Looking for guidance on HVAC-only scope project. We are preparing a proposal for an exsiting DoD facility on an Army Base. The RFP requires minimum LEED Silver Certification (formal certification, not equivalency) in an "appropriate" LEED rating system. Project scope consists of replacing all HVAC units in the entire facility (boilers, AHU's, RTU's, FCU's, exhaust fans,everything). Work will be phased as portions of the building must remain occupied during the work. Architectural scope is limited to ceiling removal & replacement and construction of a new penthouse to house a new air handling unit. Replacement of HVAC systems should mean we are a "major renovations" project but I'm not sure if we would meet the minimum points required for a LEED-NC project and I am not sure that LEED-EBOM would be appropriate either as many of the points in this system are related to building operations (recycling, purchasing, waste management, etc) that would have nothing to do with our project scope. Anybody have experience with this kind of situation? Any guidance you can provide?
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David Eldridge
Energy Efficiency NinjaGrumman/Butkus Associates
67 thumbs up
August 23, 2018 - 3:07 pm
So actually the rule of thumb that I've seen used previously is that among the three major infrastructure components of a building - HVAC/plumbing, lighting, envelope - two of the three would need to be touched as part of the project in order to pursue major renovation, and likely in addition to an interiors renovation if you wanted to pursue BD+C, or without the fitout pursuing C+S.
Your first step should be to review the MPR's and prerequisites for the scope of the project and see if you don't meet any of them for BD+C and/or C+S. These would both be indicators that the project's breadth isn't wide enough to apply for NC BD+C or C+S.
If fit-out is included in your scope, and you don't meet the NC requirements, this might be an interiors project despite the emphasis on HVAC replacements. It doesn't sound from your description like there is much fit-out work though beyond items impacted by the HVAC installation.
If Green Globes was allowed as an alternate compliance I think you still may have trouble scoring very well, for instance if the existing plumbing fixtures are not efficient and they won't be changed, depending on the site factors (whether LEED or Green Globes), material scope may be limited, etc.
Krysta Aten-Schell
2 thumbs up
August 23, 2018 - 4:04 pm
Thank you very much for this feedback! Very helpful! :)
Kim Lombard
Sustainability Leader and ArchitectAECOM
9 thumbs up
August 29, 2018 - 9:35 am
Krysta - also consider that this may not be a LEED project at all. David's comments are on the mark. Also consider that the DoD RFP language is often out of date. If your RFP is stating LEED Silver then it is likely that it was not updated before it was released. The language now should say Third Party Certification (TPC) meaning LEED or Green Globes. And if you read further into the UFC 1-200-02 requirements you will find some exceptions to a TPC.
Also, if LEED is indeed required be sure to check out a newer system designed specifically to meet DoD requirements of Guiding Principles. It is aptly named Guiding Principles Assessment for DoD. It is a system from USGBC/GBCI that closely follows the Guiding Principles with options for LEED 2009 and LEED v4 credits. It is a prescriptive system that will be more appropriate for DoD projects.
https://www.usgbc.org/resources/guiding-principles-assessment-handbook
Hope this helps, it can be confusing.