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Can I still earn this credit through green power or RECs alone?

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The owner has purchased RECs for a percentage of energy use of its whole portfolio of buildings, or whole campus. Can we earn this credit for a single LEED building with this purchase?

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CS-v4 EAc7:Green power and carbon offsets

Green Power Purchase Timeframe Requirements?

Profile picture for user annalise.dum
Annalise Dum
Vice President, Sustainability
JLL
LEEDuser Basic Member
2 thumbs up

Hello!
 

Is there are timeframe that a green power purchase must be made, per the LEED Reference Guide or other rating system requirements? I thought I had come across a timeframe like "within 12 months of substantial completion" (or something similar), but cannot find anything about when the actual purchase should be made.

Our project is currently about 14 months away from substantial completion but the team would like to make the Green Power purchase now as to lock in the rates (that have been so volatile lately!).

 

Any insight is appreciated. Thank you!

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Profile picture for user sheffer
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow
7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
4454 thumbs up

Fri, 04/23/2021 - 17:52

Technically I think that the purchase timeframe should cover actual operations so it should initially be made around the time of occupancy. Green power purchases previously engaged would not count.
Profile picture for user annalise.dum
Annalise Dum
Vice President, Sustainability
JLL
LEEDuser Basic Member
2 thumbs up

Fri, 04/23/2021 - 20:25

Thanks for the prompt reply Marcus! Is this your interpretation or is there written guidance somewhere you are referencing? Your answer makes sense to me, but I wonder what is really the difference between purchasing now and then if the total coverage would be the same. We made a purchase a couple of months prior to occupancy for another project -- I look forward to seeing if we receive any comments during Construction Review from the LEED Reviewer.
Profile picture for user sheffer
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow
7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
4454 thumbs up

Sun, 04/25/2021 - 23:30

It is my understanding as a LEED Reviewer. I am not aware that it is written anywhere. A couple of months should be fine, over a year feels like it is stretching it too far.

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