Our project team is building an addition to an existing facility. The owner would like to certify the whole building. The existing building was certified LEED EBOM about 6 years ago, but they have continued with sustainable improvements and would like to recertify the existing conditions along with the new building.
We are considering starting the performance period after construction is complete. It’s probably not logical to consider doing so but we have a chance that the square footage of new construction is just over the limit allowed in LEED EBOM. Clearly we would lose any construction credits including MRc3, MRc9 and IEQc1.5. Our intent is to Commission the building with a Level 2 audit and upgrade some of the mechanical systems in the process.
It certainly not standard operating procedure, but the building will be built in a green matter either way. Is there any reason why we would not be able to certify a building that has just finished construction?
Karin Wohlert
NW Sustainable Consulting, LLCMay 16, 2013 - 12:21 pm
Maybe I should ask the question differently. Is there any reason why we would not be able to certify a building that has recently finished construction?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
May 16, 2013 - 12:24 pm
Karin, with LEED-EBOM you need 12 months of energy performance data to certify. So the soonest you could submit for certification is 12 months after data collection begins.
Karin Wohlert
NW Sustainable Consulting, LLCMay 16, 2013 - 12:47 pm
Thanks Tristan. Yes we would start the performance period for energy after construction is complete. Would there be a problem with that timeline?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
May 16, 2013 - 12:53 pm
Karin, I don't see any issue. You can start when occupancy happens after construction, and gather data for the next 12 months (note that many credits have three-month performance periods, that should all end around the same time as the 12-month period), and submit a year after construction.
Karin Wohlert
NW Sustainable Consulting, LLCMay 16, 2013 - 12:57 pm
Weird one I know. Thanks for the guidance.
Melissa Merryweather
DirectorGreen Consult-Asia
245 thumbs up
May 16, 2013 - 7:36 pm
Karin, I did this with a project that was certified last May. It was a bit strange, but possible. What we did have to do was have a few months of data collection in order to base the initial evaluations on--luckily I'm in the tropics and energy use in May is pretty much what you'll get in August or December. Without something solid to start with you'll struggle. You can still start the 12 months performance period right away, but I think you'll be much more comfortable with a 14 month program at minimum. Ours was 18, and I'm glad we didn't shorten it, because we were able to show energy reduction from the first 6 months by re-commissioning and tightening up management of systems. If you go with less time then all you're doing is getting the building certified, and you lose some of the benefit of the EBOM concept.
Karin Wohlert
NW Sustainable Consulting, LLCMay 16, 2013 - 10:52 pm
Absolutely. Thanks all.
Karin Wohlert
NW Sustainable Consulting, LLCMay 23, 2013 - 6:05 pm
Thank goodness we're not moving forward with the project in this manner. The performance period will include construction - as it should!