The reference project is a manufacturing plant with warehouse space and office space. The manufacturing equipment process loads are very high, on a scale which is more than 10:1 higher than the base building loads. The base building includes numerous energy and environmental attributes that would make LEED certification feasible, but, as stated, the manufacturing equipment process loads eclipse base building loads. Even using the baseline HVAC selection exemption stated in Appendix G (G3.1.1) proves inconsequential to energy savings. As a result, the minimum 2 point prerequisite under this credit are unavailable when this manufacturing equipment load is included. Can the USGBC please advise the project team on how this issue can be addressed in order to achieve LEED certification? For instance, defaulting to 25% process load for the facility would allow the 2 prerequisite points to be easily achieved based on the baseline building high performance features.
The project team is seeking guidance on meeting the two-point minimum for EAc1 for a process-energy-use-dominated facility. It is not clear from the request, whether the project team has explored possibilities of reducing process energy use and documenting the same, which might make it possible to achieve the two-point-minimum required under this credit. Per LEED NC v 2.2 Reference Guide, EA Credit 1, under the Calculations section, sub-section Process Energy: "However, project teams may follow the Exceptional Calculation Method (ASHRAE Std. 90.1 G2.5) to document measures that reduce process loads. If credit is taken for process loads, the calculation must include reasonable assumptions for the baseline and proposed case". As there is still a possibility of achieving the two-point-minimum under this credit, a variance from the established methodology cannot be approved. Applicable Internationally.