, would it make sense to reduce the % on EAc2 on the GHG table, similar than what happens on LEED V4.1 (if Renewable energy would fall under Tier 2)?
If so, what would be the procedure here? Substitute both LEED V4 EAc5 and EAc7 by LEED V4.1 EAc5 and then apply that % reduction to LEED V4 EAc2 post March 2024? I believe this approach makes sense, as the update itself was intended to bridge the gap between the 2 rating versions.
If not, then we would need to also update the EAp2_c2 from LEED V4 to V4.1 and then apply it, right?
Let me please know your thoughts on this.
Thanks in advance!
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5934 thumbs up
March 31, 2025 - 9:51 am
It is common for v4 projects to substitue the v4.1 renewable credit as oflten you can score an additional point. You can do this without updating EAc2 to v4.1. The procudure you outline makes sense to me. This article may provide some additional guidance - https://support.usgbc.org/hc/en-us/articles/24332416264595-Applying-the-...
Luis Andrade
2 thumbs up
April 1, 2025 - 4:24 am
Hi Marcus,
Thank you very much for your answer. Indeed this page: https://support.usgbc.org/hc/en-us/articles/24332416264595-Applying-the-... directly answers that particular question, so I'm leaving it here for future reference.
Again, thank you for the guidance!