We are inquiring regarding which compliance option to use for 3 Lodge/Conference Center buildings. 1 building is 3 stories with approximately 50,000 square feet, 2 buildings are 2 stories with approximately 40,000 square feet. Each building contains meeting/conference space as well as hotel/lodge guest rooms. According to ASHRAE 90.1-2005 Appendix G (pg. G-2): "The building performance rating method may be used for new buildings as well as alterations and additions to existing buildings. The only exception is for new buildings, alternations or additions that do not have a mechanical system. In this instance, the method may not be used." According to ASHRAE 90.1-2004 Appendix G (pg. G-22): "Residential spaces in buildings are used primarily for living and sleeping. They include, but are not limited to, dwelling units, hotel/motel guest rooms, dormitories, nursing homes, patient rooms in hospitals, lodging houses, fraternity/sorority houses, hostels, prisons, and fire stations. The scope of Standard 90.1, in terms of residential spaces, applies just to spaces with four or more stories, so low-rise residential is excluded." The LEED reference guide states that: "The provisions of this standard do not apply to single-family structures of three habitable stories or fewer above grade, manufactured houses (mobile or modular homes), buildings that do not use either electricity or fossil fuel, or equipment and portions of building systems that use energy primarily for industrial, manufacturing or commercial processes." We propose having the option to use a whole building energy simulation to calculate compliance with this credit based on the Appendix G energy performance method due to the fact that these buildings do not clearly fit into any of the categories provided. Considering the nature of the project and that it contains guest rooms and conference space we are requesting a designation of "Nonresidential, Less than 3 floors or less than 75,000 square feet" per Table G-A - Baseline Building HVAC System Types and Descriptions as we feel it best fits this project.