CI-v5 EAc3: Renewable Energy 1-5 points
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage and recognize the use of renewable energy to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use, increase the supply of new renewable energy within the electrical grid, and foster a just transition to a green economy.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
100% of tenant annual site energy consumption is from any combination of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 renewable energy.
Supply or procure renewable energy meeting the renewable energy criteria. Points are rewarded according to Table 1.
Points documented for Tier 1, Tier 2, and/or Tier 3 renewable energy may be added together up to a maximum of 5 points.
Tenant annual site energy consumption must include the total estimated annual electricity and fuel use for systems and equipment within the project boundary or exclusively serving the project space (excluding shared air handling units or thermal energy).
AND
The total estimated annual energy consumption for thermal energy (CHW or hot water) supplied directly to the tenant by a utility, energy provider, or plant that is not in the building.
Renewable energy may be allocated to the tenant from the base building, provided it is allocated equally for the entire building area (including tenant area and base building core area).
OR
Incremental to the renewable energy required for the base building for LEED BD+C: Core and Shell EAc4: Renewable Energy.
Table 1. Points for Renewable Energy Procurement
Points | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | ||
Minimum Rated Capacity* | OR | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | |
1 | A × 1 W/sq. ft. | OR | 5% | 20% | 50% |
2 | A × 2 W/sq. ft. | OR | 10% | 40% | 100% |
3 |
|
| 20% | 60% |
|
4 |
|
| 35% | 80% |
|
5 |
|
| 100% Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 renewable energy |
| |
*A = the sum of gross floor area of all floors of the building up to the three largest floors of the building, prorated to the project based on project area.
Renewable Energy Criteria
RENEWABLE ENERGY CLASSIFICATIONS
Tier 1. On-site Renewable Energy Generation or Social Impact Project
The renewable generation equipment may be located
- On the project site;
- On the campus on which a project is located; or
- On the site of an equity project, as long as the renewable power system is provided, installed, and commissioned at no cost to the equity entity; that the ownership of the renewable power system is transferred to the equity entity; and that the rights to the power provided be given to the equity entity.
Tier 2. New Off-site Renewable Electricity
Off-site renewable electricity produced by new generation asset(s) must be
- Contracted to be operational within two years of building occupancy, OR
- Contracted no more than five years after the renewable asset’s commercial operations date.
Tier 3. Off-site Renewable Energy
- Off-site renewable electricity that is Green-e® Energy certified or equivalent
- Renewable fuels that are Green-e Renewable Fuels certified or equivalent
CONTRACT LENGTH
- Contract length shall be 10 years or prorated across 10 years for shorter contract lengths.
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
- Ownership: All environmental attributes—Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)—associated with renewable energy generation must be retired on behalf of the LEED project for the renewable energy procurement to contribute to credit achievement.
- Project energy source: Renewable electricity generation and EAC procurement can only be applied to tenant electricity use or district energy use up to 100% of annual electricity, plus district energy use. Renewable fuels can only be applied to tenant fuel use or district heat up to 100% of annual fuel plus district heat use.
- Vintage: EACs credited to the project must be generated no earlier than 18 months before the LEED project’s initial application submission date.
- Location: Tier 2 and Tier 3 renewable assets must be in the same country or region where the LEED project is located.
- Tier 2 bulk purchase: Green-e Energy certification or equivalent is required for one-time purchase or annual purchase of EACs or renewable power totaling more than 100% of the tenant’s annual electricity use.
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To encourage and recognize the use of renewable energy to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with fossil fuel energy use, increase the supply of new renewable energy within the electrical grid, and foster a just transition to a green economy.
Requirements
Platinum Requirements:
100% of tenant annual site energy consumption is from any combination of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 renewable energy.
Supply or procure renewable energy meeting the renewable energy criteria. Points are rewarded according to Table 1.
Points documented for Tier 1, Tier 2, and/or Tier 3 renewable energy may be added together up to a maximum of 5 points.
Tenant annual site energy consumption must include the total estimated annual electricity and fuel use for systems and equipment within the project boundary or exclusively serving the project space (excluding shared air handling units or thermal energy).
AND
The total estimated annual energy consumption for thermal energy (CHW or hot water) supplied directly to the tenant by a utility, energy provider, or plant that is not in the building.
Renewable energy may be allocated to the tenant from the base building, provided it is allocated equally for the entire building area (including tenant area and base building core area).
OR
Incremental to the renewable energy required for the base building for LEED BD+C: Core and Shell EAc4: Renewable Energy.
Table 1. Points for Renewable Energy Procurement
Points | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | ||
Minimum Rated Capacity* | OR | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | Percent of Tenant Annual Site Energy | |
1 | A × 1 W/sq. ft. | OR | 5% | 20% | 50% |
2 | A × 2 W/sq. ft. | OR | 10% | 40% | 100% |
3 |
|
| 20% | 60% |
|
4 |
|
| 35% | 80% |
|
5 |
|
| 100% Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 renewable energy |
| |
*A = the sum of gross floor area of all floors of the building up to the three largest floors of the building, prorated to the project based on project area.
Renewable Energy Criteria
RENEWABLE ENERGY CLASSIFICATIONS
Tier 1. On-site Renewable Energy Generation or Social Impact Project
The renewable generation equipment may be located
- On the project site;
- On the campus on which a project is located; or
- On the site of an equity project, as long as the renewable power system is provided, installed, and commissioned at no cost to the equity entity; that the ownership of the renewable power system is transferred to the equity entity; and that the rights to the power provided be given to the equity entity.
Tier 2. New Off-site Renewable Electricity
Off-site renewable electricity produced by new generation asset(s) must be
- Contracted to be operational within two years of building occupancy, OR
- Contracted no more than five years after the renewable asset’s commercial operations date.
Tier 3. Off-site Renewable Energy
- Off-site renewable electricity that is Green-e® Energy certified or equivalent
- Renewable fuels that are Green-e Renewable Fuels certified or equivalent
CONTRACT LENGTH
- Contract length shall be 10 years or prorated across 10 years for shorter contract lengths.
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
- Ownership: All environmental attributes—Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs) or Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)—associated with renewable energy generation must be retired on behalf of the LEED project for the renewable energy procurement to contribute to credit achievement.
- Project energy source: Renewable electricity generation and EAC procurement can only be applied to tenant electricity use or district energy use up to 100% of annual electricity, plus district energy use. Renewable fuels can only be applied to tenant fuel use or district heat up to 100% of annual fuel plus district heat use.
- Vintage: EACs credited to the project must be generated no earlier than 18 months before the LEED project’s initial application submission date.
- Location: Tier 2 and Tier 3 renewable assets must be in the same country or region where the LEED project is located.
- Tier 2 bulk purchase: Green-e Energy certification or equivalent is required for one-time purchase or annual purchase of EACs or renewable power totaling more than 100% of the tenant’s annual electricity use.