Multiple Buildings in One Energy Simulation

Yes as long as that central plant only serves those three building and no others. By the way the DESv2 is not required for LEED 2009 projects. It is optional. The updated DES is required in LEED v4 projects.

Hello everyone

About a similar situation, we have a LEED hospitality project including multiple buildings physically separated. As long as we can simulate all structures in a single energy model, we were wondering if the different options present in the MEP Calculator rely on modeller's choice or if they are mandatory depending on the project's particularities:

- "Model each building in a separate energy model" could be a choice, but it would be a very time-consuming one since there are a lot of different buildings and it would enlarge enormously the size of the MEPC and the number of tabs.

- "Model all buildings in a separate energy model" would be the first choice for us, since it would simplify the input data into the MEPC, but we do not have previous experience about how to document the compliance for each building and we understand that maybe it would be even more time consuming (for the project team and the for the reviewer as well) to verify this.

- "Model a custom group of buildings" does not apply to our situation, since each building is different enough from the others to desestimate this approach.

So, summarizing, if we exclude the third option which seems to be clearly limited to groups of very similar buildings, is it possible to freely choose any of the two first options, or does the choice rely on some other specific mandatory circumstances apart of the documentation requirements?

Thank you for your help and best regards.

Manuel Romera

Your choice. Just note that each building alone must demostrate the minimum required savings. So if you do model them all in one model make sure to set up separate meters so you can discern the energy use of each building in isolation as well.

Crystal clear, Marcus, thank you very much for your answer. Hope that the MEP Calculator could handle such an amount of tabs... :)

Reviewing the section "Projects with Several Physically Distinct Structures", and providing that our project is a resort complex and that complies all the applicable conditions, including the floor area limits, it is eligible to include all the physically distinct structures in a single LEED project  certification application without having to use the Campus Program.

This circumstance thus, allows us to treat the set of structures as a "single building" for Energy Performance prerrequisite and credit compliance purposes (one energy model and one energy metrics output)?

The language used in Interpretation https://www.usgbc.org/leedaddenda/10203 could be intepreted this way, referencing the last paragraph:

While these projects are also allowed to register and certify each structure as a separate building--where it individually meets the MPRs and other rating system eligibility criteria-- this LEED Interpretation allows them to be treated, for all intents and purposes, as a single building with one LEED project registration and one LEED project certification without having to utilize the group certification requirements of the AGMBC.

It remains clear from that interpretation and from the language presented in the Reference Guide under the section "Projects with Several Physically Distinct Structures" that a single registration and documentation submittal is allowed. The doubt remains about the allowance of treating all the buildings in a resort complex as a single one for Energy Performance compliance purposes.

Thank you very much again and have a nice weekend.

Manuel Romera

You are not treating the multiple buildings as one building. One energy model and one building are not the same thing. You are allowed to treat the multiple buildings as one LEED submission, not one building. Each building individually must comply with the prerequisite. The results from each building get added up within the MEPC to provide an overall % savings that is used to determine points for the credit. You can set up each building within the model on its own meters so you can separate the energy use. Note that the interpretation you are citing does not apply to LEED v4. 

You are not treating the multiple buildings as one building. One energy model and one building are not the same thing. You are allowed to treat the multiple buildings as one LEED submission, not one building. Each building individually must comply with the prerequisite. The results from each building get added up within the MEPC to provide an overall % savings that is used to determine points for the credit. You can set up each building within the model on its own meters so you can separate the energy use. Note that the interpretation you are citing does not apply to LEED v4. 

You are not treating the multiple buildings as one building. One energy model and one building are not the same thing. You are allowed to treat the multiple buildings as one LEED submission, not one building. Each building individually must comply with the prerequisite. The results from each building get added up within the MEPC to provide an overall % savings that is used to determine points for the credit. You can set up each building within the model on its own meters so you can separate the energy use. Note that the interpretation you are citing does not apply to LEED v4. 

"Note that the interpretation you are citing does not apply to LEED v4"

You are completely right, Marcus, but we found also this statement in the LEED v4 Reference Guide (under the "Projects with Several Physically Distinct Structures" section) that made us doubt:

"The project must be analyzed as a whole (i.e., in aggregate) for all minimum program requirements (MPRs), prerequisites, and credits in the LEED rating system"

but I believe that probably we are not interpreting it in the right sense.

Thank you very much again for your help and best regards.

You do end up using the whole project to determine your energy savings. It's just that each building individually needs to meet the prerequisite. Open up the MEPC used to document the prerequisite and credit. In the general information tab select yes to multiple buildings. A new tab will open called Multiple Buildings Details. The narrative at the top indicates that all building must meet the prerequisite individually and notes that each building should be submetered within the simulation.

You do end up using the whole project to determine your energy savings. It's just that each building individually needs to meet the prerequisite. Open up the MEPC used to document the prerequisite and credit. In the general information tab select yes to multiple buildings. A new tab will open called Multiple Buildings Details. The narrative at the top indicates that all building must meet the prerequisite individually and notes that each building should be submetered within the simulation.

Exactly,

The narrative at the top indicates that all building must meet the prerequisite individually and notes that each building should be submetered within the simulation.

That is the key which made us be persuaded that our "single building" interpretation was not right, regarding the prerequisite compliance. But with your comments it remains even more clear. Thank you.