Specifying high-quality equipment with a long lifespan can reduce environmental impacts, since most leakage occurs during installation and decommissioning. For information about the service life of different types of HVAC equipment, refer to the 2007 ASHRAE Applications Handbook—HVAC Applications. (See Resources.)
The refrigerant charge is typically calculated automatically in the LEED Online credit form. It is the relationship between how much refrigerant is needed (in pounds) and the cooling capacity (in gross ARI-rated tons) of the equipment.
Update the table of appliances and equipment after the construction documents are complete to track any reduction or increase in the amount of Energy Star-labeled equipment and appliances. If the Energy Star-labeled systems do not make up 50% of the total rated power, revisit the list to identify which appliances and equipment can be upgraded to meet the threshold.
