Energy Efficiency

Best Practices
Existing Buildings (pre-requisite)
Schools (pre-requisite)
Retail (pre-requisite)
Data Centers (pre-requisite)
Hospitality (pre-requisite)
Warehouses & Dcenters (pre-requisite)
 To promote continuity of information to
ensure that energy-efficient operating
strategies are maintained and provide a
foundation for training and system analysis.

Intent
Requirement
Conduct an energy audit that
meets both requirements of
the ASHRAE preliminary
energy use, and an ASHREA
Level 1 walk-through
assessment identified in the
ASHRAE Procedures for
commercial building energy
audits or equivalent.
Requirement
Prepare and maintain a current facilities requirements
and operations maintenance plan that contains the
information necessary to operate the building
efficiently. And must include:

• Current sequence of operations for the building

• Building occupancy schedule
• Equipment run times
• Set points for all HVAC equipment
• Setpoints for lighting levels in the building
• Minimum outside air requirements
• Any changes in setpoints for different seasons,
or days of the week, times of day.
• Systems narrative describing M&E systems
• Preventative maintenance plan
 Establishment

Requirement
For Data Centers

Use the US Department of Energy

DC Pro Profiling Tool to perform a
preliminary assessment of energy
consumption in data center spaces
for critical systems.
Required Documentation
Documentation All Data
Except Centers
Data
Centers
E Summary of ASHRAE preliminary energy use
analysis
E Summary of results of ASHRAE Level 1 walk-
through
E Output from DC Pro Profiling Tool

E Current facility requirements and operations and

maintenance plan
Additional Information
In house vs Third party
A level 1 energy is commonly performed by a qualified third party consultant,
but it is allowed for knowledgeable in house staff to conduct the audit
ASHRAE LEVEL 1
ASHRAE Level 1 Audit
The ASHRAE Level 1 energy audit involves examining utility records
and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems to identify
opportunities to reduce energy consumptions and cost. Visually
inspecting, by a walk-through, is important to gain a full
understanding of what operational items need to be addressed.

The final outcome of the walkthrough is a list of improvement

measures to implement. They should focus on low-, or no-cost
improvements. Although not required CAPEX improvement may
also be included.

Completing the audit early in the process is recommended to allow

time for energy improvements to be implemented.
Additional Information
16%

Energy Use Analysis

38%
Determine the approximate breakdown of energy 14%
use for major end-use categories.
The breakdown can be compared to ‘comparables’
or ’benchmarks’ and provide further insight for 12%
energy conservation recommendations. 10%
11%
The EA credit Existing Building commissioning
requires a more precise breakdown of energy use
that may be used to document compliance with this
prerequisite.
Minimum Energy
Performance
Existing Buildings (pre-requisite)
Schools (pre-requisite)
Retail (pre-requisite)
Data Centers (pre-requisite)
Hospitality (pre-requisite)
Warehouses & Dcenters (pre-requisite)
 To reduce the environmental and economic
harms associated with excessive energy use
by establishing a minimum level of operating
energy performance

Intent
Requirements
Calibrate meters within the manufacturer’s
recommended interval if the building
owner, management organization or
tenant owns the meter.

Meters owned by third parties (e.g.

government utilities) are exempt.
Requirements Benchmarking

Meter the building’s energy use for a full 12

months of continuous operation and
achieve the levels of efficiency set forth in
the options below.

Each building’s energy performance must

be based on actual metered energy
consumption for both the LEED project
building(s) and all comparable buildings
used for the benchmark.
Case 2;
No ENERGY STAR rating
Option 1. Benchmark against typical
buildings.

Path 1: National Average Data available.

Demonstrate energy efficiency performance
of 25% better than the median energy
performance against national source energy
data

Path 2: National Average Data not available.

Benchmark against 3 similar buildings,
normalized for climate, building use, and
occupancy. Demonstrate a 25% improvement.
Case 2; Not eligible for ENERGY
STAR rating

Option 2. Benchmark against historical data .

If national average source data are not

available, compare the buildings energy data
for the last 12 months with data from three
contiguous years of the previous five,
normalized for climate, building use, and
occupancy. Demonstrate a 25% improvement.
Required Documentation
Documentation Case 1 Case 1
(streamlin
ed)
E Meter calibration report, as applicable
E Access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account
P Statement of energy performance stamped by
professional engineer or licensed architect
P Letter from ENERGY STAR, copy of ENERGY STAR
recognition certificate, or screenshot of ENERGY
STAR website
P Data verification checklist
P Copies of utility bill summary pages or cover pages
for 3 months of performance period for each fuel
source
Required Documentation
Documentation Case 2 Case 2 Case
Option 1 Option 1 Option
Path 1 Path 2 2
E Meter calibration report, as applicable
E Access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account
P Data verification checklist
P Copies of utility bill summary pages or cover pages for
3 months of performance period for each fuel source
P Weather-normalized source EUI
P Weather-normalized source EUI from 3 similar
buildings
P Descriptions of 3 similar buildings and comparability to
project building
P Weather-normalized source EUI from 3 recent years
P Calculations supporting additional normalization (if
applicable)
 Building Level
Energy Metering
Existing Buildings (pre-requisite)
Schools (pre-requisite)
Retail (pre-requisite)
Data Centers (pre-requisite)
Hospitality (pre-requisite)
Warehouses & Dcenters (pre-requisite)
 To support energy management and identify
opportunities for additional energy savings
by tracking building level energy use

Intent
Behind the Intent:
Whole building metering lets building
operators track energy over time, illustrating
variations that can be used to develop
energy conservation measures. Metering
also allows for tracking of savings, and
justification for any investments.

Disparities between how buildings are

designed to operate and how they perform
are common. To reduce these disparities
USGBC collects and analyses performance
data.
Requirement
Install new or use existing building
level meters, or use submeters that
can be aggregated to building level
consumption, (electricity, natural
gas, chilled water, steam, fuel etc. )

Utility owned meters capable of

aggregating building level resources
are acceptable.
Requirement
Compile meter data into monthly and annual
summaries; meter readings can be manual or
automated.

Commit to sharing with USGBC the resulting

whole-project energy consumption data and
electrical demand data (if metered) for a five-
year period beginning on the date the project
accepts LEED certification or typical
occupancy, whichever comes first.

This commitment must carry forward for five

years or until the building changes ownership
or lessee.
Required Documentation

Documentation All
projects
E Confirmation of permanently installed meters

E Letter of commitment

E Confirmation of data sharing source

Fundamental Refrigerant
Management
Fundamental Refrigerant
Management
Existing Buildings (pre-requisite)
Schools (pre-requisite)
Retail (pre-requisite)
Data Centers (pre-requisite)
Hospitality (pre-requisite)
Warehouses & Dcenters (pre-requisite)
 To reduce stratospheric
ozone depletion

Intent
Behind the Intent:
CFC and other refrigerants contribute to the
depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer.
This thinning of the ozone is linked to many
health problems and ecological effects.

In 1987 the Montreal protocol established an

international agreement to phase out the use
of the most harmful ozone-depleting
substances, including CFCs.
Behind the Intent:
Production of CFC was phased out by the
countries that signed the agreement in 1995,
and most other countries in 2010. So, new
construction projects cannot install CFC-
based refrigeration.

However, CFC’s may still be used in

previously installed HVAC equipment. CFC’s
must be phased out when replacement has a
simple payback of less than 10 years. In this
pre-requisite only CFC’s are addressed.
Requirements
• Do not use chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)-
based refrigerants in heating, ventilating,
air-conditioning, and refrigeration
(HVAC&R) systems,

• Unless, a third-party audit shows that

system replacement or conversion is not
economically feasible or unless a phase-
out plan for CFC-based refrigerants is in
place

• Phase-out plans should be scheduled for

completion within 10 years.
The replacement or conversion of HVAC&R
equipment is considered not economically
feasible if the simple payback of the
replacement or conversion is greater than 10
years

Cost of replacement or conversion

Simple
= Resulting annual Resulting annual
Pay Back energy + cost + maintenance and
difference refrigerant cost difference
 Establisment

If CFC-based refrigerants are

maintained, reduce annual
leakage to less than 5%, and
the leakage over the
remaining life to less than
30% of its refrigerant charge.
Requirements
Existing small HVAC&R units (defined
as containing less than 0.5 pound
[225 grams] of refrigerant) and other
equipment, such as standard
refrigerators, small water coolers, and
any other equipment that contains
less than 0.5 pound (225 grams) of
refrigerant, are exempt
Required Documentation
Documentation All Phase Economic
projects out plan Feasibility
E Equipment type
E Refrigerant type
E Installation date
E CFC conversion and replacement plan
E Refrigerant leakage rate or quantity
E Phase-out completion date
E Leakage reduction plan
E New equipment or conversion cost
E Predicted savings
Existing Building
Commissioning
Implementation
Existing Buildings (2 points)
Schools (2 points)
Retail (2 points)
Data Centers (2 points)
Hospitality (2 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (2 points)
 To use the existing building commissioning
process to improve building operations,
energy, and resource efficiency

Intent
Requirements
Meet the requirements of EA Credit Existing
Building Commissioning—Analysis.
Requirements
Apply the requirements to all direct energy-
consuming or energy-producing systems,
including lighting, process loads, HVAC&R,
domestic water heating, and renewable
energy.

✓ Implement no- or low-cost operational

improvements and develop a five-year
plan for equipment replacement and
major modifications or upgrades based on
the analysis phase.
Requirements
✓ Confirm training of building operations staff
so that they can efficiently operate all new or
substantially altered building equipment or
systems.

✓ Develop a tracking and verification program

for all projects implemented as part of the
existing building commissioning process.

✓ Update the operations and maintenance plan

and the current facilities requirements to
incorporate the newly implemented
improvements.
Required Documentation

Documentation Option 1
P List of all no- and low-cost measures implemented and their
benefits
P Summary of capital plan for major retrofits, upgrades

P Description of management staff training program

P Revisions to CFR and O&M plan

 Existing Building
Commissioning Analyses
Existing Buildings (2 points)
Schools (2 points)
Retail (2 points)
Data Centers (2 points)
Hospitality (2 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (2 points)
 To use the existing building
commissioning process to
improve building operations,
energy, and resource efficiency
Intent
Behind the Intent:
Commissioning of an existing building helps
to ensure the a buildings operations align
with owner’s and occupants requirements,
and allows staff to identify where the
building is not performing optimally.

Energy Audits also aim to improve building

performance but are generally focused on
energy improvement opportunities and
savings. ASHRAE Level 2 Energy audit is an
accounting assessment of equipment age,
efficiency and operations.
Requirements
Evaluate the current performance of the
project building against the performance
specifications in the current facilities
requirements and the operations and
maintenance plan.

Identify the systems and components in the

facility to be investigated and analyzed as
part of the existing building commissioning
or energy auditing process.

Provide a breakdown of estimated resource

use for each of these systems.
2 Options to comply

Option 1 Option 2

Existing Building or
Energy Audit
Commissioning

2 points 2 points
Option 1:
Existing Building Commissioning
Develop an existing building commissioning
plan to effectively inventory and evaluate
specific opportunities within the system to
be analyzed. This must include:

• Updated current facilities requirement

• Commissioning team members and R&R
• A description of the approach
• The process of reviewing and prioritizing
• The format and content of the deliverable
• The proposed schedule
Option 2:
Energy Audit
Develop an energy audit plan following
the requirements of ASHRAE level 2,
Energy Survey Analysis, to evaluate
energy efficiency opportunities. This
must include:

• The audit team members and R&R

• A description of the approach
• The process of reviewing and prioritizing
• The format and content of the deliverable
• The proposed schedule
Requirements
Apply the requirements to all direct energy-
consuming or energy-producing systems,
including lighting, process loads, HVAC&R,
domestic water heating, and renewable
energy.

Update the systems and components to be

addressed as part of the existing building
commissioning or energy auditing process.

Provide a breakdown of estimated resource

use for each of these systems.
Option 1:
Existing Building Commissioning
Update and execute the existing building
commissioning plan.
Option 2:
Energy Audit

Update and execute the energy audit

plan following the requirements of
ASHRAE Level 2, Energy Survey and
Analysis.

For each opportunity, describe the

potential improvement, estimated
implementation costs, and anticipated
savings.
 Establishment

Requirement
For Data Centers

In addition to the requirements above,

data centers must use the
Department of Energy’s Save Energy
Now Program’s on-line DC Pro Energy
Assessment Tools for data center
critical systems.
Required Documentation
Documentation Option 1 Option 2
E Existing building commissioning plan
E Level 2 energy audit plan
E Updated CFR
E Team members, roles, responsibilities
E Schedule
P Energy use breakdown
P List of issues found and planned resolution
P List of planned facility improvements
P Confirmation that significant upgrades and
revisions have been added to CFR and O&M plan
 Ongoing
Commissioning
 Ongoing
Commissioning
Existing Buildings (3 points)
Schools (3 points)
Retail (3 points)
Data Centers (3 points)
Hospitality (3 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (3 points)
 To use the existing building
commissioning process to improve
building operations, energy, and
resource efficiency.
Intent
Requirement
Meet the requirements of EA Credit Existing Building
Commissioning–Analysis and EA Credit Existing Building
Commissioning Implementation.

Establish an ongoing commissioning process that

includes planning, point monitoring, system testing,
performance verification, corrective action response,
ongoing measurement, and documentation to
proactively address operating problems in the systems
being commissioned.
 Requirements
Develop an on-going commissioning plan
that defines the following:
• Roles and responsibilities;
• Measurement requirements
(meters, points, metering systems, data access);
• The points to be tracked, with frequency and duration
• The limits of acceptable values
• The review process that will be used to evaluate performance;
• An action plan for identifying and correcting operational errors
and deficiencies
• Planning for repairs needed to maintain performance;
• The frequency of analyses in the first year (at least quarterly); The
subsequent analysis cycle (at least every 24 months).
Requirements
Apply the requirements to all direct energy-
consuming or energy-producing systems, including
lighting, process loads, HVAC&R, domestic water
heating, and renewable energy.

✓ Update the systems manual with any modifications or

new settings, and give the reason for any modifications
from the original design. Define methods for improving
operations and maintenance.

✓ Include quarterly reports during the first year of

implementation and annual reports on the performance
of building systems.
Requirements
• Continue to update the facility’s operating and
maintenance plan and current facilities requirements
to reflect actual conditions and issue annual revisions
of these documents.

• Only activities associated with ongoing commissioning

completed within two years of the LEED application
may be included to show progress.
Required Documentation

Documentation All
E Ongoing commissioning plan

P Confirmation that systems manual has been updated

P Confirmation that CFR and O&M plan have been updated to

reflect actual conditions

P List of activities and tasks implemented as part of ongoing

Commissioning
Optimize Energy
Performance
Optimize Energy
Performance
Existing Buildings (1-20 points)
Schools (1-20 points)
Retail (1-20 points)
Data Centers (1-20 points)
Hospitality (1-20 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (1-20 points)
 To reduce environmental and
economic harms associated with
excessive energy use by achieving
higher levels of operating energy
performance.
Intent
Requirements
Demonstrate increased energy
efficiency or efficiency
improvement beyond EA
Prerequisite Minimum Energy
Performance as described below.

Each building must provide actual

metered energy data. A full 12
months of continuous energy data
is required.
TABLE 1. Points for Energy Star
Performance ratings
Energy Star Ratings Points

76 3 Case 1;
77 4
78 5 ENERGY STAR rating
79 6
80 7
81 8
For buildings eligible to receive an energy
82 9
performance rating using the ENERGY
83 10 STAR’s Portfolio Manager tool, points are
84 11 awarded for ENERGY STAR scores above
85 12 75, according to Table 1
86 13
87 14
For projects outside USA, consult
88 15
89 16
ASHRAE 90.1 – 2010 to determine
90 17
appropriate climate zone
91 18
93 19
97 20
 Case 2;
No ENERGY STAR rating
TABLE 3. Points for percentage
improvement over national average
% improvement Points Option 1. Benchmark against typical
27 2 buildings.
30 4
33 6 Path 1: National Average Data available.
36 8 Demonstrate energy efficiency performance
39 10 of 25% better than the median energy
42 12 performance against national source energy
45 14 data

Path 2: National Average Data not available.

Benchmark against 3 similar buildings,
normalized for climate, building use, and
occupancy. Demonstrate a 27% improvement.
 Case 2;
No ENERGY STAR rating
TABLE 3. Points for percentage
improvement over national average
% improvement Points

27 2
Option 2. Benchmark against historical
30 4 data .
33 6
36 8 If national average source data are not
39 10 available, compare the buildings energy data
42 12 for the last 12 months with data from three
45 14 contiguous years of the previous five,
normalized for climate, building use, and
occupancy. Demonstrate a 27% improvement.
TABLE 2. Points for percentage
improvement over national average
% improvement Points Case 2;
26 1
27
28
2
3
No ENERGY STAR rating
29 4
30 5 Option 3. Benchmark against both similar
31 6
buildings and historical data.
32 7
33 8
Follow the requirements of both Option 1, Path 2, and
34 9
Option 2 to benchmark against the site energy data for the
35 10
three similar buildings and the building’s historic data. Use
36 11
Table 2 to determine points.
37 12
38 13
39 14
40 15
41 16
42 17
43 18
44 19
45 20
Required Documentation
Documentation Case 1 Case 1
(streamlin
ed)
E Meter calibration report, as applicable
E Access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account
P Statement of energy performance stamped by
professional engineer or licensed architect
P Letter from ENERGY STAR, copy of ENERGY STAR
recognition certificate, or screenshot of ENERGY
STAR website
P Data verification checklist
P Copies of utility bill summary pages or cover pages
for 3 months of performance period for each fuel
source
Required Documentation
Documentation Case 2 Case 2 Case 2 Case
Option 1 Option 1 Option Option
Path 1 Path 2 2 3
E Meter calibration report, as applicable

E Access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account

P Data verification checklist

P Copies of utility bill summary pages or cover pages for 3

months of performance period for each fuel source
P Weather-normalized source EUI

P Weather-normalized source EUI from 3 similar buildings

P Descriptions of 3 similar buildings and comparability to

project building
P Weather-normalized source EUI from 3 recent years

P Calculations supporting additional normalization (if

applicable)
Case 1.
Achieve a threshold of 97%.

Case 2, Option 3. Achieve a

threshold of 47%.
Advanced Energy
Metering
Existing Buildings (2 points)
Schools (2 points)
Retail (2 points)
Data Centers (2 points)
Hospitality (2 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (2 points)
 To support energy management and identify
opportunities for additional energy savings
by tracking building-level and system-level
energy use.

Intent
 Requirement
Install advanced energy metering for
the following:
• all whole-building energy sources used by the
building; and

• major end uses that represent 20% or more of

the total annual consumption of the building
minus plug load use.
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 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.
Requirement
• Set an alarm whenever the energy
consumption and peak demand rise
above the anticipated amount by
more than 5%.

• The anticipated consumption and

peak should be determined by
analyzing historical facility
performance, weather and operating
conditions and should be set on at least
monthly, preferably daily.
Requirement
• Demand measurements must be
taken in time increments no longer
than the increments used for utility
billing or in one-hour increments,
whichever is less time.

• On at least a monthly basis, report

the facility’s utility peak demand and
total consumption and compare it
with the data for the previous month
and the same month from the
previous year.
Required Documentation

Documentation All
projects
E List of all advanced meters to be installed, including type and
energy source metered
E Manufacturers’ cutsheets

P Confirm facility's energy management system alarm

programming
P Confirm project has monthly and annual summaries of energy
consumption and monthly peak demand data
 Demand
Response
Existing Buildings (1-3 points)
Schools (1-3 points)
Retail (1-3 points)
Data Centers (1-3 points)
Hospitality (1-3 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (1-3 points)
 To increase participation in demand
response technologies and programs that
make energy generation and distribution
systems more efficient, increase grid
reliability, and reduce greenhouse gas
Intent emissions.
 $$$
PEAK
HOURS

$$
MID PEAK
HOURS

$
OFF PEAK HOURS
Requirement
Evaluate building systems and equipment for participation in a demand response
program. (On-site electricity generation does not meet the intent of this credit)
Requirement
Evaluate building systems and equipment for participation in a demand response
program. (On-site electricity generation does not meet the intent of this credit)

CASE 1. CASE 2. CASE 3.

Demand Response Demand Response Permanent

Available Not Available Load Shifting

3 points 1 points 2 points

 Case 1: Demand
Response Available
• Have in place a system with the capability for
real-time, fully automated DR based on
external initiation by a DR program provider.
Semi-automated DR may be utilized in
practice.
• Enroll in a minimum one-year DR participation
amount contractual commitment with a
qualified DR program provider, with the
intention of multiyear renewal, for at least 10%
of the annual peak electricity demand. Peak
demand is based on electric utility bills.
Case 1: Demand
Response Available
• Develop a comprehensive plan for meeting
the contractual commitment during a
Demand Response event.

• Include the DR processes in the current

facilities requirements and operations and
maintenance plan.

• Initiate at least one full test of the DR plan.

Case 2: Demand
Response Not Available
· Have infrastructure in place to take advantage of
future demand response programs or dynamic, real-
time pricing programs and complete the following
activities. Develop a comprehensive plan for shed at
least 10% of the annual peak electricity demand.
Peak demand is based on electric utility bills.

· Include the DR processes in the current facilities

requirements and operations and maintenance plan.

· Initiate at least one full test of the DR plan.

· Contact local utility representatives to discuss

participation in future DR programs
Case 3: Permanent
Load Shifting
Implement electrical load shifting measures with the
following requirements:
· Have in place during the performance period a system which
permanently transfers electricity demand from peak hours to
off-peak hours as defined by the local utility provider.

· Demonstrate that the facility is successfully reducing peak

demand by 10% during the performance period as compared to
peak electrical demand by:
° Identifying all load shifting measures and their intended
peak electrical load shift
° Verifying a corresponding peak electrical load reduction
for each measure
° Verifying a corresponding off-peak electrical load increase
for each measure

· Include the load shifting measures in the Current Facilities

Requirements and Operations and Maintenance Plan.
Required Documentation
Documentation Opt. 1 Opt. 2 Opt. 2
Case1 Case 2
P Proof of enrollment in DR program

P Evidence of ability to shed 10% of peak

demand

P Inclusion of DR or load shifting in CFR and

O&M plan

Comprehensive action plan

Performance of one full test of DR plan

Description of system for load shifting

Renewable Energy
and Carbon Offsets
Existing Buildings (1-5 points)
Schools (1-5 points)
Retail (1-5 points)
Data Centers (1-5 points)
Hospitality (1-5 points)
Warehouses & Dcenters (1-5 points)
 To encourage the reduction of greenhouse
gas emissions through the use of local and
grid-source renewable energy technologies
and carbon mitigation projects.

Intent
Requirements
Demonstrate one or both of the following for at
least a portion of the building’s total energy use.

• Total energy use is met directly with

renewable energy systems.

• A minimum two-year contract is in place, with

the commitment to renew on an ongoing
basis, to purchase qualified resources that will
be delivered at least annually. Resources must
have come online after January 1, 2005.
Requirement
Meet at least some of the building’s total energy use directly with renewable energy systems, or engage in a
contract to purchase green power, carbon offsets, or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Renewable Energy Energy Purchased / Offset

Generated % % / (not exceeding 100%)
Points = +
(Up to max of 5) 1.5% 25%

Green power and RECs must be Green-e Energy Certified or the equivalent. RECs can be used only to
mitigate the effects of Scope 2, electricity use. Carbon offsets may be used to mitigate Scope 1 or Scope 2
emissions on a metric ton of carbon dioxide– equivalent basis and must be Green-e Climate certified, or
the equivalent. For U.S. projects, the offsets must come from greenhouse gas emissions reduction
projects within the U.S.
Required Documentation
Documentation On-site Off-site RECs, green
ren. ren. power,c.
energy energy offsets
P Total annual energy use calculation

P Renewable energy production

P Two-year contract or owner committment

with Green-e provider for purchased green
power, RECs, and/or carbon offsets, from
sources that have come online since January
1, 2005
P Credit point calculation showing the
contribution of renewable energy, RECs,
green power, and/or carbon offsets
Meet at least 10% of total energy
use with on-site renewable energy.
Enhanced Refrigerant
Management
Existing Buildings (1 point)
Schools (1 point)
Retail (1 point)
Data Centers (1 point)
Hospitality (1 point)
Warehouses & Dcenters (1 point)
 To reduce ozone depletion and support early
compliance with the Montreal Protocol while
minimizing direct contributions to climate
change.

Intent
Behind the Intent:
This credit addresses the two main
threats to the environment posed by
refrigerants: their ozone depletion
potential (ODP) and global warming
potential (GWP).

As is well known, CFCs, HCFCs, and

other ozone-depleting substances
commonly used in refrigerants
High ODP Low ODP Zero ODP contribute toZero
the depletion
ODP of the
stratospheric ozone layer
High GWP High GWP High GWP Very Low GWP
The refrigerant impact calculation
addresses the overall effect of each
refrigerant’s ODP and GWP combined
by accounting for these interrelated
factors.
Requirement

OPTION 1. OPTION 2.

NO REFRIGERANTS OR CALCULATION OF
LOW-IMPACT or REFRIGERANT IMPACT
REFRIGERANTS

(1 POINT) (1 POINT)
OPTION 1. NO REFRIGERANTS OR LOW-IMPACT REFRIGERANTS

Survey of Refrigerants
Refrigerant Group Atmospheric ODP GWP
Life

R11 CFC 130 1 4000

R12 CFC 130 1 8500
R22 HCFC 15 0.04 1780
Do not use refrigerants, or use only
R134a HFC 16 0 1300 refrigerants (naturally occurring or
R404a HFC 16 0 3900 synthetic) that have an ozone depletion
R410a HFC 16 0 1900
R507 HFC 130 0 3900
potential (ODP) of zero and a global
R717 NH3 - 0 0 warming potential (GWP) of less than 50.
R744 CO2 - 0 1
R290 HC <1 0 8
R600a HC <1 0 8
OPTION 2. CALCULATION OF REFRIGERANT IMPACT

Requirement:
The combination of all new and existing base building and tenant HVAC&R equipment that serve the project must
comply with the following formula:

For multiple types of equipment, calculate a weighted average of all base building HVAC&R equipment
RETAIL

Meet Option 1 or 2 for all HVAC systems.

Stores with commercial refrigeration systems must comply with

• Use only non-ozone-depleting refrigerants
• Achieve an average HFC refrigerant charge of no more than
1.75 pounds of refrigerant per 1,000 Btu/h (2.72 grams of
refrigerant per kW) total evaporator cooling load.
• Achieve a store-wide annual refrigerant emissions rate of no
more than 15%.

Alternatively, stores with commercial refrigeration systems may

provide proof of attainment of EPA GreenChill’s silver-level store
certification for fully operational food retail stores.
Required Documentation
Documentation Opt.1 Opt. 2

E Confirmation only no or low-impact refrigerants are used

E Equipment type
E Equipment cooling capacity
E Equipment quantity
E Refrigerant type
E Refrigerant charge
E Equipment life
E Refrigerant charge calculations (for VRF systems only)
E Provide refrigerant equipment schedule or GreenChill
certification (commercial refrigeration systems only)
E Provide leak test results (commercial refrigeration
systems only)