CI-v5 EAc1: Electrification 1-5 points
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage building design that does not depend on burning fuel on-site, which leads to better indoor and outdoor air quality and to low-carbon operations as the grid decarbonizes.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
Do not install new on-site combustion equipment in the project scope of work.
Option 1. No On-Site Combustion — Base Building and Tenant Systems (5 points)
Design and operate the project from start-up with no on-site combustion except for emergency support systems.
The combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating and service water heating (SWH) must be at least 1.8 Coefficient of Performance (COP) for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space-heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
OR
Option 2. No On-Site Combustion Except at Low Temperatures—Base Building and Tenant Systems (1–5 points)
Pursue any combination of the following paths for a maximum of 5 points:
PATH 1. SPACE HEATING (2 POINTS)
Design space heating to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects in climate zones 3 and above must have a weighted average space heating equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
AND/OR
PATH 2. SWH (1 POINT)
Design SWH systems to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects with total SWH capacity exceeding 34,000 Btu/hr (10 kW) must have a weighted average service hot water equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
AND/OR
PATH 3. COOKING AND OTHER PROCESS LOADS (1–2 POINTS)
Design cooking, laundry, process equipment, and on-site power generation except emergency support systems to be capable of operating without on-site combustion.
Not in scope (1 point)
- Cooking, laundry, or process heating systems are not in project scope of work.
In scope (2 points)
- Cooking, laundry, process heating, process drying, and/or on-site power generation are installed within the project scope.
The following equipment may be excluded:
- Process heating equipment designed for operation at low temperatures
OR
Option 3. No On-Site Combustion, Limited Scope (1–3 points)
For the project scope of work:
- Do not install on-site combustion equipment in the project scope of work.
- Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for new space heating and SWH must be at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
Points are awarded according to Table 1 based on the minimum project scope of work.
Table 1. Points For No On-Site Combustion, Limited Scope
Minimum project scope of work | Points |
One or more cooking, heating, SWH, or process heating systems | 1 |
At least 20% of the project’s peak combined heating and SWH load, or all commercial cooking equipment | 2 |
At least 50% of the project’s peak combined heating and SWH load, or all commercial cooking equipment | 3 |
OR
Option 4. Base Building Documentation and Tenant Compliance (5 points)
Points are awarded according to Table 2. Locate in a building that has documented a LEED credit per Table 2.
AND/OR
Meet the following criteria per system type in the project scope of work. The system types are defined as:
- Space heating
- SWH
- Cooking and other process loads
Criteria per system type:
- Do not install on-site combustion equipment.
AND
- Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating system type and SWH system type must be at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
Table 2. Points for Achievement of Base Building Performance and Tenant Performance
Base building documentation | Minimum System Types in Project Scope Complying with Criteria | Points Awarded | ||
LEED Rating System(s) | LEED EA Credit Name and Credit Option | Base Building Minimum Threshold | ||
LEED v5 BD+C | EAc1: Electrification | 1 point | None | 1 |
2 points | None | 2 | ||
3 points | At least one, or all systems in scope | 3 | ||
4 points | At least two, or all systems in scope | 4 | ||
5 points (NC) 4 points (CS) | All systems in scope | 5 | ||
LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings | EAc1: GHG Emissions Reduction Performance, Option 1, GHG From On-Site Combustion | 1 points | None | 1 |
2 points | None | 2 | ||
3 points | At least one, or all systems in scope | 3 | ||
4 points | At least two, or all systems in scope | 4 | ||
5 points | All systems in scope | 5 | ||
For all options
Equipment efficiency (for Options 1 and 2)
Determine weighted average COP using either of the following:
- Equipment efficiencies at rated conditions. For equipment with multiple rated conditions, use the rating closest to 17°F (−9°C) outside air dry-bulb temperatures (OA db), 32°F (0°C) entering liquid temperature, or 44°F (6°C) heating source leaving liquid temperature.
- Annual average COP calculated with an energy simulation.
District energy
Projects with district energy must comply with the requirements of this credit at the district facility or see additional guidance for interpretation of credit requirements.
Fuel cells
Fuel cells using fossil fuel are ineligible for credit.
Low temperatures
The term refers to OA db below 20°F (−6.5°C).
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage building design that does not depend on burning fuel on-site, which leads to better indoor and outdoor air quality and to low-carbon operations as the grid decarbonizes.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
Do not install new on-site combustion equipment in the project scope of work.
Option 1. No On-Site Combustion — Base Building and Tenant Systems (5 points)
Design and operate the project from start-up with no on-site combustion except for emergency support systems.
The combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating and service water heating (SWH) must be at least 1.8 Coefficient of Performance (COP) for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space-heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
OR
Option 2. No On-Site Combustion Except at Low Temperatures—Base Building and Tenant Systems (1–5 points)
Pursue any combination of the following paths for a maximum of 5 points:
PATH 1. SPACE HEATING (2 POINTS)
Design space heating to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects in climate zones 3 and above must have a weighted average space heating equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
AND/OR
PATH 2. SWH (1 POINT)
Design SWH systems to be capable of operating without on-site combustion except at low temperatures. Projects with total SWH capacity exceeding 34,000 Btu/hr (10 kW) must have a weighted average service hot water equipment efficiency of at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
AND/OR
PATH 3. COOKING AND OTHER PROCESS LOADS (1–2 POINTS)
Design cooking, laundry, process equipment, and on-site power generation except emergency support systems to be capable of operating without on-site combustion.
Not in scope (1 point)
- Cooking, laundry, or process heating systems are not in project scope of work.
In scope (2 points)
- Cooking, laundry, process heating, process drying, and/or on-site power generation are installed within the project scope.
The following equipment may be excluded:
- Process heating equipment designed for operation at low temperatures
OR
Option 3. No On-Site Combustion, Limited Scope (1–3 points)
For the project scope of work:
- Do not install on-site combustion equipment in the project scope of work.
- Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for new space heating and SWH must be at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
Points are awarded according to Table 1 based on the minimum project scope of work.
Table 1. Points For No On-Site Combustion, Limited Scope
Minimum project scope of work | Points |
One or more cooking, heating, SWH, or process heating systems | 1 |
At least 20% of the project’s peak combined heating and SWH load, or all commercial cooking equipment | 2 |
At least 50% of the project’s peak combined heating and SWH load, or all commercial cooking equipment | 3 |
OR
Option 4. Base Building Documentation and Tenant Compliance (5 points)
Points are awarded according to Table 2. Locate in a building that has documented a LEED credit per Table 2.
AND/OR
Meet the following criteria per system type in the project scope of work. The system types are defined as:
- Space heating
- SWH
- Cooking and other process loads
Criteria per system type:
- Do not install on-site combustion equipment.
AND
- Combined weighted average equipment efficiency for space heating system type and SWH system type must be at least 1.8 COP for initial build-out construction or at least 1.2 COP for alterations.
The following equipment may be excluded from the COP determination:
- Space heating equipment in climate zones 0–2
- Supplemental heating equipment designed only for operation at low temperatures
- SWH equipment in nonresidential spaces complying with the point-of-use water heater criteria in ASHRAE 90.1-2022, Section 11.5.2.3.3, W05, without exceptions
Table 2. Points for Achievement of Base Building Performance and Tenant Performance
Base building documentation | Minimum System Types in Project Scope Complying with Criteria | Points Awarded | ||
LEED Rating System(s) | LEED EA Credit Name and Credit Option | Base Building Minimum Threshold | ||
LEED v5 BD+C | EAc1: Electrification | 1 point | None | 1 |
2 points | None | 2 | ||
3 points | At least one, or all systems in scope | 3 | ||
4 points | At least two, or all systems in scope | 4 | ||
5 points (NC) 4 points (CS) | All systems in scope | 5 | ||
LEED v5 O+M: Existing Buildings | EAc1: GHG Emissions Reduction Performance, Option 1, GHG From On-Site Combustion | 1 points | None | 1 |
2 points | None | 2 | ||
3 points | At least one, or all systems in scope | 3 | ||
4 points | At least two, or all systems in scope | 4 | ||
5 points | All systems in scope | 5 | ||
For all options
Equipment efficiency (for Options 1 and 2)
Determine weighted average COP using either of the following:
- Equipment efficiencies at rated conditions. For equipment with multiple rated conditions, use the rating closest to 17°F (−9°C) outside air dry-bulb temperatures (OA db), 32°F (0°C) entering liquid temperature, or 44°F (6°C) heating source leaving liquid temperature.
- Annual average COP calculated with an energy simulation.
District energy
Projects with district energy must comply with the requirements of this credit at the district facility or see additional guidance for interpretation of credit requirements.
Fuel cells
Fuel cells using fossil fuel are ineligible for credit.
Low temperatures
The term refers to OA db below 20°F (−6.5°C).