I was wondering if anyone has had experience with this, and if this scenario can earn LEED points for on-site renewable energy. The school project I am working on is considering a solar energy package. This package would be provided by a third party company who would pay for, own, and install the solar panels that would be mounted on the roof of the school. These panels would provide power to the school during the daytime hours, and the school would pay the third party an agreed upon rate for that power. The school would be entering into a 20 year purchase agreement with this company for the reduced rate solar energy. During the non-daylight hours, the school would pull their energy from the local grid and pay the grid the regular rate for that power. So I would say that this method does meet the intent of LEED in that it reduces reliance on finite energy sources, and encourages use of renewables. I am just concerned about the fact that the school will not own this system and would like to give the school some feedback as to whether this system would or would not contribute to their LEED scorecard.
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5867 thumbs up
October 25, 2013 - 10:07 am
It all depends on who owns the RECs. If they have been sold then they must be 100% replaced to qualify for EAc1 and EAc2. The project owner or the solar owner could replace them.
Patty Lloyd
Director of SustainabilityLeopardo Companies, Inc.
13 thumbs up
October 25, 2013 - 11:58 am
Well the term REC has never been used in relation to this by looking at the agreement. The solar array on the school is feeding directly to the schools power usage. However, the third party is the owner of the equipment and the energy. So would it be null in relation to onsite renewable energy and EAC1 & 2?
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5867 thumbs up
October 25, 2013 - 12:08 pm
The agreement may not call it a REC or there may not be a REC market in the project's location. Even if there is not a current REC market the agreement would likely say something about who retains ownership of the environmental attributes of the solar system. If it does not say anything I would assume the PV owner would be retaining the ownership of the RECs. They cannot sell them without them being replaced in order to count for LEED. It sounds like the school owns the energy if they are signing a power purchase agreement but that does not mean they own the RECs. I would contact the PV system owner and ask them about the RECs. Third party ownership of the PV array does not necessarily affect the ability to use the PV power for LEED.