We are designing a community center and aquatics facility with several outdoor pools. In considering certification options and targets, we are realizong that the pools are major components - both in terms of energy (heating the water) and water use. Can we exclude these loads as "process loads"? Should we look at drawing the project boundary to exclude the pools and decks (the mechanical systems are separate from the building's)? We are concerned that, no matter how efficient the building is, we will not be able to achieve basic certification if we include the pools.
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Mike Refsland
Sr. High Performance DesignerDLR Group
6 thumbs up
June 11, 2024 - 10:54 am
Edward, we are working on a couple similar projects with small to large pools and have the same questions. I will share what we learn here. As a start, a colleague pointed me to LEED Interpretation 10493, linked here: https://www.usgbc.org/leedaddenda/10493. This has specific language regarding projects where unregulated loads (assumedly pool equipment) are >50% the total energy costs of the project, allowing teams to use the reduced Core and Shell values for Minimum Energy Performance and Optimize Energy Performance.
I'm working to confirm what pool-related equipment counts as unregulated loads per USGBC and will report back.