Hello, We have a new construction office building project in which a data center/computer room occupies about 10% of the area, but probably 95% of the load/energy. Due to cost and client request, we would like to draw the LEED project boundary around just the office portion of the building, excluding the data center from LEED certification and associated calculations. Is this allowable for LEED NC? If not, can the data center be modeled with a separate baseline for energy savings?

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Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Thu, 05/12/2016 - 14:49

I would suggest that you not seek exceptions and exclusions but rather do something to reduce the data center energy use. There is specific guidance for LEED projects on this energy use - http://www.usgbc.org/resources/minimum-energy-performance-data-center-calculator Ultimately this is not really an energy credit question. It is governed by the LEED Minimum Program Requirements. More information at http://www.leeduser.com/strategy/minimum-program-requirements http://www.usgbc.org/resources/leed-2009-mpr-supplemental-guidance-revision-2-september-2011

Bethany Beers

Commissioning and Energy Consultant

Mazzetti

LEEDuser Basic Member

5 thumbs up

Sat, 05/14/2016 - 00:51

Thanks Marcus. The problem is that the design was done a long time ago before there was any guidance on data centers, so it was assumed to be an exempt occupancy. Is there any chance that an exception would be made since the data center guidance and calculator didn't exist at the time of design?

Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Sat, 05/14/2016 - 19:08

Not a good assumption and one that should have been questioned "a long time ago". I don't think that would be an acceptable basis for an exemption. High process load project have always had an opportunity to show savings through an exceptional calculation and that method was open to you at the time. Maybe the design does have some energy saving features relative to the calculator baseline so you should at least check it out. If you still need to exclude it your best bet will probably be through the MPRs when defining the LEED project boundary.

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