Hi Marcus, posting this one to the v4 credit forum since the v4.1 forum does not appear as robust.
We are substituting the v4.1 Renewable Energy credit.
The project is an internal manufacturing renovation/replacement project.
Our project is demonstrating EAp Minimum Energy Performance compliance through the Prescriptive Compliance option.
Per the version 4.1 - April 2021 Interior Design and Construction reference guide: "projects complying with the prescriptive path should use the most recent building Energy Use Intensity by Property Type data from the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Technical Reference to calculate the total site energy for credit calculations".
The standard referenced lists "N/A" for Manufacturing space types.
I guess this credit is not available to factory space types that pursue the prescriptive path of EAp Minimum Energy Performance.
Unless there is a way around this one that I am unaware of?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
September 21, 2021 - 3:31 pm
As you know manufactring spaces types vary widely in energy use, so it makes sense that there is not an EUI to use. The only possible way around it is to wait for a year post-occupancy and use the actual energy use data to serve as a basis for the calculations. I know reviewers have accepted the actual usage data in the past for the green power credit so no reason to believe that you couldn't do it in this scenario.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
September 22, 2021 - 7:46 am
Thanks Marcus for the timely response and expert insight.
I concur, actual energy use would be best - and reviewers have accepted actual data in lieu of proposed data.
Unfortunately this causes two problems for me.
#1. We do not receive final payment until award of LEED cert, so our 'bean counters' grumble at this strategy.
#2. It is an internal factory rebuild so it is near impossible to sub-meter elec/gas/steam/chilled water/hot water from the non-LEED portions of the factory...and the fact that the owner does not care about energy consumed within the 'LEED box' but rather the entire factory.
Maybe I obtain whole-factory energy consumption over the past few years and prorate down to the floor area pursuing LEED.
As a side note, we did perform the energy model but it did not meet the prerequisite so we pursued the prescriptive path. I am also evaluating the Alternative Performance Rating Method to determine how this impacts the results of the energy model.
https://www.usgbc.org/credits/commercial-interiors-retail-commercial-int...
Thanks again for your response, and all your energy-related responses. Have learned quite a bit from you over the years.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
September 22, 2021 - 8:58 am
Thanks David, sounds like you are on it. My only other thought would be to try and use your energy model. You wouldn't need the baseline since savings don't matter. The reviewer might balk at having to evaluate a proposed model for this credit but as long as you can demonstrate that you modeled it as designed it might be accepted.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
495 thumbs up
September 22, 2021 - 9:07 am
"outside the box" thinking on a LEED CI box project, I like it!