Summary: Interpretation ruling regarding (3) Innovation Credits: (2) credits for significantly exceeding MR Credit 5.1 & 5.2 (1) Credit for utilizing water efficient process load appliances, significantly impacting overall water usage within the residence hall buildings. Context: The scope of the project incorporates new construction of four residential halls on a college campus, which house more than 250 students and staff. Three of the buildings are three stories, and the other is four stories. Description: The following outlines the current calculation status for the project pertaining to MR Credits 5.1 & 5.2, and the impact of the water efficient clothes washers utilized: MR Credit 5.1 (Local regional materials) exceeds 65% of material cost baseline Material cost baseline was derived by subtracting mechanical, electrical, fittings & equipment, and conveying system costs from the direct cost, and then isolating the material costs (from labor). MR Credit 5.2 (Harvested) exceeds 150% of MR 5.1 baseline (50% of 20% benchmark). Based on CIR 12/1/2003, which was a clarification on CIR 10/18/01 stated: To have a consistent and comparable performance standard for all LEED projects, the requirement for MR Credit 5.2 is 50% of the minimum 20% benchmark needed for achieving MR Credit 5.1. Water Efficient Process Load Appliance Use Based on CIR 3/9/2004 (WE) process loads are not to be included in the calculations for the water efficiency credits, and only those fixture types covered under the Energy Policy Act of 1992 are to be included. A total of twelve clothes washing machines (3 per building) are included in the residence halls, which create a significant amount of water usage. In an attempt to reduce the water used, the owner purchased water efficient appliances (~30% less water used than standard appliances for this class). A range of standard washing machines of this class from different manufacturers would be gathered (and submitted) and averaged to establish the baseline. In comparison to the baseline load calculated for water usage covered under the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the clothes washers account for an amount equal to 46% of this load (8 loads per machine, per day). Therefore the use of water efficient washing machines is reduced by ~ 14%. Proposal: If both credit calculations substantially exceeds the next performance levels for each of the credits (also mentioned in CIR 12/1/2003), would (2) innovation credits be achievable with the appropriate support documentation? If the owner has taken action to not only reduce water usage for the fixtures (WE C3.1&3.2), but is also pursuing water reduction for the second largest use category of water for the buildings (showers are no.1), even though it is a process load, would (1) innovation credit be achievable if steps proposed above for establishing a baseline for the clothes washers were implemented?