Submit a Low Mercury ID Credit

I have submitted it for LEED NC multiple times. No need for CIR. Letter from owner is required. a list of light fixtures installed and the mercury content. has to be under 80 picograms per lumen hour on weighted average. I think you have to submit the EBOM paperwork for it also. Maybe an engineer can chime in here for more information.

Are projects still attempting this as an ID credit? I have heard that it is no longer being accepted by reviewers because they don't believe it is innovative. I have two projects which could take advantage of this as an ID credit and wanted to confirm that people are still having success with this approach before I start collecting the documentation. Thanks!

We have also been successful in getting this credit on several projects. Note that the description does not just focus on innovation, here is what it says: “The project team achieved significant, measurable environmental performance using a strategy not addressed in the LEED-NC v2009 Rating System.” So, using EBOM MRc4 is certainly something “not addressed” in NC. We submit what April indicated, a letter from the owner stating the policy on purchasing low mercury lamps (which we help with) showing the policy is in place. Then we submit a reference only version of the MRc4 from EBOM with the information filled out except the replacements are zero since it is a new building.

Thank you for your input, Scott!

Sustainable Purchasing - Reduced Mercury in Lamps strategy is allowed via LEED Interpretation 5500 which requires that projects comply with an average mercury content limit of 80 picograms in order to achieve an ID point. In several projects, we've been successful submitting a completed copy of the completed LEED EBOM MRc4 (which can be found in LEED Online under Sample Forms Download at the top), a copy of the lamp cut sheets, and a copy of the lamp invoices. Note that the MRc4 template says 90 picograms per lumen-hour, but the limit for the ID credit is 80.

We are submitting for the first time EB: MRc4-low mercury bulb credit for an ID credit in a LEED-Core&Shell project in which lights are part of the project scope. We are now approaching Design Review after Pre-Certification and I am looking at the EBOM template in order to attached it to the documentation for the DR. I have two questions: 1) In the template there are two tables MRc4-1 and MRc4-2, do I need to fill in both the tables with the same data? 2) Most of the lights used in the project are LEDs, so they are mercury free. In the template there is a section which states: Upload MRc4-2. For any mercury-free lamp types included, provide product manufacturer or supplier documentation verifying that they are at least as energy efficient (lumens/watt) as their mercury-containing alternatives. I don't completely understand how to do the verification requested. I am going to submit product manufacturer documentation, but do I need to compare the energy efficiency of the LEDs providing also product manufacturer documentation of mercury-containing alternatives? Thanks

I reviewed a recent v2009 project where we got this ID credit (but not the active files, just a PDF). It appears that both tables are filled out (common data?), but only MRc4-2 has data. Which kind of makes sense; for a new project, you are buying all the lamps at the start. This project also heavily used LED fixtures, and I do not see any special information uploaded related to your second question. My guess is that common knowledge that an equivalent LED will use less wattage than a fluorescent is the factor, where the requirement is aimed at fluorescent lamps to make sure that a low mercury version is just as efficient. My guess anyway. As always, our results may not be the same as yours.

Thank you. I submitted the LEED-EBOM 2009 MRc4 Credit Form and cut sheets documenting the mercury content in all installed lamps. I filled in with the same data the two tables MRc4-1 and MRc4-2. I submitted also cut sheets of LED fixtures for completeness. The credit has been achieved without request for clarification.