Meeting this credit in naturally conditioned spaces is tricky, because it’s hard to ensure that thermal conditions remain within the requisite range. It’s really only possible in a few specific climatic regions with especially temperate conditions.

Mixed-mode spaces have a better chance. That is, naturally ventilated buildings can still meet the requirements of ASHRAE-55 if heating and cooling systems can keep indoor conditions comfortable year-round. 

This credit requires that HVAC designs meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, which deals with thermal comfort of building occupants. Specifically, ASHRAE 55 requires project teams to address air temperature, radiant temperature, humidity, and air speed.

In most cases, designing a system that complies with ASHRAE-55 is standard practice and documentation is the only LEED-specific requirement for achieving the credit, so it should cost very little to earn. 

IEQc7.1 requires that HVAC designs meet the requirements of ASHRAE Standard 55-2004, which deals with thermal comfort of building occupants. Specifically, ASHRAE 55 requires project teams to evaluate the ability of building systems to stay within a comfortable range of air temperatures, radiant temperatures, humidity, and air speeds during design weather conditions.

This credit involves a review and analysis of your building’s operational expenses. The goal is to better understand the financial impact on overall operating costs of improvements made during the LEED performance period.

It’s not intended to compare buildings to one another, or to demonstrate that your LEED investments generated specific paybacks. It’s simply valuable for you to understand how your building performs over time. Internal consistency with your accounting methods is more important than whether you categorize expenses in the same way other projects do.

This credit is fairly straightforward: the existing building selected by your LEED-CI project will either have LEED certification or other green features in place, or it won’t. (If your project hasn’t yet selected a building, consider looking for a building that will perform well under this credit.) 

It’s worth considering this credit, because in the best case (Option 1), you can earn five points just for locating in a building certified under another LEED rating system.