Remove the second sentence, "If CFC-based refrigerants are located, the building owner should develop a phase-out plan and convert to less environmentally harmful refrigerants."
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Paul Swierc
CEM, CPMP, BECxP, CxA+BE, EIT, LEED GA
Senior Commissioning Agent
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Zero use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in tenant heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems used within the LEED project scope of work.
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.What does it cost?
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See all forum discussions about this credit »Addenda
5/9/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
5/9/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
After the first sentence, add, "HCFCs are not part of this prerequisite."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
5/9/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
In the third line, remove the clause, "and provide them with a copy of any CFC phase-out plan"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
5/9/2011 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Remove the last two sentences of the section, beginning with, "If savings offset costs..." to, "economically infeasible"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Replace the definition of "chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)" with "a compound of carbon, hydrogen, chlorine and fluorine, once commonly used in refrigeration, that depletes the stratospheric ozone layer."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
1/12/2009
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
The Commercial Interiors Reference Guide states zero use of CFC based refrigerants. For this project, heat pump PTAC\'s are being used for heating and cooling to achieve the required high efficiencies. The heat pump PTAC\'s are currently only available with R-22 refrigerant. Per the Reference Guide table 1, page 142, R-22 is an HCFC (not CFC) with a relatively low lifetime, low ODP, and low GWP. The Reference Guide (under Approach and Implementation page 142)states the previously mentioned values should all be short/low, which they are according to the table. That requirement appears to be met with R-22. Is R-22 (HCFC-22) an approved refrigerant for EA Prerequisite 3?
Ruling:
Yes, as R-22 is an HCFC, it meets the requirements of this prerequisite. Applicable Internationally.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
11/27/2007
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
We are relocating into a 2/3 of a floor space (20,000sf approx.) of a multi-story commercial office building, located in Ohio. This is a newer building that has existing water source heat pumps already purchased and installed by the building owner prior to the fit-out of our office space. Our intent is to keep these heat pumps in their current locations and connect new ductwork to the units. These heat pump units use R-22 refrigerant for cooling which is an HCFC based refrigerant. According to the prerequisite; Zero use of CFC-based refrigerants in new tenant HVAC&R systems when within scope of work. By the definition listed in the guidelines for HCFs it states that they "are refrigerants that cause significantly less depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer compared to CFCs." It is our understanding that since HCFCs are better than CFCs and that the existing heat pumps do not contain CFCs and that they have been installed by the owner and do not fall within the scope of our tenant fit-out, that we will meet this prerequisite.
Ruling:
The applicant is seeking confirmation that HCFCs do not qualify as CFCs and thus do not fall under the scope of the prerequisite. HCFCs do not count as CFC-based refrigerants with respect to this prerequisite. It should be noted that, while HCFCs cause significantly less depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer compared to CFCs, they still have ozone-depleting and global-warming potential. Applicable Internationally.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/22/2008
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
CIRs have been posted under LEED-NC v2.0/2.1 stating that if a project team could reduce the potential use of CFC chillers to less than 5% of the time on an annual basis, then the project would qualify for the extended phase-out period of 5 to 7 years, assuming correct documentation is provided (as outlined in the EAp3 CIR Ruling dated 12/01/03). Would this same ruling apply to our project pursuing LEED-NCv2.2 for a planned 7-year phase out? Details of the project and the team\'s intended plans to demonstrate compliance are described below: The project is a multi-phased major renovation and demolition of the PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center located in Eugene, Oregon. The LEED-NC v2.2 project scope includes the two buildings referred to as the Main and Ancillary, both of which will undergo major renovations as a result of the project. The buildings will be cooled by 2 chillers, an existing 300-ton chiller and a new 600-ton chiller. The existing 300-ton centrifugal chiller located in the basement of the Main Building was manufactured by Carrier and installed in 1982. It had a major motor rebuild in approximately 1986. This unit supplies chilled water to the six air handlers in the Main second floor mechanical room that provide cooling to all the Main Building floors. This chiller uses R-11 refrigerant, which is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and therefore violates the prerequisite requirements. The new 600-ton chiller will serve the Main and Ancillary Buildings in addition to the existing 300 ton chiller. Based on our load calculations, the peak cooling load in the Main Building is 435 tons and the Ancillary load is 450 tons. With these loads and Eugene weather data, the cooling load should not exceed 600 tons more for than 5% of the time. The 300 ton chiller will therefore be used less than 5% of the time. As the CFC chiller will be used less than 5% of the time, the project team is requesting a 7-year phase-out extension. In order to demonstrate compliance with the prerequisite the project will provide: 1) A summary of the new and existing buildings on campus and the cooling load of each building, 2) Sizes for each of the new and existing chillers, 3) A description of chiller staging to demonstrate use of CFC-free chillers as backup, and, 4) A letter of commitment from the owner, describing the phase-out plan and timeframe.
Ruling:
This inquiry is requesting to use a 7 year phase-out process for CFC refrigerants in order to qualify for EAp3 on a LEED NC v2.2 project where the CFC chiller will account for less than 5% of the building\'s cooling load. The process and supporting documentation outlined in this CIR represent an acceptable approach to meeting this requirement. Applicable Internationally.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
3/6/2007
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
We are relocating into a half-floor space (5,000 sq.ft. approx.) of a multi-story commercial office building, located in Mexico. This building was constructed over 10 years ago. It accounts for large central units (water cooled centrifugal chillers) with a CFC-based refrigerant. Each floor utilizes discrete air handling units (AHU -which need no refrigerant) that run on chilled water from the central units. Our fit-out project includes an underfloor air distribution system, which we are connecting to the present AHU. Hence, changing to non-CFC refrigerants does not apply to our project\'s (individual floor) equipment. Furthermore, an eventual such change would demand a full replacement/conversion of all central HVAC&R equipment. Understanding the limits of our scope of work and the given system, we ask for confirmation that this prerequisite is either considered as accomplished or discharged in our project.
Ruling:
This credit requires a declaration that there are no CFC-based refrigerants installed or renovated within the LEED-CI project scope. As described, the CFC-containing chillers are outside of the scope of work for the proposed tenant buildout and will not prevent the achievement of this credit. Applicable Internationally; Mexico.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
2/7/2007
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
The building we are moving into has existing, pre-purchased HVAC units designated for each lease space. As the first tenant in our lease space, and per Landlord requirements, we are to install these units. The units are a part of the building system and use a CFC-based refrigerant. We are not allowed to replace or modify any of the existing "building systems" and therefore we feel we meet the requirement within our "tenant system" scope of work for LEED. It is our understanding that if the HVAC system does not fall under "tenant HVAC&R systems" then it has no impact in obtaining LEED credits. We do not see the installation of these units to be a part of our "tenant HAVC&R systems." If we were the second tenant to move into our lease space, these units would have already been installed and we would only be responsible for what was installed as part of our "tenant system." Our scope of work as the "tenant system" is to provide ducting to connect to the existing "building system."
Ruling:
The applicant is seeking confirmation that they can meet the prerequisite with the existence of CFC-based refrigerants in an owner provided system. The intent of the prerequisite is to encourage projects to locate in buildings that have no CFC based refrigerants or to influence the building owner to use such systems. Because these HVAC units are being installed by the tenants or on behalf of the tenants, this work is considered part of the tenant\'s scope of work. Therefore, this does not meet EAp3. Applicable Internationally.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Zero use of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-based refrigerants in tenant heating, ventilating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems used within the LEED project scope of work.
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.XX%
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LEEDuser expert
Paul Swierc
CEM, CPMP, BECxP, CxA+BE, EIT, LEED GA
Senior Commissioning Agent
