LEED Insights: v4.1 Topics (Energy & Atmosphere)
The PDF can be downloaded through the link at the bottom of this article.
Overview
In April 2021, the USGBC held a Q&A session with USGBC panel members regarding LEED v4.1 Energy & Atmosphere categories. This article features key takeaways as a resource to help current and future LEED projects.
Introduction
As most of us know, until LEED v4.1 becomes the new standard, most of our projects will remain in the typical v4 program to give our clients the best chance at a high level of certification. We can always choose to go after a v4.1 credit in lieu of the v4 equivalent, but this is a rare occasion in the Energy & Atmosphere (EA) categories. This is mostly due to the upgrade in the energy modeling standard under Optimize Energy Performance (EAc2) to ASHRAE 90.1-2016, which is significantly more stringent than v4’s 90.1-2010. Nothing said by USGBC panel members changes this too much, though there will be cases where v4.1 EA credits are a helpful option on a particular project.
Also, if you’ve forgotten or missed the article the G2 team wrote last year on maximizing energy points, you can find it here on our website. That content is intended for v4 projects but is mostly applicable on v4.1 projects as well.
Key Takeaways
1) Certain projects will benefit from v4.1 standards for EAc2
a) Buildings with High Unregulated Energy Use
Compared to v4, ASHRAE 90.1-2016 does a better job dealing with unregulated energy (such as receptacle loads and manufacturing equipment) and the negative effect it can have on the points calculation.
To this end, manufacturing facilities can sometimes benefit from using the v4.1 calculation
v4 projects can also use a pilot credit, EAPc111, found here, which allows projects to use 90.1-2016 and v4.1 point scales, but stay with the mandatory requirements of 90.1-2010
This makes it a little easier on the design team!
B) Other Project Types
Aggressive renewable energy goals (on or off-site), including those corporate businesses with high off-site renewable procurement
Projects with electrification objectives
ID&C projects with limited TI scope
ID&C projects in a very efficient base building – you can get 8 points for meeting ASHRAE 90.1-2016
2) There are options for calculating EAc2 results
The dual scale (cost savings + greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)) for determining energy modeling points of LEED v4.1, illustrated in Table 1 below, contains several possible calculation options:
v4 projects can use a similar dual rating scale using a pilot credit, EAPc95, found here. Improved points are possible if projects are in regions with low GHG ratios in their electric generation.
a) GHG Emission Sources (USA only)
This EnergyStar study
The AVERT tool
Cambium utilizes a projection system, whereas the other sources use historical data.
b) Cost Savings
Actual utility rates
State average electric and natural gas rates from EIA.gov
Table 1: Illustration of v4.1 Optimize Energy Performance Point Scales
3) EAc2 is particularly challenging in cold climates
Projects in colder climates are required to use natural gas heating in the LEED energy model baseline for the Optimize Energy Performance credit. Because natural gas is much cheaper, it can be difficult for projects using electric resistance heating to compete on the cost savings calculation.
Designers may need to consider heat pump technology in some cases.
4) The Renewable Energy credit has evolved
LEED v4.1 has merged the v4 credits “Renewable Energy Production” and “Green Power and Carbon Offsets” into a single credit category: “Renewable Energy”. Table 2 below shows the points distribution. Further detail and analysis are below.
a) Tier 1 – On-Site Renewables
More points are possible for projects with large on-site systems than v4 (5 vs. 3). This will benefit both calculations of the energy modeling points (cost and GHG)
b) Tier 2 – Off-Site Renewables
This can be used to benefit the GHG side of the energy modeling credits
C) Tier 3 – Existing Off-Site Renewables
Green-E certified is required
The carbon offset component of v4 is now gone, but supposedly there is a pilot credit coming to address this.
Table 2: Points for Renewable Energy Procurement
5) There are more opportunities under Grid Harmonization
LEED v4’s “Demand Response” credit is now labeled as “Grid Harmonization”. It contains the original components of demand response along with a third path to possible points related to load shifting and peak demand reduction.
There is a related Pilot Credit that can be used as an alternative in both v4 and v4.1. This pilot credit takes energy modeling data and quantifies into grid related metrics. One point is achieved through simply completing a spreadsheet and explaining why the grid metrics were not possible. Additional points are possible with good metrics.
This pilot credit offers an excellent way to get a ‘cheap’ point in an infrequently used credit category. More information on the pilot credit can be found here
In Summary
Using LEED v4.1 energy credit, particularly those in Energy & Atmosphere, will be uncommon until v4 is discontinued. However, there are some projects where v4.1 credits will be advantageous.
When using v4.1 methodology for Optimize Energy Performance, be sure to test different resources for GHG and cost savings.
There are more points and options with the renewable energy credit than v4, and projects with large renewable energy systems can benefit from using this credit.
The Grid Harmonization credit offers more ways project teams can get points than the previous Demand Response category in v4. Additionally, the associated pilot credit offers increased flexibility as well as an easy way to get a point for both v4 and v4.1 projects.
What about your project?
Contact us if you need any help on energy credits on a LEED project. This could be advising a current energy modeler who is struggling or providing the energy modeling on a new project.
Contact G2 Energy Solutions today for a quote!
About Craig Green
Craig Green is the managing principal at G2 Energy Solutions, an energy engineering consulting firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. Over the last decade, Craig has performed the energy modeling as well as other energy requirements on dozens of LEED certified projects.
For questions on the article or to discuss working with G2 Energy Solutions, please contact Craig at 602-989-3974 or craig.green@g2energysolutions.com.
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