Ben Stanley
WSP - Built Ecology
Senior Sustainability Manager
EBOM-2009 EAc4: On-site and off-site renewable energy 1-6 points
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage and recognize increasing levels of on and off-site renewable energy to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.Requirements
During the performance period, meet some or all of the building’s total energy use with on-site or off-site renewable energy systems. Points are earned according to the following table, which shows the percentages of building energy use met by renewable energy during the performance period. Off-site renewable energy sources are defined by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program’s products certification requirements, or the equivalent. Green power may be procured from a Green-e Energy-certified power marketer or a Green-e Energy-accredited utility program, or through Green-e Energy-certified tradable renewable energy certificates (RECs) or the equivalent [Europe ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent] [India ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent]. For on-site renewable energy that is claimed for LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance credit, the associated environmental attributes must be retained or retired and cannot be sold. If the green power is not Green-e Energy certified, equivalence must exist for both major Green-e Energy program criteria: 1) current green power performance standards, and 2) independent, third-party verification that those standards are being met by the green power supplier over time. Up to the 6-point limit, any combinations of individual actions are awarded the sum of the points allocated to those individual actions. For example, 1 point would be awarded for implementing 3% of on-site renewable energy, and 3 additional points would be awarded for meeting 50% of the building’s energy load with renewable power or certificates during the performance period. Projects must submit proof of a contract to purchase RECs for a minimum of 2 years and must also make a commitment to purchase RECs on an ongoing basis beyond that.|
On-site renewable energy |
Off-site renewable energy certificates |
Points |
|
|
3% |
or |
25% |
1 |
|
4.5% |
or |
37.5% |
2 |
|
6% |
or |
50% |
3 |
|
7.5% |
or |
62.5% |
4 |
|
9% |
or |
75% |
5 |
|
12% |
or |
100% |
6 |
Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)
Europe ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in Europe may use the following approved standards in place of Green-e Energy:- EKOenergy
- Guarantees of Origin (GOs) with additional parameters
India ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in India may use the Indian Central Electricity Regulatory Commission REC program with additional parameters in place of Green-e Energy. [view:embed_resource=page_1=4649824] See all forum discussions about this credit »Frequently asked questions
We are purchasing green power through the local utility but it is not able to provide or sign a two-year contract because of restrictions applied to the utility. Can we still meet the credit requirements with our current purchased green power covering theThe answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
We’d like to wait to pursue the option for off-site renewable energy until after the results of the preliminary review. Is it ok to pursue this credit after the preliminary review is complete or as an appeal should we need additional points?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.) |
What time period do purchased RECs and offsets need to cover? Do we need to cover the performance period plus an additional two years after that?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.) |
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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.
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Checklists
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Documentation toolkit
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LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
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LEEDuser overview
Frank advice from LEED experts
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage and recognize increasing levels of on and off-site renewable energy to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use.Requirements
During the performance period, meet some or all of the building’s total energy use with on-site or off-site renewable energy systems. Points are earned according to the following table, which shows the percentages of building energy use met by renewable energy during the performance period. Off-site renewable energy sources are defined by the Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Energy program’s products certification requirements, or the equivalent. Green power may be procured from a Green-e Energy-certified power marketer or a Green-e Energy-accredited utility program, or through Green-e Energy-certified tradable renewable energy certificates (RECs) or the equivalent [Europe ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent] [India ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent]. For on-site renewable energy that is claimed for LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance credit, the associated environmental attributes must be retained or retired and cannot be sold. If the green power is not Green-e Energy certified, equivalence must exist for both major Green-e Energy program criteria: 1) current green power performance standards, and 2) independent, third-party verification that those standards are being met by the green power supplier over time. Up to the 6-point limit, any combinations of individual actions are awarded the sum of the points allocated to those individual actions. For example, 1 point would be awarded for implementing 3% of on-site renewable energy, and 3 additional points would be awarded for meeting 50% of the building’s energy load with renewable power or certificates during the performance period. Projects must submit proof of a contract to purchase RECs for a minimum of 2 years and must also make a commitment to purchase RECs on an ongoing basis beyond that.|
On-site renewable energy |
Off-site renewable energy certificates |
Points |
|
|
3% |
or |
25% |
1 |
|
4.5% |
or |
37.5% |
2 |
|
6% |
or |
50% |
3 |
|
7.5% |
or |
62.5% |
4 |
|
9% |
or |
75% |
5 |
|
12% |
or |
100% |
6 |
Alternative Compliance Paths (ACPs)
Europe ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in Europe may use the following approved standards in place of Green-e Energy:- EKOenergy
- Guarantees of Origin (GOs) with additional parameters
India ACP: Green-e Energy Equivalent
Projects in India may use the Indian Central Electricity Regulatory Commission REC program with additional parameters in place of Green-e Energy. [view:embed_resource=page_1=4649824] See all forum discussions about this credit »Checklists
Step by step to LEED certification
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Frequently asked questions
We are purchasing green power through the local utility but it is not able to provide or sign a two-year contract because of restrictions applied to the utility. Can we still meet the credit requirements with our current purchased green power covering theThe answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
We’d like to wait to pursue the option for off-site renewable energy until after the results of the preliminary review. Is it ok to pursue this credit after the preliminary review is complete or as an appeal should we need additional points?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.) |
What time period do purchased RECs and offsets need to cover? Do we need to cover the performance period plus an additional two years after that?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.) |
Guest expert
Ben Stanley
WSP - Built Ecology
Senior Sustainability Manager