Forum discussion

EBOM-2009 EAc4:On-Site and Off-Site Renewable Energy

Green-E Equivalency

We have pursued EAc4, using a combination of on site and off site renewable energy sources. On site sources is not a problem. However, we have a unique circumstance (summarized below) for reporting our off-site renewable energy purchases, which have been rejected by USGBC because we have not documented Green-e equivalency to the USGBC's satisfaction. The problem is, nowhere can I find any references describing the documentation required to "comply with green-e certification standards" or green-e equivalency. My question is what specific documentation, audits, guidelines, forms and/or other information is required by the USGBC to document green-e equivalency? This issue is particularly frustrating, since the USGBC made no mention of any problem with green-e equivalency documentation in their first Technical Advice comments. So we answered the comments they did provide as part of our re-submittal and then they rejected the credit (5 points) based only on a comment they never mentioned originally, requiring us to pay additional fees if we wish to pursue a third review. Our unique circumstance is as follows: We are applying for a LEED-EBOM gold renewal for an 800,000 sf high rise office building with 400 kw of on-site solar. The building is adjacent to a separate, completely independent (separate metered electric account) property, owned by the same Owner as the high rise office building. It also has a 400 kw solar system. Owner wants to sell (allocate) all solar generated by the adjacent structure to the office building at a cost of $0.00/kwh. Since the solar generated by the adjacent property is not logged on the Energy Star SEP, it is treated as off-site. My attempt to comply with the Green-e equivalency documentation requirement was to obtain a letter from Ownership, committing to exclusively allocate all solar generated to the adjacent high rise office building, at a cost of $0.00/kwh, for a period of not less than 5 years. The USGBC’s rejection cited LEED Interpretation 1744 and stated any future submittal must comply with the requirements of 1744. 1744 only states off-site power must be certified Green-e or equivalent, only they do not provide any guidance on what is required to prove green-e equivalency.

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Wed, 03/08/2017 - 23:49

My understanding is that in order to demonstrate equivalency you would need to demonstrate that the off-site energy met the green-e national standards or a separate set of standards that was shown to be equivalent. Then you would also need to show that an independent third party verified that those standards are met by the provider over time.

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