It doesn't seem like the credit requires evaluation of various HVAC systems (e.g. radiant heat vs forced air heat, packaged cooling vs split systems, etc.). Kinda odd that one of the bigger variables and potential energy impacts are not a requirement of the credit. Am I missing something?
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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5867 thumbs up
May 9, 2018 - 5:19 pm
For many projects the first step should be a focus on the architectural design. Evaluating HVAC system options is covered in the two rounds of design phase energy modeling required to earn points under Optimize Energy Performance. That said for certain projects it may very well be appropriate to evaluate HVAC options during predesign. Just because they are not on the list does not make them potential areas for evaluation at this phase for the right project. I think you could make the case for some projects that evaluating HVAC predesign would be appropriate.
What we are trying very hard to avoid is the natural tendency of project teams to defer energy efficiency solely to the mechanical designer. Concentrating on HVAC at this stage for many projects can be counterproductive to producing an energy efficient project in my experience. Of course a project team that routinely produces energy efficient buildings does this all at once but those folks are the rare exception again in my experience.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
May 10, 2018 - 8:40 am
Hi Marcus,
Thank you for your prompt, complete, and correct response.
I could not agree more, "natural tendency of project teams to defer energy efficiency soley to the mechanical designer". My past life included HVAC design + energy modeling, and it was typical that the project team would put the weight of 'energy modeling points' entirely on my shoulders, after all I was assigned this credit. In a few instances I would be hired only to perform the model, then get handed the construction set and told "we need 8 'LEEDS' points from the model".
Now I better understand this credit; the items that may not necessarily be evaluated with respect to energy efficiency (e.g. site conditions, massing, etc.) are required to be evaluated and documented (beginning in pre-design and throughout the design phase); hence leading to an overall more energy efficient building.
Thank you!
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5867 thumbs up
May 10, 2018 - 10:21 am
At the same time I think it is incumbent upon the mechanical engineer to push back on the architects regarding the impact of their design on the building loads instead of just passively accepting them and designing a bigger chiller.
The lack of overall understanding regarding how to produce an energy efficient building in the design community still astounds me. Hopefully the design phase modeling required in LEED will enlighten some. Unfortunately too many will probably still treat this as a sort of check the box thing without really engaging in the true value of the analysis to the development of the design.