In our campus project, one of the three LEED registered buildings is unconditioned. The ASHRAE Standard 90.1 indicates that there are no requirements for unconditioned spaces, making the Energy Cost Budget Method not applicable. Are unconditioned spaces exempt from the Minimum Energy Performance EA Prerequisite 2 and the Optimize Energy Performance Credit calculations? If not what methodology is used?
If the unconditioned building meets the ASHRAE 90.1-99 definition of unconditioned space (i.e. is not a parking garage and has been approved by the building department), then the building meets the LEED EA Prerequisite 2. The unconditioned building cannot qualify for any points under the Optimize Energy Performance Credit because there are no possible energy savings. If this building is a parking garage, then it must treated according to the ASHRAE 90.1-99 requirements for parking garages. Applicable internationally.