Approximately 93% of the building in the Seal and Sea Lion Life Support System project, a remodel and addition to an existing facility, is dedicated to equipment spaces furnishing treated and cooled seawater to pools for pinnipeds. Approximately 90% of the total building energy consumption is for process loads related to these aquatic systems, overwhelming thermal envelope, HVAC, lighting and other miscellaneous power loads. Using the conventional approach outlined in ASHRAE 90.1-2004 Appendix G (to implement energy saving strategies and assuming identical process loads for both the baseline and proposed designs) will not demonstrate sufficient reduction in process energy to achieve the LEED EAc1 two-point-minimum. The team proposes including regulated HVAC and lighting loads, and modeling only the systems that serve occupied spaces, then following the Exceptional Calculation Method for ASHRAE Std. 90.1 G2.5 (outlined in the LEED NCv2.2 reference guide and in the CIR ruling dated 10/24/08) to document measures that reduce process loads. Our intent is to take credit for process load reduction to comply with the minimum energy requirements for a renovated building. To demonstrate the evaluation of process load savings we intend to submit a comparative summary of annual savings for energy use relative to discharge piping, equipment variables and chilling water. Historical trend data may be available for chilled water, and if so could be used as the baseline. If historical data is not available, ASHRAE design data for the average cooling day will be used as a baseline. Historical trend data for other process loads is not available. The following assumptions regarding energy use and cost for process loads in the baseline and proposed cases will be made: I. Seawater cooling systems (offset solar gains and maintain 68 deg F temperatures for six pools) A. Baseline case: 1. Rooftop air-cooled chillers furnish refrigeration for chilled glycol solution circulated to shell-and-tube heat exchangers. 2. Pumps deliver constant flow rate to shell-and-tube heat exchangers. 3. Three-way control valves modulate chilled glycol solution to maintain pool temperatures. B. Proposed case: 1. Rooftop air-cooled chillers furnish refrigeration for glycol solution circulated to plate heat exchangers with less pressure drops to reduce pumping energy. 2. Pumps with variable frequency drives deliver variable flow rate to plate heat exchangers, yielding less horsepower with pressure drop reductions. 3. Chilled glycol solution piping incorporates a decoupler to assure chiller minimum flow during partial load conditions to optimize chiller turndown performance. 4. Two-way control valves modulate chilled glycol solution to maintain pool temperatures. II. Seawater treatment systems A. Baseline case: 1. Pumps controlled by throttled valves maintain target flow rate. 2. Pipe and valves sized per Hydraulic Institute standards for fluid velocities of 8 feet/second. 3. Sand filters backwashed after a 10 to15 psi pressure differential is attained per manufacturer recommendation. 4. Design pools to match dimensions of existing pools. The zoo\'s requirement is to maintain volume to match existing pools. B. Proposed case: 1. Pumps controlled by variable-speed drives to maintain target flow rate. This reduces pump operational energy an estimated 15%. 2. Pipe and valves sized for fluid velocities of 4 to 6 feet/second. This reduces waste energy due to friction and reduces installed pump horsepower. 3. Sand filters backwashed after an 8.5 psi pressure differential is attained. This reduces energy consumption due to filter head loss an estimated 10 to 20% and reduces installed pump horsepower. 4. Design pools with reduced water surface area and increased depth to maintain required volume. This reduces chilling demand due to solar radiation/convection/condensation at the water surface an estimated 30%. Are the proposed assumptions, data sources and methodology acceptable for demonstrating credit compliance?