We would like to confirm the applicability of LEED 2.1 to the scope of our project. We are requesting that this be reviewed as an administrative credit interpretation as it involves the simultaneous considerations of EQ, WE, and EA prerequisites and points that would be difficult to resolve at the level of individual technical advisory group committees.The project involves the renovation and expansion of an existing 1935 masonry and steel frame electrical power generation building located on a 75-acre urban site adjacent to a Great Lake. The existing coal fueled power plant will be converted to a 359,000 square foot, completely enclosed, 1000-megawatt natural gas fueled power generation facility. The project will be constructed in several phases over a five-year period. While other industrial facilities have achieved LEED certification by completely excluding the industrial process portions of their buildings, we are seeking to go above and beyond this approach and include as much of the project scope as possible. We are still relying on the distinction between "building" and "process" loads that is part of the conceptual foundation for the WE, EA, and EQ prerequisites and points. However, we have developed a project specific delineation of "building" versus "process" loads in order to establish the scope of the project for certification. In order to delineate the scope of the certification we describe the project in three distinct components. These components are: "POWER GENERATION", "BUILDING ENVELOPE AND WORK SPACES", and "SITE WORK". These three components can be described as follows:"1) POWER GENERATION:" This scope of the project involves removal of existing coal fueled power generation equipment, installation of new natural gas fueled combined cycle power generation equipment, and installation of process support systems dedicated to the new generation equipment. The new generation equipment will be installed in a large volume of space called the "Generation Room." This room is not designed to meet the needs of human occupancy, since it is occupied only intermittently for maintenance purposes. The process support systems for this room include ventilation, cooling, and lighting systems associated with the functioning of the generation equipment. These systems include roof-mounted intake and exhaust fans, which ventilate the "Generation Room" in order to ensure that the generation equipment operates properly. The design parameters for this ventilation system have been established to control air temperatures to optimize generation equipment performance. The lighting system is designed to provide sufficient levels of ambient illumination for circulation paths only, and is not intended to provide adequate task illumination for sustained visual activities. Task lighting for maintenance activities will be provided by portable, temporary lighting on as-needed basis. The existing water-cooling system that conveys lake water is required to cool the generation equipment."2) BUILDING ENVELOPE AND WORK SPACES:"This scope of the project involves the removal and recycling of portions of the existing building, and construction of a new expanded building envelope and structural system enclosing the "GENERATION ROOM." Portions of the existing building envelope and structural system will be retained and incorporated into the design of the new facility. Portions of the existing and new building envelope are designed as workspaces for three shifts of plant operations staff. Since all of these workspaces are utilized for human occupancy, new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems are provided in these areas. All of these workspaces are located outside the volume of the "GENERATION ROOM" with the exception of a small chemical laboratory constructed as a separate "building" within the larger volume of the "GENERATION ROOM.""3) SITE WORK:" This scope of work includes environmental site remediation, demolition, paving, parking, roadways, a detention pond, a flood bypass channel, and extensive areas to be landscaped with native vegetation."SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION:" We are planning to submit this project to achieve a "Certified " level of LEED certification Under LEED 2.1 for the "BUILDING ENVELOPE AND WORKSPACES," and "SITE WORK" components as defined above. We are excluding the "POWER GENERATION" component, as it is defined above, from our application based on the following: 1) LEED EA and WE points and prerequisites exclude "process loads" from consideration. 2) EA and IEQ prerequisites and points are not applicable to areas that are not intended for human occupancy. This is supported and justified by the scope of the ASHRAE 90.1 - 1999, and ASHRAE 62-1999 standards.Can the "SCOPE OF CERTIFICATION," as we have described it, be certified under LEED 2.1?
The project definition or scope for LEED must be clearly defined and remain consistent across all LEED credits. You cannot address certain aspects of the project for some credits and other aspects of the project for other credits. It is important to avoid the perception that the project is "working the system" to take advantage of certain features for some credits, while ignoring them for others.If the project clearly defines and describes an approach to the LEED project scope, and lives with both the advantages and disadvantages that scope implies with respect to LEED achievement, the reviewer will be more likely to accept your definition at face value.That being said, it is unclear from your inquiry as to the reason for excluding the "Power Generation" portion of the building from your project scope. As you state many of the LEED EQ credit requirements will not apply directly to this space if it is not defined as a regularly occupied space. In addition the process loads for water and energy use are exempt for the requirements for WEc2, WEc3, EAp1 and EAc1. Examine your project closely to determine the benefits and liabilities of your defined project scope.