Optimize Energy Performance - 1-18 Points
Existing Building - Energy & Atmosphere
Intent
- To achieve increasing levels of operating energy performance relative
to typical buildings of similar type to reduce environmental and
economic impacts associated with excessive energy use.
Requirements
CASE 1. Projects Eligible for Energy Star Rating
For
buildings eligible to receive an energy performance rating using the
EPA’s ENERGY STAR’s Portfolio Manager tool, achieve an energy
performance rating of at least 71. If the building is eligible for an
energy performance rating using Portfolio Manager, Option 1 must be
used.
The minimum energy cost savings percentage for each ENERGY STAR threshold is as follows:
Achieve
energy efficiency performance better than the minimum requirements
listed above; points are awarded according to the table below.
Have
energy meters that measure all energy use throughout the performance
period of buildings to be certified. Each building’s energy performance
must be based on actual metered energy consumption for both the LEED
project and all comparable buildings used for the benchmark. A full 12
months of continuous measured energy data is required.
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., utilities or governments) are exempt.
CASE 2. Projects Not Eligible for Energy Star Rating
For buildings not eligible to receive an energy performance rating using Portfolio Manager, comply with 1 of the following:
OPTION 1
Demonstrate
energy efficiency at least 21% better than the average for typical
buildings of similar type by benchmarking against national average
source energy data provided in the Portfolio Manager tool as an
alternative to energy performance ratings. Follow the detailed
instructions in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations
& Maintenance, 2009 Edition.
OR
OPTION 2
For
buildings not suited for Case 2, Option 1, use the alternative method
described in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Operations
& Maintenance, 2009 Edition.
AND
Achieve energy
efficiency performance better than the minimum requirements listed
above; points are awarded according to the table below.
Have
energy meters that measure all energy use throughout the performance
period of all buildings to be certified. Each building’s energy
performance must be based on actual metered energy consumption for both
the LEED project and all comparable buildings used for the benchmark. A
full 12 months of continuous measured energy data is required.
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., utilities or governments) are exempt.
Use
the Portfolio Manager tool available on the ENERGY STAR website to
benchmark the project even if it is not eligible for an EPA rating: http://www.energystar.gov/benchmark.
Referenced Standards
Energy Star, Portfolio Manager Overview, http://www.energystar.gov/benchmark
Design Strategies
Existing
building commissioning and energy audits will help identify areas of
building operations that are not efficient. Implement energy-efficient
retrofits and energy-saving techniques to reduce the building’s energy
use. Energy-efficient equipment such as office equipment, maintenance
equipment and appliances will aid in the reduction of energy waste.
Employ the use of meters on major mechanical systems to effectively
monitor the energy consumption of each.
In
addition to efficiency improvements, consider renewable energy options
as a way to minimize the building’s environmental impact.