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LEED v4
New Construction
Energy and Atmosphere
Advanced energy metering

LEED CREDIT

NC-v4 EAc3: Advanced Energy Metering 1 point

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View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit »

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Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Install advanced energy metering for the following:

  • all whole-building energy sources used by the building; and
  • any individual energy end uses that represent 10% or more of the total annual consumption of the building.
The advanced energy metering must have the following characteristics.
  • Meters must be permanently installed, record at intervals of one hour or less, and transmit data to a remote location.
  • Electricity meters must record both consumption and demand. Whole-building electricity meters should record the power factor, if appropriate.
  • The data collection system must use a local area network, building automation system, wireless network, or comparable communication infrastructure.
  • The system must be capable of storing all meter data for at least 36 months.
  • The data must be remotely accessible.
  • All meters in the system must be capable of reporting hourly, daily, monthly, and annual energy use.
See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

Frequently asked questions

We are proposing to metering a new building with a single controller. The controller has the capability to monitor each individual end use (lighting, plug loads, HVAC, water, gas, etc.). Can we meter everything on a distribution board except one specific end-use, such as HVAC, and have the controller programmed to calculate the difference in the main power usage and all the metering loads to determine the remaining loads (HVAC loads) and still obtain the advanced energy metering credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

7/29/2022 – Updated: 9/1/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Resources tab Changes:

1. After the sentence "We will update this list as we enable support for additional data sources.". add the following 2 sentences:

"Projects are required to submit energy and water consumption data to USGBC on the date they begin typical, physical occupancy. Alternatively, projects may opt to provide data beginning on the date that the project accepts certification from GBCI. USGBC currently accepts energy and water data in the following ways:"

2. Under the heading "Third Party Data Source", add the following sentence as the first bullet in the list:

"Use Arc to share your data at https://arcskoru.com/ by activating your project, creating a meter and entering your performance data."

3. Under the heading "Third Party Data Source", delete the following bullets from the list:

"Coming Soon: Share data using one of USGBC’s App Lab partners. These apps are created by authorized partners and are designed to automate data submission into LEED Online. This option is not yet available from the partners on the site however please contact us to learn more about connecting with an existing data management system."

" Use Arc to share your data at https://arcskoru.com/"

4. Under the heading "USGBC Approved Data Template", replace the sentence that begins "Projects that choose this option must be prepared.." with the following sentence:

"Projects that choose this option should submit their spreadsheets to USGBC’s Hightail Dropbox at least two times per year."



Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/10/2020 – Updated: 4/22/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In Further Explanation, Determining Major Energy End Uses, before the paragraph starting with “Choosing what equipment and components to group”, add the following paragraph:

It is acceptable to exclude a small portion of the total loads from each end-use category. Not more than 10% of the total connected load of any of the required end-uses is permitted to be excluded from that end-use advanced metering data collection. Not more than 10% of the total connected load of any of the end-uses where metering is required is permitted to consist of loads not part of that end-use.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/14/2017 – Updated: 4/14/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Step-by-Step Guidance: at the end of Step 2, add the following sentence: "Note: Step 2 is not applicable to Core and Shell Projects."

Further Explanation > Rating System Variations > Core and Shell:
After the sentence that reads "The number of meters required for tenant spaces depends on building configuration; a minimum of one meter per energy source per floor is required." Insert the following additional sentence: "All energy sources utilized by a tenant must have advanced metering, including electricity, natural gas, chilled water, and heating hot water (service hot water may be excluded)."

At the end of the Core and Shell section in Further Explanation > Rating System Variations, insert the following additional guidance:
"Examples for Core and Shell projects:

Example 1:

Base Building
Base building includes condenser water system (electric cooling towers and pumping system) and heating hot water systems (boilers).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity and natural gas (boilers).

Tenant Spaces
Tenant spaces served by water source heat pump systems using base building condenser water with radiant baseboard heating (hot water supplied by base building).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity, and heating hot water (at least one per floor).

Example 2:
Base Building
Base building includes chilled water system (electric chillers, cooling towers, and pumping system) and heating hot water systems (boilers).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity and natural gas (boilers).

Tenant Spaces
Tenant spaces served by four-pipe fan coil units.
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity, chilled water, and heating hot water (at least one per floor)."


Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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LEEDuser expert

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Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Install advanced energy metering for the following:

  • all whole-building energy sources used by the building; and
  • any individual energy end uses that represent 10% or more of the total annual consumption of the building.
The advanced energy metering must have the following characteristics.
  • Meters must be permanently installed, record at intervals of one hour or less, and transmit data to a remote location.
  • Electricity meters must record both consumption and demand. Whole-building electricity meters should record the power factor, if appropriate.
  • The data collection system must use a local area network, building automation system, wireless network, or comparable communication infrastructure.
  • The system must be capable of storing all meter data for at least 36 months.
  • The data must be remotely accessible.
  • All meters in the system must be capable of reporting hourly, daily, monthly, and annual energy use.

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

We are proposing to metering a new building with a single controller. The controller has the capability to monitor each individual end use (lighting, plug loads, HVAC, water, gas, etc.). Can we meter everything on a distribution board except one specific end-use, such as HVAC, and have the controller programmed to calculate the difference in the main power usage and all the metering loads to determine the remaining loads (HVAC loads) and still obtain the advanced energy metering credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)
7/29/2022 – Updated: 9/1/2022
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Resources tab Changes:

1. After the sentence "We will update this list as we enable support for additional data sources.". add the following 2 sentences:

"Projects are required to submit energy and water consumption data to USGBC on the date they begin typical, physical occupancy. Alternatively, projects may opt to provide data beginning on the date that the project accepts certification from GBCI. USGBC currently accepts energy and water data in the following ways:"

2. Under the heading "Third Party Data Source", add the following sentence as the first bullet in the list:

"Use Arc to share your data at https://arcskoru.com/ by activating your project, creating a meter and entering your performance data."

3. Under the heading "Third Party Data Source", delete the following bullets from the list:

"Coming Soon: Share data using one of USGBC’s App Lab partners. These apps are created by authorized partners and are designed to automate data submission into LEED Online. This option is not yet available from the partners on the site however please contact us to learn more about connecting with an existing data management system."

" Use Arc to share your data at https://arcskoru.com/"

4. Under the heading "USGBC Approved Data Template", replace the sentence that begins "Projects that choose this option must be prepared.." with the following sentence:

"Projects that choose this option should submit their spreadsheets to USGBC’s Hightail Dropbox at least two times per year."



Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/10/2020 – Updated: 4/22/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In Further Explanation, Determining Major Energy End Uses, before the paragraph starting with “Choosing what equipment and components to group”, add the following paragraph:

It is acceptable to exclude a small portion of the total loads from each end-use category. Not more than 10% of the total connected load of any of the required end-uses is permitted to be excluded from that end-use advanced metering data collection. Not more than 10% of the total connected load of any of the end-uses where metering is required is permitted to consist of loads not part of that end-use.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/14/2017 – Updated: 4/14/2017
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Step-by-Step Guidance: at the end of Step 2, add the following sentence: "Note: Step 2 is not applicable to Core and Shell Projects."

Further Explanation > Rating System Variations > Core and Shell:
After the sentence that reads "The number of meters required for tenant spaces depends on building configuration; a minimum of one meter per energy source per floor is required." Insert the following additional sentence: "All energy sources utilized by a tenant must have advanced metering, including electricity, natural gas, chilled water, and heating hot water (service hot water may be excluded)."

At the end of the Core and Shell section in Further Explanation > Rating System Variations, insert the following additional guidance:
"Examples for Core and Shell projects:

Example 1:

Base Building
Base building includes condenser water system (electric cooling towers and pumping system) and heating hot water systems (boilers).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity and natural gas (boilers).

Tenant Spaces
Tenant spaces served by water source heat pump systems using base building condenser water with radiant baseboard heating (hot water supplied by base building).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity, and heating hot water (at least one per floor).

Example 2:
Base Building
Base building includes chilled water system (electric chillers, cooling towers, and pumping system) and heating hot water systems (boilers).
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity and natural gas (boilers).

Tenant Spaces
Tenant spaces served by four-pipe fan coil units.
Energy sources required to be metered with advanced metering characteristics: electricity, chilled water, and heating hot water (at least one per floor)."


Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

headshot

Marcus Sheffer

7group / Energy Opportunities
LEED Fellow

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Unsubscribe from discussions about NC-v4 EAc3 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit